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List of countries with their first Major League Baseball player

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The following is a list of countries with their first Major League Baseball player. Listed are each country that at least one current or former major league player was born in, along with the name of the first person born in that country to play in a major league game, and the year and sports league of that player's major league debut.

In 1964, Masanori Murakami became the first player born in Japan to appear in a major league game.

Background

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The globalization of baseball has been occurring since its inception. After an influx of players from western Europe in early years, the major leagues came to see fewer European players and more players from Latin America. Players born in over 50 countries and on every continent except Antarctica have now appeared in major league games. Considerations:

Further information: List of IOC country codes
  • The players listed are not necessarily the first citizen of a country to play in a major league game, as nationality is determined under a country's nationality law and may differ.
  • The list does not reflect where players grew up and learned to play baseball.
    • Some players on the list, despite their birth location, are or were Americans or Canadians who returned to their parents' home country as children and were raised there. One example is Harry Kingman, who was born in China but grew up in California.
    • Many European-born players on the list moved to North America as children. For example, the first person born in Italy to play in the major leagues, Lou Polli in 1932, moved with his family to Vermont at seven months of age.[c]

List

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Listed players appeared in at least one game of a professional baseball major league (commonly referred to as Major League Baseball, although that entity did not exist before 1903), which encompasses:

The seven major Negro leagues from 1920 to 1948 were officially recognized as "major leagues" in December 2020.[1] Note that the status of the National Association as a major league is in dispute.[2] National Association players are included in the major league records of sites such as Baseball-Reference.com and Retrosheet, thus are also included here.

 
The European countries highlighted in blue have had a least one player born there play in a major league game, through the 2019 season.
Country Player Debut Ref.
Year League
Afghanistan Jeff Bronkey‡ 1993 American League [3]
American Samoa Tony Solaita 1968 American League [4]
Aruba Gene Kingsale 1996 American League [5]
at sea Ed Porray‡ 1914 Federal League [6]
Australia Joe Quinn‡[d] 1884 Union Association [7]
Austria Joe Hovlik‡ 1909 American League [8]
Bahamas Ormond Sampson 1932 Negro Southern League [9]
Belgium Brian Lesher‡ 1996 American League [10]
Belize Chito Martinez 1991 American League [11]
Brazil Yan Gomes 2012 American League [12]
Canada Bob Addy 1871 National Association [13]
China Harry Kingman‡ 1914 American League [14]
Colombia Lou Castro‡[e] 1902 American League [15]
Cuba Steve Bellán 1871 National Association [16]
Curaçao Hensley Meulens 1989 American League [17]
Czech Republic John Stedronsky‡[f] 1879 National League [18]
Denmark Olaf Henriksen‡ 1911 American League [19]
Dominican Republic Pedro San 1926 Eastern Colored League [20]
Finland John Michaelson‡ 1921 American League [21]
France Larry Ressler‡ 1875 National Association [22]
Germany George Heubel‡[g][h] 1871 National Association [24]
Greece Al Campanis‡ 1943 National League [25]
Guam John Hattig 2006 American League [26]
Hawaii [i] Johnnie Williams 1914 American League [27]
Honduras Gerald Young‡[j] 1987 National League [28]
Hong Kong Austin Brice‡ 2016 National League [29]
Indonesia Tom Mastny‡ 2006 American League [30]
Ireland Andy Leonard‡[k] 1871 National Association [31]
Italy Lou Polli‡[c] 1932 American League [32]
Jamaica Oscar Levis 1923 Eastern Colored League [33]
Japan Masanori Murakami 1964 National League [34]
Latvia Joe Zapustas‡ 1933 American League [35]
Lithuania Dovydas Neverauskas 2017 National League [36]
Mexico Mel Almada 1933 American League [37]
Netherlands Rynie Wolters‡[l] 1871 National Association [39]
Nicaragua Dennis Martínez 1976 American League [40]
Norway John Anderson‡ 1894 National League [41]
Panama Victor Greenidge 1941 Negro National League (II) [42]
Peru Jesús Luzardo‡ 2019 American League [43]
Philippines Claudio Manela 1921 Negro National League (I) [44]
Poland Skel Roach‡ 1899 National League [45]
Portugal Frank Thompson 1875 National Association [46]
Puerto Rico Gacho Torres 1926 Eastern Colored League [47]
Russia Jake Gettman‡ 1897 National League [48]
Saudi Arabia Craig Stansberry‡ 2007 National League [49]
Singapore Robin Jennings‡ 1996 National League [50]
Slovakia Jack Quinn‡ 1909 American League [51]
South Africa Gift Ngoepe 2017 National League [52]
South Korea Chan Ho Park 1994 National League [53]
Spain Al Cabrera[m] 1913 National League [54]
Sweden Charlie Hallstrom‡ 1885 National League [55]
Switzerland Otto Hess‡ 1902 American League [56]
Taiwan Chin-Feng Chen 2002 National League [57]
United Kingdom George Hall† 1871 National Association [58]
Harry Wright†
United States multiple players[n] 1871 National Association [59]
U.S. Virgin Islands Alphonso Gerard 1945 Negro National League (II) [61]
Venezuela Alex Carrasquel 1939 American League [62]
Vietnam Danny Graves‡ 1996 American League [63]

† Hall and Wright both made their debut on 5 May 1871.
‡ Immigrated to, raised in, and/or developed in the United States.

