Mike Cuellar was born in Santa Clara, Cuba where he attended the Instituto de Segunda Enseñanza. He was signed by the Reds’ organization in 1957, pitched for the Havana Sugar Kings of the International League, then made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 1959. He spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and California Angels. His best years were spent with the Orioles, helping them capture five American League East Division titles, three consecutive American League (AL) pennants and the 1970 World Series Championship. In 1969 he was the first pitcher from the Baltimore Orioles and first born anywhere outside the U.S. to win a Cy Young Award. Also in 1970 he was the first player in Major League history to ever hit a grand slam during a League Championship Series (LCS). Cuellar died in 2010 in Orlando, Florida.