Sign In

Including Minnie Minoso -- First Afro-Latino Player in Major League Baseball

 This 1950 team photograph of the San Diego Padres, a minor league baseball team from the Pacific Coast League (PCL), showcases a lineup of players and coaches, many of whom went on to have careers in Major League Baseball (MLB). The photograph features notable players, including the legendary Orestes "Minnie" Miñoso, as well as others who made significant contributions both in the majors and the minors.

Players and Coaches with Major League Experience:

Orestes "Minnie" Miñoso

Saturnino Orestes "Minnie" Armas Arrieta Miñoso, born November 29, 1924, in Perico, Cuba, was a pioneering Afro-Latino player and one of baseball's greatest all-around talents. Known as "The Cuban Comet," Miñoso’s career spanned decades and crossed racial and international boundaries. He began in the Negro Leagues in 1946, playing for the New York Cubans, where he hit over .300 and helped win the 1947 Negro World Series.

After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947, the Cleveland Indians signed Miñoso in 1948. He made his MLB debut on April 19, 1949, becoming the first Black Cuban player in the major leagues. After limited opportunities with Cleveland, he spent two seasons with the San Diego Padres in the Pacific Coast League. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1951, where he made an immediate impact, becoming the first Black player in White Sox history and hitting a home run in his first at-bat at Comiskey Park. Miñoso finished his rookie season with a .324 average, 112 runs, and 31 stolen bases, and was named to the All-Star Game.

Throughout the 1950s, Miñoso became one of the top players in the American League. He led the AL in stolen bases in 1952 and 1953, in triples three times, and in total bases in 1954. Known for his fearless approach at the plate, he led the league in being hit by pitches 10 times. Miñoso was also a standout defender, winning three Gold Gloves and leading AL left fielders in assists six times.

In 1958, Miñoso was traded back to Cleveland, where he hit a career-high 24 home runs, and returned to Chicago in 1960. That year, he led the AL in hits and RBIs and finished fourth in MVP voting. After the 1964 season, he moved to the Mexican League, where he played and managed until 1973.

Remarkably, Miñoso made brief comebacks with the White Sox in 1976 and 1980, becoming one of two players to appear in five different decades. His number 9 was retired by the White Sox in 1983, and a statue was erected in his honor at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2004.

Miñoso was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996 and posthumously elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021. 

Al Smith

Al Smith (1925–2002), also seen in the back row, was a teammate of Miñoso in both the minors and majors. Smith later became a two-time MLB All-Star and enjoyed a successful career, primarily with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. He was a key figure in the 1959 "Go-Go" White Sox team that reached the World Series. Smith was known for his versatility, playing both the outfield and third base.

Harry Simpson

Harry Simpson (1925–1979), seated in the front row, went on to have an eight-year MLB career, playing for teams like the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, and New York Yankees. Simpson was an outfielder known for his strong throwing arm and power at the plate.

Whitey Wietelmann

Whitey Wietelmann (1919–2002), in the back row, had a career as a utility infielder and coach. He played in the majors for the Boston Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1939 to 1947 before transitioning to coaching. Wietelmann is remembered for his long career in baseball, both as a player and as a coach in the minors and majors.

George Zuverink

George Zuverink (1924–2014), also seen in the back row, pitched in the majors from 1951 to 1959, primarily with the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. Known for his sidearm delivery, Zuverink was a reliable relief pitcher during his time in the big leagues.

Bob Savage

Bob Savage (1921–2013), another player in the back row, pitched in the majors for the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns. His MLB career spanned 1942 to 1949, with a break during World War II, when he served in the U.S. military.

Del Baker (Manager)

Del Baker (1892–1973), seen standing on the far left, was the Padres’ manager in 1950. Baker had a long career in baseball, both as a player and manager. He managed the Detroit Tigers in the majors from 1938 to 1942, leading the team to an American League pennant in 1940. 

Jimmie Reese

Jimmie Reese (1901–1994), a middle row player, was known for his long career in baseball, which included time as a second baseman in the majors and decades as a coach. Born Hyman Solomon to Russian Jewish immigrants in New York City, Hymie, as he was called, was brought up in Los Angeles where he attended Rolling Hills Prep. In order to avoid the brunt of prejudice against Jewish baseball players, he adopted the name of Jimmie Reese, which he used throughout his baseball career. He played for the New York Yankees (he roomed with Babe Ruth in 1930 and 1931) and St. Louis Cardinals in the 1930s but gained greater fame as a coach, particularly for his long tenure with the California Angels, where he became a beloved figure.

Bill Bevens

Bill Bevens (1916–1991), standing in the back row, was a right-handed pitcher best known for his near no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series while pitching for the New York Yankees. He came within one out of completing a no-hitter before allowing a game-winning hit.

PCL Padres

This 1950 San Diego Padres team photograph is a reflection of a time when the Pacific Coast League was considered a high-level minor league, sometimes referred to as a “third major league.” Many players from this team either had significant MLB careers or were on the verge of breaking into the majors. The San Diego Padres were an important part of the PCL, and the 1950 team in particular boasted a talented roster, including future MLB stars like Miñoso and Smith.

The presence of players like Miñoso, who would go on to break racial barriers in Major League Baseball, adds a layer of historical significance to this photograph. Miñoso's journey from the PCL to becoming a star in the majors represents a key chapter in the integration of baseball and the broader cultural shifts happening in post-war America. His legacy as a pioneer for both African-American and Latin American players remains one of the most important in baseball history.