Nino Escalera

Saturnino Escalera Cuadrado (December 1, 1929 – July 3, 2021) was a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player and scout whose playing career extended for 14 seasons (1949–1962). The outfielder and first baseman appeared for one full season, , in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Redlegs and was the first player of African descent to appear in an MLB game for the Cincinnati franchise. He threw and batted left-handed, stood tall and .

Playing career Born in Santurce, Escalera started his baseball career at a very young age, often playing with his brothers and neighbors from the Loiza Street in his hometown. In 1947 at the Amateur World Series held in Colombia, Escalera was named best first baseman and most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament. In 1950, the New York Yankees organization obtained Escalera from the Bristol Owls of the Colonial League. Nino Escalera led the LBPPR in triples in 1950-51, 1952-53 and 1959-60. Escalera entered that game with two out and a baserunner on first in the eighth inning and took veteran starter Roy McMillan's place at shortstop. The hitter was the St. Louis Cardinals' Baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial, who would set the NL record for career hits before his 1963 retirement. Facing right-handed pitcher Art Fowler, Musial struck out to end the inning, denying Escalera a fielding chance. He was replaced by Rocky Bridges for the ninth inning, and the Redlegs won the game, 4–2. Escalera returned to the minor leagues in 1955 with the Havana Sugar Kings and was selected for and played in the 1958 International League All-Star Game.

Professional baseball playing experience 1949–1950 Colonial League (Class B) Bristol Owls 1950 Canadian–American League (Class C) Amsterdam Rugmakers (New York Yankees) 1951 Central League (Class A) Muskegon Reds (Yankees) 1951 International League (Triple-A) Syracuse Chiefs 1952 American Association (Triple-A) Toledo Mud Hens/Charleston Senators 1953 American Association (Triple-A) Indianapolis Indians (Cleveland Indians) 1953 Texas League (Double-A) Tulsa Oilers (Cincinnati Redlegs) 1954 National League (MLB) Cincinnati Redlegs 1955–1958 International League (Triple-A) Havana Sugar Kings (Redlegs) 1959–1961 International League (Triple-A) Columbus Jets (Pittsburgh Pirates) 1962 International League (Triple-A) Rochester Red Wings (Baltimore Orioles)

Scouting career After his active career, Escalera worked as a scout for the New York Mets' organization from 1966 to 1981. In 1982, he scouted for the San Francisco Giants. Among players signed by Escalera are retired major league players Jerry Morales, Ed Figueroa, Benny Ayala, José Oquendo and Juan Berenguer. Escalera is a member of the Puerto Rico Baseball Hall of Fame, Río Piedras Sport Hall of Fame, Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame and Santurce Sports Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was also named as one of the best 75 baseball players who ever played in Puerto Rico winter league history.

Later life and legacy Escalera was inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Escalera's nephew Ruben Escalera, played for the Milwaukee Brewers minor league organization, later became a professional baseball scout and is a professional baseball manager as of 2012. Another nephew, Alfredo Escalera, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals as the youngest player ever to be drafted by any organization.

Escalera died on July 3, 2021, at the age of 91.