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19th Century Pioneers
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Esteban "Steve" Bellan
Learned baseball at Fordham University. Played semi-pro ball in the U.S. beginning in 1868. Became the first Cuban and Latin American to play in Organized Baseball. Playing for the Troy Haymakers (1871-72) and New York Mutuals (1873) of the National Association. Organized the first formal baseball game in Cuba on December 27, 1874.
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Vincent "Sandy" Nava
Listed as born in San Francisco, one source states that he was born in Cuba and soon after his family escaped the war torn nation. If so he would be the first Cuban and Latin American to play in the National League, playing with Providence (1882-1884). He also played with Baltimore (1885-86) of the American Association.
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20th Century Organized Baseball Pioneers
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Alfredo Cabrera, Armando Marsans, Luis Padron and Rafael Almeida Pictured here on the 1908 New Britain team. Armando Marsans and Rafael Almeida became the first Cubans to play regularly in the modern major leagues. Almeida played with the Reds (1911-13). Marsans played with the Reds (1911-14), St. Louis (FL) (1915), St. Louis (AL) (1916-17) and Yankees (1917-18). Cabrera played with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1913 and Padron had a try out with the Giants but was found to be to dark for the majors.
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Juan Viola,
Played on several Minor League teams. Including Jacksonville (1906-09, 11), Augusta (1910) Long Branch (1913) and Newark(1914).
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Major League Pioneers
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Miguel Angel Gonzalez
First Cuban to Manage a major League team (St. Louis 1938 and 1940). Debuted with Boston (NL) in 1912 and had 17 year major league career. Also played with Cincinnati, St. Louis (NL), NY Giants and Chicago Cubs.
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Balmodero "Merito" Acosta
Debuted with the Washington Senators (1913-16, 18) at the age of 17. Finished his major league career with Philadelphia A's (1918).
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Jacinto Calvo
First Cuban to play in Canada, Victoria (1914) and Vancouver (1916). Played with the Washington Senators
(1913 and 20).
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Manuel Cueto
Debuted with St. Louis, of the Federal League, in 1914, and played with Cincinnati (N)
(1917-19).
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Adolfo Luque
First Cuban to appear in a World Series (1919). Had a stellar 20 year career in the major Leagues. Played with Boston (NL) (1914-15), Cincinnati (1918-29), Brooklyn (1930-31) and NY Giants
(1932-35).
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Angel Aragon
First Cuban and Latin American to play for the New York Yankees
(1914, 16-17).
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Charles “Chick” Pedroes (Pedro)
Played two games for Chicago (N.L.) in 1902. He was born on October 27th, 1869 in La Habana, Cuba.
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Luis Padron
First Played in organized ball for the 1905 Poughkeepsie team in the Hudson River League.
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Armando Marsans
first played in the U.S. with the All-Cubans, which participated in the Negro Leagues, in 1905. He went on to play in the National, American, and Federal Major Leagues. In 1924 he became the first Cuban to manage in the Minor Leagues as a player-manager of the Elmira Colonels of the New York-Penn League.
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Pioneering Cuban Teams
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All-Cubans
First toured in the United States in 1899. The team returned during the years 1902 through 1905, playing against white semipro and Negro League teams.
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Long Branch Cubans
In 1913 the team finished 1st in the New York-New Jersey (Class D) league with a record of 65-29.
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Newark Cubans
In 1914 the team started the season in Newark before moving back to Long Branch and finished 2nd in the Atlantic (Class D) league with a record of 59-32.
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