Minnie Minoso was once named one of the 100 Greatest Cleveland Indians Players ever! As part of the club’s 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2001, a panel of veteran baseball writers, historians and executives selected a roster of the Top 100 Greatest Indians and Minoso was named one of the twenty-three outfielders.

Did you know that Minnie Minoso is 1 of only 14 former Major League players who had absence from the major leagues of 11 or more years with hits on each side of that absence?

Longest Hiatus Between Major League Hits
Absence	Name	Years
21 Years	Charley O'Leary	1913 / 1934
15 Years	Joe Cicero	1930 / 1945
13 Years	Jack McFetridge	1890 / 1903
13 Years	Rudy Sommers	1914 / 1927
13 Years	Ralph Winegarner	1936 / 1949
12 Years	Harry Smith	1877 / 1889
12 Years	Roy Schalk	1932 / 1944
12 Years	Bobby Schang	1915 / 1927
12 Years	Jim Baumer	1949 / 1961
12 Years	Minnie Minoso	1964 / 1976
11 Years	John O'Connell	1891 / 1902
11 Years	Jim O'Rourke	1893 / 1904
11 Years	Clyde Sukeforth	1934 / 1945

Minnie Minoso, who is often remembered for playing in four different decades, actually played professionally in seven decades! Here is an article from the National Baseball Hall of Fame (Inside Pitch, 09/12/2006) : "What does matter is that the ageless superstar from Havana, Cuba had the intestinal fortitude to pioneer the major leagues as its first Black Latino player, and was young enough in body and soul to don a major league uniform — and get a hit — at age 53. Minoso emerged from the Cuban and Negro leagues to make the major leagues in 1949 at a reported age 27, when he played for the Cleveland Indians, beginning a stellar 17-year career, which ended in 1964. A speedster on the base paths and a fan-favorite with his electrifying style of play, Minoso hit .298 lifetime, earned the 1951 Rookie of the Year, was a seven-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner in left field. Minoso even had his jersey number nine retired by Bill Veeck and the White Sox in 1983. Despite his storied career and pioneering ways, Minoso is best remembered as the man who played in seven — count 'em — seven decades. Thirty years ago this week, after 12 years of retirement, Minoso was activated by Veeck and started as designated hitter, batting ninth, in the first game of a twin bill with the California Angels. In the second inning, with two outs and Chet Lemon on first base, he singled to left off Angels' starter Sid Monge. At age 53, Minoso had become the oldest player to notch a hit in a major league game [not accurate as Jim O'Rourke had a hit at 54y21d], and the second oldest to suit up, after Satchel Paige had played at age 59 for Veeck's Indians in 1965. Minoso would play three games in 1976, getting one hit in eight at bats. He played again in 1980 for the White Sox. In 1993 (at age 71) and 2003 (at age 81), he put on a uniform for the independent Northern League's St. Paul Saints, becoming baseball's first octogenarian and only seven-decade player.