He’d been a fixture in the Chicago White Sox lineup from 1951-57, finishing in the top 5 of AL MVP voting twice as the first black player in White Sox history, but Bill Veeck traded Minnie Minoso prior to the 1958 campaign. In ’59, the retooled White Sox won the pennant but in appreciation for all that Minoso had done for the club, Veeck made the unprecedented gesture of presenting his former star with a 1959 AL Championship ring. On Saturday, that same ring sold for $13,800 as Hunt Auctions presented a collection of Minoso and White Sox memorabilia.
Veeck brought Minoso back into the fold at the start of the 1960 season when the ring presentation was held and he remained a part of the Sox organization for the rest of his life.
A modern piece of championship history drew the highest price in the auction at Comiskey Park. A 2005 World Series ring presented to Pedro Lopez sold for $19,550.
A Gold Glove award presented to Minoso for his defensive work in the 1957 season sold for $5,750. The award was presented to Minoso at a later date to replace the original award as given by Rawlings. A custom made Patrick Philipe wristwatch owned by Minoso sold for the same amount.
A 1961-64 Ernie Banks game model bat sold for $4,600 while a 1950s Nellie Fox model went for $3,250.
Peanuts Lowery’s 1945 Chicago Cubs National League Championship ring, with a $20,000-$30,000 pre-sale estimate did not sell.