Early history of baseball in Puerto Rico Baseball in Puerto Rico

the game of baseball introduced island in late 19th century, puerto ricans , cubans had learned game in united states. @ first sport poorly received hard-working farmers, tobacco workers , sugarcane cutters of island, considered effete, unmanly game.

the first 2 baseball clubs founded in 1897: almendares baseball club owned francisco alamo armas, , borinquen baseball club owned santos filippi.

according el país newspaper, first organized baseball game played on january 11, 1898 @ old velodrome in santurce, san juan. borinquen beat almendares score of 3 0. first game go complete 9 innings played on january 30, 1898, when borinquen beat almendares again, score of 9 3.

later same year, puerto rico became american territory when united states defeated spain in spanish–american war. way of recreation, american soldiers stationed in puerto rico permitted organize baseball club play against local puerto rican clubs. on november 4, 1900 almendares baseball club trounced american baseball club of second regiment of infantry, score of 32 18.

in 1920s teams puerto rico, such san juan baseball club , porto rican stars, travel new york city play against of professional american teams.