Former Cleveland outfielder Minnie Miñoso elected to Hall of Fame

Cuban professional baseball player Minnie Minoso of the Cleveland Indians runs to catch a ball in the outfield during a road game, late 1950s. (Photo by Robert Riger Collection/Getty Images)

Minnie Miñoso had a long and storied career in baseball, spending parts of four seasons in Cleveland, and he is now officially a Hall of Famer.

It may often go unmentioned or rarely recognized, but Minnie Miñoso became the first acknowledged dark-skinned Latin player in AL/NL history when he made his debut on April 19, 1949 with the Cleveland Indians.

And after a twenty-year career that saw Miñoso become a seven-time major-league All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner (once with Cleveland), along with a 41-year wait, the Golden Days Era Committee finally made Miñoso a Hall of Famer.

The Cuban-born Miñoso, who passed away in 2015, hit .302/.382/.476 with 46 home runs, 175 RBIs and 59 doubles over parts of four seasons (1949, 1951, 1958-59) with Cleveland. He was also named to the franchise’s top-100 roster.

Congratulations to the late Minnie Miñoso on his election to @baseballhall (Golden Days Era Committee).

Miñoso spent parts of four seasons in Cleveland (1949, 51, 58-59) and was a member of the franchise's Top-100 roster. pic.twitter.com/9FCAfSoGXO
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) December 6, 2021

Miñoso played eight games with Cleveland in 1951 before being part of a three-team trade with the A’s that sent him to Chicago; he is best known for his time with the White Sox, where he spent twelve years, making it to five All-Star teams, finished in the top ten of MVP voting five times, and won a Gold Glove the first year the award was presented (1957).

Miñoso is joined by Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, and Tony Oliva as this year’s Hall of Famers from the Golden Era ballot.

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