No Minoso

I finally can sit down and write this post.  Frankly, I was surprised as to how badly I felt hearing that Minnie Minoso was not one of the seventeen Negro League stars elected to the Hall of Fame. I can only imagine what the great player and his family felt.

                                 Minoso fails to make Hall of Fame

Former White Sox Minnie Minoso didn't receive enough votes from a 12-member committee that considered 39 players from the Negro leagues and pre-Negro leagues eras for induction into baseball's Hall of Fame.

"I know that baseball fans have me in their own Hall of Fame – the one in their hearts," said Minoso in a statement. "That matters more to me than any official recognition. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be, and I am truly honored to be considered. I've given my life to baseball, and the game has given me so much. That's what matters the most to me."

Well said, Minnie.

Now there is the nagging question, "Why?'  Ron Rapoport, writing in the Chicago Sun times, says:

Negro League committee has some explaining to do

...As unhappy as many Chicagoans are about Minnie Minoso's failure to win election, people in Kansas City are outraged that Buck O'Neil didn't make it. As a player, manager, scout and coach -- and as a tireless promoter of Negro Leagues history and its museum in Kansas City -- O'Neil was widely expected to be a shoo-in. He failed by one vote. Doesn't O'Neil, and the rest of us, have a right to know why?

...One thing nobody can accuse this new committee of, I suppose, is pandering to public taste. O'Neil is 94 and Minoso is 84. We can only imagine the scene at Cooperstown next August as they gave their acceptance speeches. It would have been one of the Hall's greatest moments, and I, for one, would like to hear the committee tell us why we won't be seeing it.

I doubt that we will ever know why, but the least I can do is wonder out loud.

Minnie wasn't good enough. No, I think his credentials are well established. He was the best left fielder in both leagues during the 1950's after Stan Musial and Ted Williams, and the 9th or 10th best of all time.

He was not a true Negro Leaguer: Maybe.  There is no question that his split tenure between the Negro Leagues and MLB hurts his case.  As a 'tweener' he does not have the career statistics in either league.  More important there are no decent records of his two significant seasons with the New York Cubans.  Hopefully, one day, someone will do the research and produce those stats.

Minoso, a Cuban, had no ethnic or racial base. Perhaps some truth here. While Chicago blacks fully embraced Minnie, as a Cuban, he never received the depth of support nationally as did Jackie Robinson.  It took Roberto Clemente to make North Americans understand what it was like to be Black and Hispanic and play major league baseball. (See Dave Maraniss' new book, Clemente : The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero ).

Minoso also had no national base. Minoso was hurt by the poor relations between the U.S. and his native Cuba.  There was no way of building support in his homeland.  As Fidel Castro said, "While Minnie Minoso is not a friend of the revolution, he will always be welcome in Cuba. He will always be a hero to the Cuban people."  Such sentiments never reached the United States.

Minoso pinch hit in 1976 and 1980.  Over 50 years of age, as part of a typical Bill Veeck stunt, Minoso was activated to pinch hit in two additional decades the 1970's and the 1980's. I never paid much attention to that until now.  Last month I read a post from a fan who never saw Minnie play.  His recollection of Minnie was those publicity stunts; the fan had no knowledge of Minnie's skills. I have to wonder when it was all said and done, if too many members of the committee felt that Minoso had sullied his career. Funny thing is, the Hall of Fame finally admitted Veeck - after his death.

Comments

[Tim M]

This is sad, Paul. I feel for you. I know how hard you've worked to try and get Minnie into the hall. They just don't see the light.

[Larry Creasy]

I think it is a shame that two players with the famous names of mickey and minnie are not in the hall of fame...Mickey Vernon had about 2500 hits won two batting titles and missed a couple prime years during the war...Minnie Minoso got started late at age 28 and was still going strong at 40 when he crashed into the wall in stlouis he also had stats comparable to some who are in the hall for example George Kell. Minnie also led the league in several catagories at various times and both of these men had fewer strike outs than walks. we know the hall is pretty Mickey Mouse since the all time hit leader is not represented so it would be appropriate if the two guys with the famous names were in it.

[Mark Eckblad]

At least the Hall of Fame voters are equal opportunity idots. The exclusion of fan favorites O'Neill and Minoso is as baffling as it is unjust. We can take comfort, however, in the knowledge that Buck and Minnie are part of a truly impressive group--the deserving non-inductees.

What about Gil Hodges, who hit almost 400 homers despite losing time to military service? How about Wisconsin's own Harvey Kuehn, who hit .303 lifetime? What's a guy goota do? I could go on and on.

Those associated with the Hall of Fame, including some of its members, take it all to seriously. This isn't Westminster Abbey, for God's sake. Of course, their pieties about maintaining the Hall's standards go out the window for a sentimental favorite like Rizzuto.

I would like to see the Hall of Fame become much more inclusive. Why shouldn't Maris be honored for his one astounding season? Why shouldn't Frank Tanana be rewarded for finding a way to win over 200 games despite losing his fastball early on? If it hasn't happened already, somebody should start an online Anti-Hall and allow voters to honor the many great players and achievements judged "unworthy," either snobbishly or arbitarily.