Notes

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  1. ^ This approach is consistent with that of the Hockey Hall of Fame, generally followed for purposes of nationality classification in ice hockey, which classifies players by the currently existing countries in which their birthplaces are located.
  2. ^ A notable example is Al Campanis, the first Greek major league player; when he was born in 1916, his birthplace–the Greek island of Kos–was part of the Kingdom of Italy; Kos has been part of Greece since 1947.
  3. ^ a b The first player born and raised in Italy to appear in the major leagues was Alex Liddi in 2011.
  4. ^ The first player born and raised in Australia to appear in the major leagues was Craig Shipley in 1986.
  5. ^ The first player born and raised in Colombia to appear in the major leagues was Orlando Ramírez in 1974.
  6. ^ The territories of the modern-day Czech Republic were then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
  7. ^ The first player born and raised in Germany to appear in the major leagues was Max Kepler in 2015. Additionally, Donald Lutz, who was born in the United States but raised and developed in Germany, debuted in 2013.[23]
  8. ^ Though Heubel was born in 1849, the modern state of Germany would not be created until 1871.
  9. ^ Though Hawaii is now part of the United States, it was an independent country until 1895. Before gaining statehood in 1959, it also fielded its own national baseball team.
  10. ^ The first player born and raised in Honduras to appear in the major leagues was Mauricio Dubón in 2019.
  11. ^ The territories of modern-day Ireland were then part of the United Kingdom.
  12. ^ The first player born and raised in the Netherlands to appear in the major leagues was Win Remmerswaal in 1979.[38]
  13. ^ Immigrated to Cuba. Also technically the first African-born major leaguer, since he was born in the Canary Islands, an African possession of Spain.
  14. ^ There were 18 players–all born in the United States–in the first game of the National Association, played on 4 May 1871.[59][60]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Anderson, R.J. (16 December 2020). "MLB Elevates Negro Leagues to 'Major League' Status, Giving 'Overdue Recognition' to 3,400 Players". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  2. ^ Thorn, John (4 May 2015). "Why Is the National Association Not a Major League … and Other Records Issues". mlblogs.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Players by birthplace: Afghanistan Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Players by birthplace: American Samoa Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Players by birthplace: Aruba Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Players by birthplace: At Sea Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Players by birthplace: Australia Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Players by birthplace: Austria Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Players by birthplace: Bahamas Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Players by birthplace: Belgium Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Players by birthplace: Belize Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Players by birthplace: Brazil Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Players by birthplace: Canada Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Players by birthplace: China Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Players by birthplace: Colombia Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Players by birthplace: Cuba Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Players by birthplace: Curacao Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Players by birthplace: Czech Republic Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Players by birthplace: Denmark Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Players by birthplace: Dominican Republic Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Players by birthplace: Finland Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Players by birthplace: France Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  23. ^ "How Twins OF prospect Max Kepler journeyed from Germany to majors". ABC News. 19 April 2016.
  24. ^ "Players by birthplace: Germany Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Players by birthplace: Greece Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Players by birthplace: Guam Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  27. ^ "Players by birthplace: Hawaii Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Players by birthplace: Honduras Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Players by birthplace: Hong Kong Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Players by birthplace: Indonesia Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Players by birthplace: Ireland Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  32. ^ "Players by birthplace: Italy Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Players by birthplace: Jamaica Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Players by birthplace: Japan Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  35. ^ "Players by birthplace: Latvia Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  36. ^ "Players by birthplace: Lithuania Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  37. ^ "Players by birthplace: Mexico Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Win Remmerswaal". SABR. Society for American Baseball Research.
  39. ^ "Players by birthplace: Netherlands Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Players by birthplace: Nicaragua Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  41. ^ "Players by birthplace: Norway Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Players by birthplace: Panama Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  43. ^ "Players by birthplace: Peru Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  44. ^ "Players by birthplace: Philippines Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  45. ^ "Players by birthplace: Poland Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  46. ^ "Players by birthplace: Portugal Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  47. ^ "Players by birthplace: Puerto Rico Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  48. ^ "Players by birthplace: Russian Federation Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  49. ^ "Players by birthplace: Saudi Arabia Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  50. ^ "Players by birthplace: Singapore Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  51. ^ "Players by birthplace: Slovakia Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  52. ^ "Players by birthplace: South Africa Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  53. ^ "Players by birthplace: South Korea Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  54. ^ "Players by birthplace: Spain Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  55. ^ "Players by birthplace: Sweden Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  56. ^ "Players by birthplace: Switzerland Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  57. ^ "Players by birthplace: Taiwan Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  58. ^ "Players by birthplace: United Kingdom Baseball Stats and Info". Retrosheet. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  59. ^ a b "First National Association Game". Retrosheet. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  60. ^ "Ft. Wayne Kekiongas 2, Cleveland Forest Citys 0". Retrosheet. 4 May 1871. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  61. ^ "Players by birthplace: U. S. Virgin Islands Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  62. ^ "Players by birthplace: Venezuela Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  63. ^ "Players by birthplace: Viet Nam Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
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