Esteban Enrique "Steve" Bellan, born October 1, 1849 in Havana, Cuba, is the first Latin American to play professional baseball in the US. He attended school at what is now know as the Fordham University in the Bronx, from 1866 to 1868. He joined the Live Oaks, a Second Division baseball team. After graduation, he played a season for the Union of Morrisania, a member of the NABBP, and helped them win the national championship in 1868. He joined the Troy Haymakers in 1869.
Sometime after that he went to the New York Mutuals until 1873. Bellan moved by to Cuba to play in their baseball leagues. He played for Club Habana and beat Club Matanzas on December 27, 1874, in the first organized baseball game in Cuba. He has been called the Father of Cuban Baseball for his role in organizing the game.
He passed away in Havana, Cuba in 1932.
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