It’s sad, but somehow appropriate, that Minnie Minoso would die soon after Ernie Banks. The iconic baseball figures of the White Sox and Cubs, respectively, had parallel careers. Both were beloved as much for their winning attitudes as their on-field talents.
But Oak Park has a Minnie Minoso connection.
Minnie’s daughter Cecilia works at the Oak Park Visitors Center — has for many years.
According to Dan Lauber of River Forest, who reminded us in the wake of Minnie’s passing, she commutes to Oak Park from Evanston. In late December, she told Dan that her dad was in ill health but hanging in there.
“Minnie himself did a book signing years ago at the Oak Park Kroch’s & Brentano’s [now Jerusalem Café]. Unlike most authors, you didn’t have to buy his book to get his autograph. I was there to buy a birthday card for my brother (an avowed Yankees fan despite growing up in South Shore), but for reasons unknown to me he worshipped Minnie Minoso. I explained to Minnie about my brother and he gladly, without any hesitation, signed the birthday card for my brother. Ain’t many book authors who’ll do that.”
And there weren’t many baseball players like Minnie Minoso.
