Minnie Mendoza Passes Away, Cuban Who Played in MLB and Caribbean Leagues

September 12, 2024

The native of what is now Artemisa province spent 19 seasons playing in the Minor Leagues before his debut in the MLB wearing the Minnesota Twins uniform. He also participated in professional leagues in the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Rigoberto Minnie Mendoza, one of the Cubans who played at different levels of Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 1960s and 1970s, passed away this week in the United States at the age of 89.

Mendoza appears in third place on the list of players born on the island who debuted at the oldest age in the highest level of the main American professional circuit, according to what journalist Francys Romero published on his social networks.

Romero clarified that the player remained for 19 years playing in the Minor Leagues with teams from different franchises.

Minnie Mendoza was born in the town of Ceiba del Agua, Guayabal, Artemisa, on December 3, 1934. His debut in professional baseball occurred in 1954, at the age of 19, when he was part of the Miami Beach/Greater Miami team, according to the specialized website Swing Completo.

In 1956 he wore the uniform of the Havana Sugar Kings, belonging to the Cincinnati Reds, classified at that time as a Triple-A team. Also during that period he enrolled in the roster of Nuevo Laredo, in the Mexican League, the publication adds.

Mendoza passed between 1958 and 1973 through the Minor League systems of teams such as the Washington Senators and the Minnesota Twins, the team that opened the doors for his MLB debut in 1970, when he was 35 years old.

During his time in the Major Leagues he participated in 16 games, in which he compiled a batting average of .188, after connecting three hits in 16 official at-bats. In addition, he scored two runs and had the same number of RBIs.

Furthermore, the recently deceased player participated in the Dominican League with the Estrellas Orientales team, with which he played the 1967-68 seasons —winning the championship— and 1969-1970.

In his debut in that Caribbean league he drove in 21 runs in 55 at-bats, and his batting average was .268. The following year, also with the Estrellas, he only participated in three games, batted .254 and drove in nine teammates.

At 38 years old he had a new experience in the Mexican League. In the 1973 campaign, playing for the Sultanes de Monterrey, he batted .281 thanks to 43 hits, and had four doubles, one triple, 16 RBIs and 22 runs scored.