page_title: Sports in Puerto Rico
section_title: Early history of baseball in Puerto Rico
hierarchical_section_title: Sports in Puerto Rico / Distribution and practice among sports / Baseball / Early history of baseball in Puerto Rico
caption_attribution_description: English: Kevin Youkilis(left) , Alex Cora(center), and Dustin Pedroia
context_page_description: Sports in Puerto Rico can be traced from the ceremonial competitions amongst the pre-Columbian Native Americans of the Arawak tribes who inhabited the island to the modern era in which sports activities consist of an organized physical activity or skill carried out with a recreational purpose for competition. One of the sports which the Taíno's played was a ball game called "Batey". The "Batey" was played in "U" shaped fields two teams; however, unlike the ball games of the modern era, the winners were treated like heroes and the losers were sacrificed.
  The Spanish Conquistadores who conquered the island introduced various sports such as horse racing, cockfighting, dominoes and a game similar to "Bowling" called "Boliche". The Spaniards however did not participate in team sports.
  Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as a result of their defeat in the 1898 Spanish–American War. American soldiers who organized games as part of their training introduced the sport of Boxing and Basketball to the people of Puerto Rico.
context_section_description: During the late 19th century Puerto Rico was to witness the introduction of organized team sports. The game of baseball was first introduced to the island by a group of Puerto Ricans and Cubans who had learned the game in the United States. At first the sport was not well received by the local press and general public, it was looked upon as a silly game. The first two baseball clubs were founded in 1897. They were the Almendares Baseball Club, owned by Francisco Alamo Armas and the Borinquen Baseball Club owned by Santos Filippi.
  According to the daily newspaper El País, on January 11, 1898, the first organized baseball game was played in Puerto Rico at the old velodrome which was located at the Pda.15 in Santurce, San Juan. The Borinquen team beat the Almendares with a score of 3 to 0. The first game to go a complete nine innings was played on January 30, 1898 and the Borinquen once again beat the Almendares with a score of 9 to 3.
  Puerto Rico became an American territory when the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish–American War. The American soldiers stationed in Puerto Rico were permitted to organize a baseball club to play against the local clubs as diversional outlet. On November 4, 1900 the Almendares Baseball Club composed of Puerto Ricans and Cubans beat the American Baseball Club of the Second Regiment of Infantry with a score of 32 to 18. In the early 1920s, teams from Puerto Rico, such as the San Juan Stars, would travel to New York City and play against some of teams there which included teams made up of Puerto Ricans who lived there.
  Modern era
  Puerto Rico has over 100 Major League Baseball players who are currently active, in addition to the hundreds others who have participated in the past. These facts combine to make baseball one of the most popular sports in the island.
  Some of the most notable baseball players from Puerto Rico are five Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar, Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez and Edgar Martinez. Another baseball player who is a Hall of Famer and who was born to a Puerto Rican father is Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson. Also amongst the notable players or former players are Jose "Cheo" Cruz, Juan González, Victor Pellot, Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams.
  Chronological order of major events
  On January 11, 1898, the first organized baseball game is played in Puerto Rico between the Borinquen team and the Almendares team. The Borinquen won 3 to 0.
  In 1928, Emilio "Millito" Navarro of the Cuban Stars became the first Puerto Rican to play in the Negro Leagues
  In 1942, Hiram Bithorn of the Chicago Cubs became the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues.
  In 1949, Luis Olmo (El "Jíbaro" Olmos) of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first Puerto Rican to play in a World Series game and the first one to hit a home run and to get three hits, in the same game.
  In 1951, Puerto Rico won its first and only Baseball World Cup.
  In 1954, Rubén Gómez of the New York Giants became the first Puerto Rican to pitch in a World Series game and the first one to receive a World Series ring.
  In 1972, Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first Hispanic to reach 3,000 hits in what would prove to be his career's final at-bat.
  In 1973, following his death in a plane crash, Clemente became the first Puerto Rican born player to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  In 1984, Willie Hernández of the Detroit Tigers became the first Puerto Rican to win both the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP Award.
  In 1992, José "Cheo" Cruz was honored by the Houston Astros when his #25 was retired by the team.
  In 1993, Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson, whose father is Puerto Rican, was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
  In 1995, Leon Day, a Pitcher in the Negro Leagues who played for "Los Tiburones de Aguadilla" the "Aguadilla Sharks" was inducted into the Hall of Fame. His love for the island is reflected in the fact that he is the only Hall of Famer to be enshrined with a cap of a team outside the mainland United States; his plaque depicts him as a "Aguadi
caption: In 2018 Alex Cora, became the first Puerto Rican to manage a World Series winning team
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