1999 Baltimore Orioles–Cuba national baseball team exhibition series

Baseball games in Havana and Baltimore August 2023 vevent width: 28em; 1999 Baltimore Orioles–Cuba national baseball team exhibition series 250px Boys playing stickball in Havana, 1999 2 y white-space:nowrap; y y Team (Wins) Manager(s) Cuba (1) Baltimore Orioles (1) Ray Miller Dates 1999 3 281999 5 3 Venue Havana: Estadio LatinoamericanoBaltimore: Oriole Park at Camden Yards Broadcast Television ESPN (United States) TV announcers Jon Miller, Joe Morgan The 1999 Baltimore Orioles – Cuba national baseball team exhibition series consisted of two exhibition games played between the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Cuba national baseball team on March 28 and May 3, 1999. The first game took place in Havana, while the second was held in Baltimore. This series marked the first time that the Cuba national team had faced a squad composed solely of major league players and the close of the hiatus since 1959 that an MLB team played in Cuba. In the 1990s, Orioles' owner Peter Angelos lobbied the United States federal government to gain permission to hold this series for three years. Various politicians, including members of the United States House of Representatives, opposed the idea and attempted to block the series. Eventually, Angelos secured the approval in 1999, after a change in United States foreign policy to Cuba under President Bill Clinton, which eased travel restrictions and increased cultural exchange. The Orioles won the first game, which was held in Havana, by a score of 3–2 in extra innings. The Cuba national team defeated the Orioles 12–6 in the second game, which was held in Baltimore. The series introduced José Contreras to the American baseball audience; Contreras defected from Cuba in 2002 to pitch in MLB. The United States and Cuba now compete with each other and other nations in the World Baseball Classic. Background The Cuban Revolution led to the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista, an ally of the United States, in 1959. Fidel Castro severed Cuba's formerly strong ties with the United States. The United States soon instituted an embargo against Cuba, which has made it illegal for United States corporations to enter into business with Cuba. The Baltimore Orioles, who were slated to hold a 1960 exhibition series against the Cincinnati Reds in Havana, moved the games to Miami, Florida.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iddaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MmwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5147,4597069&dq=baltimore+cuba+exhibition&hl=en Orioles Move Havana Exhibitions to Miami: Cuban Sports Writers Irked Over Shift of Three-Game Series With Cincinnati Associated Press Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 29, 1960 March 20, 2013 No Major League Baseball (MLB) team had played in Cuba since March 21, 1959.https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/baltimore-orioles-beat-cuba-all-stars-1.193406 Baltimore Orioles beat Cuba all-stars CBC News March 3, 1999 March 15, 2013 Castro made attempts to lure American baseball teams back to Cuba to no avail. In the 1970s, George McGovern, a United States senator, pushed the idea of an exchange of MLB and college basketball teams as a way to bridge the impasse between the two governments, similar to the ping-pong diplomacy that aided US-China relations; however, this was blocked by the United States Department of State.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aEwfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=etEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=613,3426682&dq=major-league-baseball+cuba&hl=en Associated Press Baseball Diplomacy Failed Before Daytona Beach Morning Journal 7A May 10, 1975 March 16, 2013 In the 1980s, Scott Armstrong approached Edward Bennett Williams, then the owner of the Baltimore Orioles, to play a game between the Orioles and Cuba's All-Stars. Williams declined, as he had a position on an advisory board in the Reagan Administration, which opposed having any business with Cuba. Armstrong discussed the idea with MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti and MLB Players Association (MLBPA) chair Donald Fehr. Giamatti was interested, but he died before he could pursue the idea. Fehr visited Cuba during the 1994-95 MLB strike, but could not secure an antitrust exemption. In 1996, Peter Angelos, the new owner of the Orioles, met with Armstrong and Saul Landau, who convinced him to pursue an exhibition series between his Orioles and the Cuba national baseball team.David Ginsburg Associated Press https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-02-sp-33359-story.html Angelos 'Dominant' Force Behind Cuba-Orioles Series Los Angeles Times May 2, 1999 March 15, 2013 Angelos petitioned the United States Government to permit a series. United States Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen wrote to the State Department, asking that the series be prevented.