It took until 2000, but meet the man credited as NFL’s first Hispanic player. One of the many historically significant pieces in the Hall of Fame's collection is the 1927 contract signed by Ignacio "Lou" Molinet. Yet Molinet was Cuban, born in 1904 in Chaparra, a small town on the eastern part of the island. For the Big Red faithful in college, he was "Molly," a shortening of his last name. ©2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame All Rights Reserved. Despite the prominence of Latin American-born kickers and linemen in the modern era, the first incursions, perhaps facilitated by Molinet, tell the story of playmakers on offense, mainly fullbacks and halfbacks. It took until 2000, but meet the man credited as NFL’s first Hispanic player. Regardless of what he was called and why, Molinet's 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame made him a good candidate to be a pro fullback. Today Molinet's contract is prominently displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A Spanish language version of this story can be found on ESPNDeportes.com, Julio Ricardo Varela, Special to ESPN.com, A pioneer largely forgotten: Ignacio Molinet was NFL's first Hispanic player, There still is talk, and little else, of MLB expansion in Mexico, Dodgers, Padres playing with full decks in Monterrey, Valenzuela, A-Gon, headline top 10 list of MLB players from Mexico, The Padres want to win over fans and become the team of Mexico, How collectible medals and Facebook likes encouraged cheaters in the Mexico City Marathon, Mexican driver Alexandra Mohnhaupt sports a formula for success, A young amateur boxer faces a battle outside the ring, Straight out of the Mexican League and onto the Boston Red Sox, Sports world in Mexico celebrates Guillermo del Toro's Oscars-winning night, Golfer Abraham Ancer just might be Mexico's next big swing, A football league shines in Mexico under soccer field lights, Three things Daniel Suarez will do in NASCAR this year, Five things we learned in the Caribbean Series. It took until 2000, but meet the man credited as NFL’s first Hispanic player. So far away, in fact, that his five children would not hear any reference to his sporting past unless a Cornell play-by-play announcer mentioned him during a broadcast they happened to be listening to. For generations, historians had associated Ignacio Molinet with French heritage, because of his last name. He attended school in New Jersey at the Peddie School where he played baseball (Cornellian, 1927; Ignacio Molinet, April 24, 1922). Ignacio Saturnino "Lou" Molinet (November 30, 1904 – August 27, 1976) was a Cuban-American professional American football player who played in the National Football League for the Frankford Yellow Jackets during the 1927 season.He is distinguished as being the first Cuban and Latin American to play in the league. Sign up and get Insider's information & Special Offers. He played in nine NFL games that season and the Yellow Jackets fell below .500 good for 7th place in the standings. Israel Dehesa | DeportesKiko Alonso's Homecoming: Renewal helps NFL player. Israel Dehesa | Deportes, Kiko Alonso's Homecoming: Renewal helps NFL player. Regardless of what he was called and why, Molinet's 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame made him a good candidate to be a pro fullback. On Monday afternoon four generations of the Molinet family visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In his early years, Molinet relocated to the United States, where both he and his older brother, Joaquin, attended Cornell. And there was no contesting that Jesse Rodriguez had been the first person of Hispanic heritage to play in the NFL -- until 2000. Gustavo Fillol | DeportesLatino blueprint:Indians much like the 2015 Royals. Cry for Manu Ginóbili Argentina. Por Mónica Vargas El año 1992 marcó la vida de la familia guanajuatense Molinet Aguilar, un hijo de familia fue acusado de asesinar a su empleada doméstica sin las pruebas necesarias, con muchas conjeturas, declaraciones diversas y una historia poco convencional. El magnífico escritor Paco Ignacio Taibo II reescribe literariamente el “Caso Molinet” ese mismo… Molinet returned to Cornell, finished his degree and lived a life far away from football. Israel Dehesa | DeportesKiko Alonso's Homecoming: Renewal helps NFL player. His father, Fabriciano, arrived at Ellis Island in 1911 on board the famed Lusitania with only $30 dollars in his pocket. Two of his sons, Jesse and Kelly, both young children at the time of the move, would go on to play in the NFL. However, after his sophomore year ended, both of his parents died. Andrea Canales | Deportes |Video, Forgotten pioneer: Ignacio Molinet made NFL history. He actually worked for the Carrier Corporation, first in New York City, then in Rochester and then in Syracuse. It took until 2000, but meet the man credited as NFL’s first Hispanic player. Ignacio Molinet. Ignacio Saturnino "Lou" Molinet (November 30, 1904 – August 27, 1976) was a Cuban-American professional American football player who played in the National Football League for the Frankford Yellow Jackets during the 1927 season. A Spanish language version of this story can be found on ESPNDeportes.com, Julio Ricardo Varela, Special to ESPN.com, A pioneer largely forgotten: Ignacio Molinet was NFL's first Hispanic player, There still is talk, and little else, of MLB expansion in Mexico, Dodgers, Padres playing with full decks in Monterrey, Valenzuela, A-Gon, headline top 10 list of MLB players from Mexico, The Padres want to win over fans and become the team of Mexico, How collectible medals and Facebook likes encouraged cheaters in the Mexico City Marathon, Mexican driver Alexandra Mohnhaupt sports a formula for success, A young amateur boxer faces a battle outside the ring, Straight out of the Mexican League and onto the Boston Red Sox, Sports world in Mexico celebrates Guillermo del Toro's Oscars-winning night, Golfer Abraham Ancer just might be Mexico's next big swing, A football league shines in Mexico under soccer field lights, Three things Daniel Suarez will do in NASCAR this year, Five things we learned in the Caribbean Series. When both his parents died following his junior year, he returned to his homeland in the Caribbean until the Frankford Yellow Jackets, a Philadelphia-area team, offered him a pro football contract with the budding NFL. Eric Gomez | DeportesCoach Tony Sanchez:Passion for football at UNLV. Eric Gomez | DeportesMexican in Bundesliga: Chicharito finds match in Germany. Molinet's legacy, however, is notable to the growing fraternity of Latinos in college and pro football today. A fullback for the Yellow Jackets, Molinet played in nine games that season, but didn’t return to the team in 1928. Despite the prominence of Latin American-born kickers and linemen in the modern era, the first incursions, perhaps facilitated by Molinet, tell the story of playmakers on offense, mainly fullbacks and halfbacks. Up until 2000, the first Hispanic NFL player was believed to be Jesse Rodriguez, a fullback/punter who made his debut in 1929 playing for the Buffalo Bisons.