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The Early years (1864 - 1874)

Esteban Bellan

Baseball was introduced to Cuba in the 1860s by Cubans who studied in the United States and American sailors who ported in the country. The sport quickly spread across the island nation. Nemisio Guillo is credited with bringing a bat and baseball to Cuba in 1864 after being schooled in Mobile, Alabama. Two more Cubans were sent to Mobile, one being his brother Ernesto; the Guillo brothers and their contemporaries formed a Baseball team in 1868 - the Habana Baseball Club. The club won one major match - against the crew of an American schooner anchored at the Matanzas harbour. [1] Image File history File links Esteban_Bellan. ... Image File history File links Esteban_Bellan. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Stadium II St. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Nickname: The Azalea City Coordinates: Country US State Alabama County Mobile Founded 1702 Incorporated 1814 Government  - Mayor Sam Jones Area  - City 412. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Habana club was one of the oldest and most distinguished teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. ... Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban Province Matanzas. ...

Soon after this, the first Cuban War of Independence against its Spanish rulers spurred Spanish authorities in 1869 to ban playing the sport in Cuba. [2] The reasons were because Cubans began to prefer baseball to viewing bullfights, which Cubans were expected dutifully attend as homage to their Spanish rulers in an informal cultural mandate. As such, baseball became symbolic of freedom and egalitarianism to the Cuban people. The ban also prompted Esteban Bellán to join the semipro Troy Haymakers. He became the first Latin American player to play in a Major League in the United States. Bellan started playing baseball for the Fordham Rose Hill Baseball Club, while attending Fordham University (1863 - 1868). After that he played for the Unions of Morrisania, a New York City team. Bellan played for the Haymakers until 1862; in 1861 it joined the National Association. [3] The Ten Years War, (Guerra de los Diez Años) (also known as the Great War) began on October 10, 1868. ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Esteban Enrique Bellán (1850 - August 8, 1932), also known as Esteban, or Steve Bellan (bel-lyahn), was credited as having been the first Latin American professional baseball player to play in the United States. ... Picture of the 1871 Troy Haymakers The Troy Haymakers were a member of the National Association, the first professional baseball league, in 1871 and 1872. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Fordham University is a private, coeducational research university[2] in the United States, with three residential campuses located in and around New York City. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC, City That Never Sleeps, The Concrete Jungle, The City So Nice They Named It Twice Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1676 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by...

The first official match in Cuba took place in Pueblo Nuevo, Matanaz, at the Palmar del Junco, December 27, 1874. It was between Club Matanzas and Club Habana, the latter winning 51 to 9, in nine innings. December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Habana club was one of the oldest and most distinguished teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. ...

Cuban baseball is organized (1878 - 1898)

In late 1878 the Cuban League was organized, consisting of three teams—Almendares, Habana, and Mantanzas—and playing four games per team. The first game was played on December 29, 1878, with Habana defeating Almendares 21 to 20. Habana, under team captain Bellán, was undefeated in winning the first championship. The teams were amateurs (and all whites), but gradually professionalism took hold as teams bid away players from rivals. The Cuban League was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside of the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961. ... The Almendares club was one of the oldest and most distinguished teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Cuban baseball becomes international (1898 - 1933)

The Spanish-American War brought increased opportunities to play against top teams from the United States. Also, the Cuban League admitted black players beginning in 1900. Soon many of the best players from the Northern American Negro Leagues were playing on integrated teams in Cuba. Beginnng in 1908, Cuban teams scored a number of successes in competition against major league baseball teams, behind outstanding players such as pitcher José Méndez and outfielder Cristóbal Torriente (who were both enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006). By the 1920s, the level of play in the Cuban League was superb, as Negro League stars like Oscar Charleston and John Henry Lloyd spent their winters playing in Cuba. Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (only 432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties Unknown[1] The Spanish... Part of the History of baseball series. ... José Méndez (March 19, 1887 - October 31, 1928) was a Cuban right-handed pitcher and manager in baseballs Negro Leagues. ... Cristóbal Torriente (November 16, 1893 - April 11, 1938) was a Cuban outfielder in Negro league baseball with the Cuban Stars, Chicago American Giants, Kansas City Monarchs and Detroit Stars over a career that lasted from 1914 to 1928, plus a single game in 1932. ... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 62 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... John Henry Pop Lloyd (born April 25, 1884 - died March 19, 1965) was a Negro League baseball player. ...

See also

Cuba Portal

• Cuba national baseball team
• Cuban National League
• Japanese baseball

Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. ... The Cuban National League is not a single baseball league; rather it is a structure of leagues and series that are governed by the Cuban Baseball Federation and culminate in national championships and the selection of the Cuba national baseball team. ... Koshien Stadium (in 1992) Baseball has been a popular sport in Japan for over a century since its introduction in 1872. ...

External links

• spacemanincuba.com Homepage for a Documentary about Bill Lee and Baseball in Cuba.
• cubanbaseballcards.com Website dedicated to Cuban baseball cards.