With Jackie Robinson Day upon us, I wondered who was the first black player to play for the Angels. After digging around in the internet the other morning, I found the answer: Julio Bécquer.
The Angels selected Bécquer with the 49th pick of the December 14, 1960 Expansion Draft. He was a 5-foot-11, left-handed first baseman from the Washington Senators. He had played in 419 games for the Senators from 1955 to 1959, batting .247 over that span. He was mostly known for leading the American League in pinch hits in 1957 and 1959.
Before he could join the Angels in Palm Springs for spring training in the February of 1961, he had to officially and permanently leave Cuba.