Minnie at 100

Hall of Famer Saturnino Orestes “Minnie” Minoso – the pride of Perico, Cuba – would be celebrating his 100th birthday today if he were still with us.

Alas, Minoso passes away in 2015 – seven years before his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Minnie Minoso in 1976

Minoso’s pro career begins in 1946 with the New York Cubans of the Negro National League and ends in 2003 as a 79-year-old with a single at-bat for the St. Paul Saints of the independent Northern League.

Overall, Minoso plays 32 seasons from the Negro Leagues to the Mexican League.

In between, Minoso spends all or parts of 20 seasons in the major leagues, where he is a .299 career hitter over 1,948 games split between the aforementioned New York Cubans, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Senators.

He also is a 13-time All-Star selection, as well as a three-time Gold Glove winner.

“When I die, I want to be playing baseball,” Minoso once says. “Truly. They don’t bury me without my uniform.”