Steve Bellan Esteban Bellán Third base Batted: Unknown Threw: Unknown MLB Debut May 9, 1871 for the Haymaker of Troy Final game Unknown, 1873 for the Mutual of New York Career Statistics Runs 52 Doubles 9 RBI 42 Teams Haymaker of Troy (1871-1872) Mutual of New York (1873) Career Highlights and Awards First Hispanic American player in the major leagues Esteban Enrique Bellán (1850 - August 8, 1932), also known as Esteban, or Steve Bellán (bel-LYAHN), was the first Cuban and the first Latin American to play major league baseball. The Havana-born Bellán also became one of Cuba's first great baseball player-managers, having learned how to play the game while he was a student at Fordham University from 1863-1868. As was common among wealthy Cuban-Catholic families, Bellán and his brother Domingo were sent to the United States to study at Fordham, a Jesuit institution. During his time at Fordham, he played for the newly created Fordham Rose Hill Baseball Club. Founded in the late 1850's, the Rose Hill's played the first ever nine-man team college baseball game in the United States against St. Francis Xavier College on November 3, 1859. After being graduated in 1868, Bellán played for the Unions of Morrisania, who originated baseball in the Bronx and claimed the national championship in 1868. Morrisania played near the spot where the old Melrose station of the Harlem Railroad was located (Yankee Stadium was built in 1923 almost in the same place).
More than a half-century before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, the Troy Haymakers employed Bellán, a Latino player in a league which otherwise was entirely lily-white. Nicknamed "The Cuban Sylph" for his elegant and stylistic play at third base, Bellán played for the Haymakers (originally called Union of Lansingburgh, New York) from 1869-1872. The Haymakers in 1871 joined the nascent National Association, the forerunner of the National League.
After his time with the Haymakers, Bellán played with the New York Mutuals in 1873, and then returned to his homeland. Altogether he compiled a batting average of .252, with 69 hits, 52 runs scored, 42 runs batted in, 9 doubles, 3 triples and 5 stolen bases in 60 games played in the National Association.
From 1878-1886 Bellán served as both a player and manager for the recently founded Habana baseball team, playing in the first organized baseball game in Cuba on December 27, 1874. Club Habana defeated Club Matanzas, 51 to 9, in nine innings. Bellán led Habana to three Cuban League baseball championships (1878-79, 1879-80, 1882-83). He was also inducted into the Fordham University Hall of Fame (1989-90).
Steve Bellán died on August 8, 1932 in Havana, Cuba. He was 82 years old.
