Luis Manuel Castro (November 25, 1876 - September 24, 1941) was the first Colombian to play professional baseball in the United States since Cuban player Esteban Bellán in 1871. Likewise, Castro was the first Latin American ballplayer to play in Major League Baseball. (*) He was born in Medellín, Colombia. November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1876 is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 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. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... MLB logo Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... Medellín is the capital city of Antioquia, one of the constituent departments of Colombia. ...

A second baseman and right-handed batter, Castro played his one and only season with the 1902 American League champion Philadelphia Athletics. In his brief 42-game stint, he posted a .245 batting average, with one home run and 15 runs batted in, 35 hits, 18 runs scored, 8 doubles, 1 triple and two stolen bases in 143 at bats. The position of the second baseman A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base. ... See also: 1901 in sports, 1903 in sports and the list of years in sports. American Football January 1 - The first Rose Bowl game is played in Pasadena, California December 28 - The first indoor professional American football game is played in New York City at Madison Square Garden. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... This article is about the baseball team currently active in the American League. ... Batting average is a statistic in both baseball and cricket measuring the performance of baseball hitters and cricket batsmen, respectively. ... For other uses of the phrase see Home run (disambiguation) In baseball, a home run is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run himself (along with a run for each runner who was already on... In baseball statistics, a run batted in (RBI) is given to a batter for each run scored as the result of a batters plate appearance. ... In baseball statistics, a hit (denoted by H), sometimes called a base hit, is credited to a batter when he safely reaches first base after batting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielders choice. ... In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances safely around all three bases and returns safely to home plate. ... In baseball, a double is the act of a batter safely reaching second base by striking the ball and getting to second before being made out, without the benefit of a fielders misplay (see error) or another runner being put out on a fielders choice. ... In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base by striking the ball and getting to third before being made out, without the benefit of a fielders misplay (see error) or another runner being put out on a fielders choice. ... The all-time stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson, swipes third in 1985 In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. ... In baseball statistics, an at bat (AB) is used to calculate other data such as batting average. ...

Though it is known that Luis Castro died in Colombia at age of 64, little else is known about the first Latino to play in the majors.

(*) According to the MacMillan Baseball Encyclopedia, "the first Latin American to enter the big leagues was Luis Castro, an infielder who played 42 games with the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1902 season." - 100 Years & Counting: The Latino Baseball Legacy

See also

• List of players from Colombia in Major League Baseball

This is a list of baseball players from Colombia who have played in Major League Baseball: 1902 Luis Castro 1974 Orlando Ramírez 1983 Jackie Gutiérrez 1996 Edgar Rentería 1997 Orlando Cabrera 1998 Jolbert Cabrera 1999 Yamid Haad Categories: Baseball players | Lists of sportspersons ...

External links

• Career statistics at Baseball Reference
• MLB players born in Colombia at Baseball Reference
• Famous First Foreign Players at Baseball Almanac
• Page at Latino Sports Legends