Previously Unknown T206 Discovered

[Potomac Yank]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

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.

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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.