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President Obama makes statement on Minnie Miñoso's death

By Thor Benson

WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama has released a statement on the death of Minnie Miñoso, the former White Sox baseball player.

He spoke of Miñoso's achievement of being the first black major league player in Chicago, his times working his way up in the Negro Leagues and his struggles with racism. The president said Miñoso's "speed and power" crushed all of his obstacles, which is why he was able to make several All-Star appearances.

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"Minnie may have been passed over by the Baseball Hall of Fame during his lifetime, but for me and for generations of black and Latino young people, Minnie's quintessentially American story embodies far more than a plaque ever could," the president said.

Miñoso moved to the United States from Cuba in the 1940s. He played for the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago White Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals during his time as a professional baseball player. He won three Gold Glove awards.

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