Minoso - Seven Decades

[Molechaser]

Okay, I don't know how people feel about this. It's just a publicity stunt, in my opinion, but as publicity stunts go, it's pretty impressive.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/3992110.html

Minnie Minoso appeared in a game for the St. Paul Saints last night, drawing a walk. This appearance made him the first baseball player to appear in professional games in seven different decades (in addition to his major league career, spanning games from 1949 to 1980, he appeared in a Saints game in 1993).

[Wolf Hopper]

What's to be impressed about? A senior citizen standing there watching some pitches go by?

It's not like he played 3 innings or got a hit.

[TimmyB]

Okay, it's not as impressive as the pinch-hit in '76...

This falls into the "if he can keep doing it, that's great" category. Let's hope he's still able to pull a stunt like this in 2010.

[LeGrandOrange]

No different from Gordie Howe suiting up for the Detroit Vipers at 68 just so he could play in 6 decades. It's fun publicity...highly gimmicky but fun publicity in the same.

I haven't really gotten an opinion either way, I just like seeing Saint Paul publicize themselves. And if anything else, they're making people remember Minnie Minoso...hopefully among them are writers.

11 seasons and they still can publicize themselves well. If only the other Twin City team had that much fun.

[Firpo Marberry]

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

What's to be impressed about? A senior citizen standing there watching some pitches go by?

It's not like he played 3 innings or got a hit.

I guess I'll wait until I'm 77 to see if I'm impressed. By the time people reach that age, there are plenty who couldn't stand up long enough to watch someone on their TV throw a few pitches to one batter. I know plenty of 27-year-olds who wouldn't want to stand at the plate and let a pro pitcher buzz some horsehide within inches of their skin. I imagine you'd have to search a little to find some 77-year-old who would.

A case can be made for him as a HOFer. All-Star team 7 times in 10 seasons. Top 5 MVP voting 4 times in 10 seasons. Largely ignored as Robinson broke the color barrier two years before him, but as a Cuban in those days I imagine he encountered plenty of racism. He could steal. He could slug. He could draw a walk.

If three people become aware of him because of this, fine by me.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

What's to be impressed about? A senior citizen standing there watching some pitches go by?

It's not like he played 3 innings or got a hit.

I just hate it when I agree with the Wolfman. But ... it happens now and again.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

I completely agree with Firpo here. El Cometo Cubano belongs in the Hall as much as anyone who was stuck in the Negro Leagues and/or Cuban League before 1947.

Minnie's problem, as has been discussed here several times, was that he wasn't in either of those leagues long enough to really make a mark -- although he was an All-Star in BOTH leagues, as well as the Majors.

Minnie had one of the greatest careers in Major League history after the age of 30. Bill James credits Minnie with 229 Win Shares between the ages of 30 and 39, the 16th highest total in Major League history in that age range -- that sounds like a Hall of Famer to me.

If he wants to take a few hacks because he loves the game, or wants to get a little publicity, or because he thinks he can still play at the top level -- good for him! He's still my favorite HoF cause; well, him and Blyleven.

[pathogan]

...done, I really like minoso,anyway,and leave it to the saints{ST Paul,the saint paul bobble head night anyone}

[Firpo Marberry]

Originally Posted by pathogan

...done, I really like minoso,anyway,and leave it to the saints{ST Paul,the saint paul bobble head night anyone}

Being you broached promotions, Minny Vikings' wide receiver Randy Moss was in a well-publicized downtown Minneapolis traffic incident in which he nudged a traffic cop with his high-end ride; the traffic cops aren't really cops in the Joe Friday sense, which marginally diminishes the offense. So the Saints planned a Randy Moss Hood Ornament night in which they would distribute magnetic hood ornaments of a football players' likeness, vague enough so Moss could not sue.

[pathogan]

Originally Posted by Firpo Marberry

Being you broached promotions, Minny Vikings' wide receiver Randy Moss was in a well-publicized downtown Minneapolis traffic incident in which he nudged a traffic cop with his high-end ride; the traffic cops aren't really cops in the Joe Friday sense, which marginally diminishes the offense. So the Saints planned a Randy Moss Hood Ornament night in which they would distribute magnetic hood ornaments of a football players' likeness, vague enough so Moss could not sue.

very funny

[OaktownTribeFan]

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

What's to be impressed about? A senior citizen standing there watching some pitches go by?

As these things go, I was far more impressed by Satchel Paige, who shut out the Bosox for 3 innings in '65, at the age of around 60 (or more).