1958 Minnie Minoso "Cuban Comet” Cleveland Indians Original TYPE I Photo

Minnie Miñoso (1925-2015), "The Cuban Comet" and "Mr. White Sox," broke barriers as a trailblazing Cuban ballplayer. Starting in the Negro Leagues with the New York Cubans in 1946, he earned All-Star honors at third base before the Cleveland Indians signedhim in 1948 as baseball integrated. Miñoso transitioned to left field and continued his All-Star career with Cleveland and Chicago. He made history as the first Black Cuban in the majors, the first Black player for the White Sox, and in 1951 became one of the first Latin Americans selected for an MLB All-Star Game. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.

Offered is an original TYPE I photo that measures 7" x  9" in size of Minnie Minoso in Cleveland Indians uniform. International News stamp on the verso from their New York office.  Stamp dated January 11, 1958.  Some editorial marks remain from newspaper usage.  This may even be his first image capturing him in his Tribe uniform.

On a side note, the 1958 season would end up being one of Minoso’s best offensive seasons in Major League Baseball.  He hit .302 with 24 Home Runs (career high), 80 RBIs, 21 doubles, 8 triples, 16 stolen bases, .499 slugging percentage, and a .879 OPS.  His led the A.L. leftfielders with 13 assists to prove that the White Sox made a big mistake unloading Minnie to the Indians.

One of the best images of Minoso we’ve encountered in Cleveland uniform.