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          One Nacion

          Put Minnie Minoso in the Hall of Fame, already

          • One Nación
          Mar 24, 2016, 11:17 AM ET

          Orestes "Minnie" Miñoso, the legendary Cuban player for the Chicago White Sox, was on the mind of many during MLB's recent trip to Cuba for a spring training exhibition with the Tampa Bay Rays taking on the Cuban national team.

          Yet one odd element of Minoso's story stood out for many -- a glaring Hall of Fame omission of the baseball great. Some took to social media to vent about their frustration concerning the issue.

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          As much as Minoso impressed during his years with the Chicago White Sox, it's arguable that by the time he broke the color barrier for the team, he was already aging out of his prime. His earlier playing days in the Negro Leagues came after growing up in Cuba and learning the sport of baseball there.

          Minoso not only paved the way for scores of Cuban players to follow in his footsteps on the baseball fields, but also served as a model for many Latinos and Afro-Latinos and even those who didn't claim a drop of Hispanic heritage.

          Sometimes the public doesn't have enough information about baseball's pioneers, especially those from other countries like Cuba. Since the spotlight is now on the island nation, though, there is hope for great baseball players from there to be recognized. Minoso, who died in 2015, may make it into Cooperstown posthumously.

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