There was a player by the name of Vincent Nava who debuted with Providence in 1882. Although he was born in San Francisco, I've heard he was of Cuban descent. I can't confirm that, however.

Generally the first Cuban to play in the bigs is acknowledged to be Esteban Enrique Bellan. He made his debut May 9, 1871.

He was not a pitcher, however, and the original statement was about pitching in the USA.

The understandable mix up with Robinson stood out to me only because he passed away recently and I read an article referencing his start in MLB and the timing 50+ years later with Mariano Rivera winding down his career.

Jim- now that I think of it, Bellan appeared on an 1871 Troy Haymakers CdV.

Jim, you're absolutely right .....
 

*

Jim you're right, Esteban Bellan was the first Cuban to play professional baseball in the USA, just two years after the creation of professional teams.

At this moment I'm looking at an early program of a game played by the Troy Haymakers vs the New York Mutuals on October 2, 1871 at the Union Grounds.

Playing for the Haymakers:
McGerry, C.
York, C.F.
Flowers, S.S.
Flynn, 1st b.
King, l.f.
McMullin, p.
Pike, r.f.
Bellan, 3d b.
Craver, 2d b.

Playing for the Mutuals:
Hatfield, 2d b.
Patterson, l.f.
Start, 1st b.
Wolters, p.
Eggler, c.f.
Mills, c.
Ferguson, 3d b.
Pearce, s.s.
Higham, r.f.

The program is scored, and the Mutuals won 16 - 7.
The first year of the National Association.

Jim VB

Do not believe your assertions regarding `me are accurate. They could be correct only if you knew me personally.

I will no longer comment on this thread.

I also thought the collar/uni looked like Johnson's T206.