Steve Bellán

Esteban Enrique Bellán (Spanish pronunciation: [beˈʎan]; October 1, 1849 – August 8, 1932), was a Cuban professional baseball third baseman, shortstop, center fielder and manager. He is credited as the first Latin-American individual to play professional baseball in the United States, for six seasons: three in the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) from 1868 to 1870, and three in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (also known simply as the National Association, or NA), from 1871 to 1873.

The Havana-born Bellán studied at the first and second divisions of St. John's College in the Bronx (the modern Fordham Preparatory School and Fordham University, respectively) from 1863 to 1868. It was during his Fordham years that he acquired the English diminutive "Steve" that would follow him throughout his professional career in the United States. Arriving at Fordham, Esteban joined the Second Division baseball team, the Live Oaks, possibly having been exposed to the game back home in Cuba by American sailors.

After graduating from St. John's in 1868, Bellán played one season for the Union of Morrisania, a member of the NABBP, and was part of their national championship team in 1868. He joined the Troy Haymakers in 1869, and continued playing for the team when they joined the NAPBBP when it was formed in 1871 to replace the NABBP ceased operations.

Bellán left the Mutuals in 1873 and returned to Cuba to play in their newly formed baseball leagues. In what is often cited as the first organized baseball game ever played in Cuba, his Club Habana defeated Club Matanzas 51–9 on December 27, 1874. He later became the club's player-manager, from 1878 to 1886, and led them to three Cuban League championships. He has been called "The Father of Cuban Baseball" for his role organizing the first Cuban baseball game, his success as a player and manager, and his continued influence on the game after his career had ended.