Born in Santurce, Escalera started his baseball career at a very young age, often playing with his brothers and neighbors from the Loiza Street in his hometown. 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 (MVP) of the tournament.\n', '

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 of the American Association, and later that year, by the Cincinnati organization.\n', '

On April 17, 1954 at Milwaukee County Stadium, a 24-year-old Escalera became the first black to play for the Cincinnati Reds franchise, known during the mid-1950s as the Redlegs. He entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter and hit a single in a 5–1 loss to the Milwaukee Braves. 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), three runs batted in, 15 runs scored, and an on-base percentage of .234. He committed just one error in 49 total chances for a fielding percentage of .980. On May 22, Escalara became the last left-handed thrower to play shortstop in a National League game. Escalera entered that game with two out and a baserunner on first in the eighth inning and took veteran starter Roy McMillan\'s place at shortstop. The hitter was the St. Louis Cardinals\' Baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial, who would set the NL record for career hits before his 1963 retirement. Facing right-handed pitcher Art Fowler, Musial struck out to end the inning, denying Escalera a fielding chance. He was replaced by Rocky Bridges for the ninth inning, and the Redlegs won the game, 4–2.\n', '

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