Bobby Balcena
Encyclopedia
Robert Rudolph Balcena was an outfielder
in Major League Baseball
who played briefly for the Cincinnati Redlegs
in . Balcena batted right-handed and threw left-handed
. He was born in San Pedro, California.
Balcena became the first player of Filipino
ancestry to appear in a major league game. He had a long distinguished Triple-A career with the Seattle Rainiers
as a center fielder
in the 1950s, and in Seattle is fondly remembered to this day.
Balcena died in his hometown of San Pedro, Philippines at the age of 64.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played briefly for the Cincinnati Redlegs
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in . Balcena batted right-handed and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
. He was born in San Pedro, California.
Balcena became the first player of Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
ancestry to appear in a major league game. He had a long distinguished Triple-A career with the Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
as a center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
in the 1950s, and in Seattle is fondly remembered to this day.
Balcena died in his hometown of San Pedro, Philippines at the age of 64.