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pnYwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BTcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6331,9784633&dq=baltimore+cuba+exhibition&hl=en Official opposes Orioles plan to visit Cuba Rome News-Tribune April 3, 1997 March 15, 2013 2-B The United States Department of the Treasury denied Angelos' request on the grounds that American money may not be spent in Cuba under the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917.1997-04-04 Cuban Exhibition Denied https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-cuban-exhibit/168714544/ 2025-03-24 Sun-Sentinel 6C Fort Lauderdale, Florida Newspapers.com Associated Press In January 1999, President Bill Clinton eased travel restrictions and increased cultural exchange between the United States and Cuba, leading Angelos to again seek permission to play an exhibition game in Cuba.http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE89424DF0AF7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Orioles owner planning exhibitions with Cubans San Antonio Express-News Associated Press January 18, 1999 March 15, 2013 March 2013 Angelos met with Sandy Berger, Clinton's National Security Advisor, to discuss a potential exhibition.Associated Press http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1999/01/29/oth_251713.shtml Angelos wants Clinton's help to save Orioles-Cuba games The Augusta Chronicle January 29, 1999 March 15, 2013 Bud Selig, the MLB Commissioner, allowed for the exploration of the series, though it still required the approval of MLB owners and the MLBPA.https://www.baltimoresun.com/1999/01/10/os-cuba-exhibition-needs-to-fly-for-charitys-sake/ Peter Schmuck Peter Schmuck O's-Cuba exhibition needs to fly for charity's sake The Baltimore Sun January 10, 1999 March 15, 2013 November 10, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131110012708/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1999-01-10/sports/9901090010_1_league-baseball-major-league-rafael-palmeiro live The MLBPA insisted on a second game to be held in the United States.Murray Chass Murray Chass March 15, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/15/sports/baseball-spring-training-baltimore-cuba-game-2-of-series-set-for-may-3.html Baseball: Spring Training – Baltimore-Cuba; Game 2 of Series Set for May 3 The New York Times March 15, 2013 A contingent of United States Representatives, including Ros-Lehtinen, Robert Menendez, Dan Burton, Lincoln Díaz-Balart, and Rick Lazio, lobbied Fehr to try to block the series.http://articles.philly.com/1999-02-05/sports/25502176_1_cuban-doctors-cuban-officials-cuban-people https://web.archive.org/web/20120415030655/http://articles.philly.com/1999-02-05/sports/25502176_1_cuban-doctors-cuban-officials-cuban-people dead April 15, 2012 Congress Calls On Fehr About O's-cuba Game The Philadelphia Inquirer February 5, 1999 March 15, 2013 Ongoing negotiations through Marchhttp://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-03-06/sports/9903060055_1_estadio-latinoamericano-cuba-s-communist-society-young-cubans Baltimore Scrambles To Finalize Games With Cuba Dana Calvo Sun-Sentinel March 6, 1999 March 15, 2013 December 24, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102342/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-03-06/sports/9903060055_1_estadio-latinoamericano-cuba-s-communist-society-young-cubans dead yielded an agreement on March 7, 1999, over the objections of the State Department.Murray Chass March 7, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/07/sports/baseball-deal-is-finally-worked-out-for-orioles-cuba-exhibition.html Baseball; Deal Is Finally Worked Out For Orioles-Cuba Exhibition The New York Times March 15, 2013 The proceeds of the series were a major sticking point in negotiations, as it violated the United States embargo against Cuba. Instead of going to the Cuban Government, it was agreed that proceeds would fund baseball programs in Cuba. The series created a good deal of criticism, especially among the Cuban American community. MLB umpire Rich Garcia, who is of Cuban descent, opposed the series.