Berardino: Tony Oliva on Minnie Minoso

[Seth Stohs]

Pioneer Press's Mike Berardino chatted with Twins legend Tony Oliva about Minnie Minoso. This article includes some great video as well. My favorite part of the video was "

 

 

“They said, ‘When Minnie hits the ball right, the ball does the ‘Cha-cha-cha,’ “ Oliva said. “That was beautiful. Minnie was great for baseball and for the Spanish population all over. I think he was like Jackie Robinson for us. He was a very, very big inspiration for the other black and Hispanic ballplayers who came after him. He was a great baseball player but also he was a great human being.”

 

There is so much great information about the history of baseball in this article. 

 

 

“In my book, when they talk about the best Cuban ballplayers, I always say Minoso,” Oliva said Sunday after learning of Minoso’s death at age 89. “If you look at his record, his numbers, you know he was a great ballplayer.”

 

 

In 1993 and 2003, Minoso came to St. Paul and actually got plate appearances for the St. Paul Saints, thanks to Mike Veeck. Mike's father Bill owned the White Sox and helped Minoso play in five decades of MLB. Mike had him come and play with the Saints so that they can say he played in seven decades of professional baseball.

 

Minnie Minoso passed away early on Sunday. Most believe that he was between 89 and 92 years old.