Career
In 1946 at the Amateur Baseball World Series held in the Latin American Republic of Colombia Escalera was named best first baseman and most valuable player (Most Valuable Player) of the tournament. In 1950, the New York Yankees organization obtained Escalera from the Bristol Owls of the Colonial League. In 1952, he was purchased by the Toledo Mud Hens/Charleston Senators of the American Association, and later that year, by the Cincinnati Redlegs organization.
On April 17, 1954 at Milwaukee County Stadium, a 24-year-old Escalera, standing at 5"10 and weighing 165 pounds, became the first black to play for the Cincinnati Redlegs.
He entered the game as a pinch hitter, and hit a single in a 5–1 loss to the Milwaukee Braves. Was selected and played in the 1958 International League All star game.
He played in 73 games during his only big league season, often as a pinch hitter. Season and career totals include a.159 batting average (11-for-69), 3 runs batted in, 15 runs scored, and an on-base percentage of.234.
He committed just one error in 49 total chances at OF/1B for a fielding percentage of.980.
Escalera worked as a scout for the New York Mets organization from 1966 to 1981. In 1982, he served as a scout for the San Francisco Giants organization. Among players signed by Escalera are retired major league players Jerry Morales, Editor Figueroa, Benny Ayala, José Oquendo and Juan Berenguer.
He is considered alongside Victor Pellot and Orlando Cepeda among the best first basemen in Puerto Rico history.
In 2015 he was also named as one of the best 75 five baseball players ever played in Puerto Rico winter league history. Escalera is the pioneer of a multigenerational tradition of Major League Baseball players, scouts and baseball managers.
1949 Colonial League (B) Bristol Owls
1950 Canadian–American League (C) Amsterdam Rugmakers NYA
1950 Colonial League (B) Bristol Owls/
1951 Central League (A) Muskegon Reds NYA
1951 International League (American Automobile Association) Syracuse Chiefs
1952 American Association (American Automobile Association) Toledo Mud Hens/Charleston Senators
1953 American Association (American Automobile Association) Indianapolis Indians Continuing legal education
1953 Texas League (Associate of Arts) Tulsa Oilers CIN
1954 National League (MLB) Cincinnati Redlegs CIN
1955 International League (American Automobile Association) Havana Sugar Kings CIN
1956 International League (American Automobile Association) Havana Sugar Kings CIN
1957 International League (American Automobile Association) Havana Sugar Kings CIN
1958 International League (American Automobile Association) Havana Sugar Kings CIN
1959 International League (American Automobile Association) Columbus Jets PIT
1960 International League (American Automobile Association) Columbus Jets PIT
1961 International League (American Automobile Association) Columbus Jets PIT
1962 International League (American Automobile Association) Rochester Red Wings BAL.