Commissioner Fay Vincent said Friday that the White Sox would not be allowed to use Minnie Minoso next week.
Minoso had hoped to become the first major leaguer to play in six decades. The Sox had intended to use him during the last week in Comiskey Park, but Vincent decided that it would not be in the ”best interests of baseball.”
Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said the club thought the 68-year-old Minoso could play.
”We had never gotten to the point where we`d decided to let Minnie play, but now it`s a moot point,” Reinsdorf said in a statement. ”Minnie had taken batting practice, and we had satisfied ourselves that he could have competed.”
Minoso came out of retirement in 1976 and 1980 so that he could play in his fourth and fifth decades. Minoso, who works in the Sox`s community relations department, didn`t like the decision.
”Obviously I`m disappointed, but I accept and respect the decision,”
Minoso said. ”Maybe the commissioner will let me play in the year 2000.”
– The White Sox this weekend will present themselves their year-end tongue-in- cheek awards as part of the team`s annual party. Jack McDowell will be honored for giving up the longest hit, but he plans a protest.
”They`re saying the ball Jose Canseco hit over the roof was longest,”
McDowell said, shaking his head. ”But it was foul. I`ll take credit for the ball Fred McGriff hit. That might have been the longest fair ball.”
– The White Sox will have a sale of licensed apparel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Comiskey Park, Gate 5. Items will be discounted 50 to 80 percent.