September 8, 1933: The 1st Mexican Player In Major League Baseball

September 8, 1933: Mel Almada becomes the 1st person born in Mexico to play in a Major League Baseball game. On this day, played center field, wore Number 21, and led off for the Boston Red Sox, and went 1-for-4 with a walk. It wasn’t enough, as the Sox lost to the Detroit Tigers, 4-3 at Fenway Park. It was the 1st game of a rain-forced doubleheader. The Tigers also won the 2nd game, 4-3.

Baldomero Almada Quirós was born on February 7, 1913 in Huatabampo, in the State of Sonora, and grew up in Los Angeles. He played for the Red Sox from 1933 to 1937, the Washington Senators in 1937 and 1938, the St. Louis Browns in 1938 and 1939, and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939. His best season was 1937, when he had career highs with a .295 batting average and 5 home runs. The next year, he had a career high with 52 RBIs.

He played in the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, until World War II broke out, ending his pro career. He later managed in the Mexican League, was elected to the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971, and died on August 13, 1988, at age 75.

As you can see, he was light-skinned enough to be considered "white." The Red Sox had a few white Hispanic players after him, but were the last MLB team to have a black player, in 1959.

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September 8, 1933 was a Friday. These other baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Yankees beat the St. Louis Browns, 5-3 at Yankee Stadium. Russ Van Atta went the distance for the win. Babe Ruth did not play. Lou Gehrig went 1-for-3 with 2 walks.

* The New York Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Carl Hubbell went the distance for his 21st win of the season. Player-manager Bill Terry went 1-for-3 with a walk. Mel Ott went 0-for-4. For the Pirates, Paul Waner went 0-for-3 with a walk, and Lloyd Waner, who did not start the game, went 1-for-2.

* The Brooklyn Dodgers lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 12-0 at Redland Field in Cincinnati. Silas "Si" Johnson pitched a 6-hit shutout.

The next year, radio executive Powel Crosley bought the Reds, and renamed the ballpark Crosley Field. This was the depth of the Dodgers' period where they were known as "The Daffiness Boys," and the term "Dem Bums" originated, not as a term of endearment as it would later become.

* The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians, 9-2 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Jimmie Foxx went 2-for-5 with a home run and 2 RBIs, and Mickey Cochrane went 3-for-4.

* The Washington Senators beat the Chicago White Sox, 11-2 at Griffith Stadium in Washington.

* The Chicago Cubs beat the Boston Braves, 8-3 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

* And the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-5 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Chuck Klein, on his way to winning the Triple Crown, hit a home run for the Phils.