Tradtitions

If memory serves, on Friday the White Sox became the first MLB team ever to have the first four players in the lineup all come from Cuba.  That would be Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada, Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal.  Somewhere, Minnie Minoso must be smiling.

 

I’ve always been fascinated by my hometown’s reputation.  Someone once said of Pittsburgh that it was “hell with the lid off.”  Chicago has always been seen as that, squared.  Tough place, bad weather, mean folks, especially if you’re considered to be of the “wrong” race.  And, yet in baseball most if not all of the most popular players in Chicago have been people of color.

 

Consider Ernie Banks and Billy Williams on the North Side and Minoso on the South Side.  I was once at a SoxFest, where Minoso was walking through a crowd; fans acted like they were in an audience with the Pope.  Also remember Luis Aparicio, Harold Baines and Frank Thomas are revered Sox players.

 

I think one of the reasons Ozzie Guillen did so well as Sox manager is that fans were already quite comfortable with Venezuelan players; before Guillen at shortstop, there was Aparicio and before Aparicio, Chico Carrasquel.  And in a somewhat different regard, before Guillen as manager there were Larry Doby and Jerry Manuel.  I’m not saying the Sox are free of the old-boys’ network, but there does seem to be a definite belief in meritocracy over color preference.

 

So, anyone else who wants to follow in Mr. Minoso’s footsteps as a player from Cuba for the Chicago White Sox, let’s see what you’ve got.