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/03/25/cuba_package/ https://archive.today/20130410171415/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/03/25/cuba_package/ dead April 10, 2013 Cuba-Orioles matchup a game of political hardball March 26, 1999 Sportsillustrated.cnn.com March 15, 2013 MLB umpires filed a grievance against MLB attempting to block them from being sent to umpire the game in Cuba,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-LZIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0IEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1776,6246763&dq=baltimore+cuba+umpire&hl=en Umpires strike back The Vindicator Youngstown, Ohio March 13, 1999 C2 April 13, 2013 and refused to officiate the game in Baltimore.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z49XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FvIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2101,834750&dq=umpires+cuban+national+team+baltimore&hl=en Umpires to strike out over Orioles-Cuba game The Spokesman-Review C3 Spokane, Washington April 22, 1999 April 13, 2013 The Cuban American National Foundation protested the series. Former US diplomat Otto Reich likened the baseball match in Havana to the notion of playing soccer at Auschwitz and also the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, dismissing it as a propaganda ploy by the Cuban government.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/10/14/castros-shadow Castro's Shadow The New Yorker 7 October 2002 Games Game one right|thumb|Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana hosted the first game of the series on March 28, 1999. Game one took place at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana, Cuba, on March 28, 1999. Tickets were distributed by invitation only.1999-03-27 Cuba makes exhibition game by invite only https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-cuba-makes-exhibition-ga/168714595/ 2025-03-24 St. Petersburg Times 5C Newspapers.com Angelos, Selig, and Castro sat together in box seats.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/orioles/daily/march99/29/os29.htm Orioles Leave Cuba With a Win The Washington Post Richard Justice D1 March 29, 1999 March 15, 2013 One hundred schoolchildren from the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area also traveled to Cuba on a plane chartered by Angelos.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/03/25/orioles_cubakids/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061531/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/03/25/orioles_cubakids/ dead September 21, 2013 Associated Press Baltimore students join Orioles for Cuba trip Sportsillustrated.cnn.com March 25, 1999 March 15, 2013 Before the game, players and coaches on both teams engaged in a flag ceremony. Castro greeted the Orioles on the field, and gave the Cuba team a pep talk. Cuba baseball legend Conrado Marrero threw out the first pitch.http://www.baseballdecuba.com/newsContainer.asp?id=2205 Connie Marrero Still Strong at 99 Peter C. Bjarkman April 18, 2010 Baseballdecuba.com March 15, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060832/http://www.baseballdecuba.com/newsContainer.asp?id=2205 September 21, 2013 The game was televised in the U.S. by ESPN with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan announcing.Mushnick Phil March 29, 1999 ESPN O-So-Good in Cuba – Miller, Morgan Don’t Let Fidel Dictate Coverage; ESPN Covers All Bases at Orioles-Cuba Game https://nypost.com/1999/03/29/espn-o-so-good-in-cuba-miller-morgan-dont-let-fidel-dictate-coverage-espn-covers-all-bases-at-orioles-cuba-game/ 2025-03-24 New York Post Orioles' starting pitcher Scott Erickson allowed one run on five hits in seven innings pitched. Cuba starter José Ibar allowed a home run to Charles Johnson and was relieved in the third inning by José Contreras. Contreras pitched eight innings without allowing a run. Orioles' manager Ray Miller brought in his closer, Mike Timlin, in the eighth inning. This backfired, as Omar Linares tied the game for Cuba with a run batted in single. Tied after nine innings, the game went into extra innings. Cuba had two runners on base in the 10th inning, but Mike Fetters retired Cuba without allowing a run. The Orioles won the game when Harold Baines hit a single off of Pedro Luis Lazo that scored Will Clark with the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning. Jesse Orosco recorded the final three outs in the bottom of the 11th, as the Orioles won by a score of 3–2. Line scorehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/grapefruit/scoreboards/1999/03/28/finalbox..baltimore.0344.html https://archive.today/20130410172307/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/grapefruit/scoreboards/1999/03/28/finalbox..baltimore.0344.html dead April 10, 2013 Box Score: Baltimore Orioles at Cuba CNN Sports Illustrated March 28, 1999 March 15, 2013 Baltimore Orioles BAL 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 6 0 Cuba National Baseball Team CUB 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 10 0 Mike Fetters Pedro Luis Lazo Jesse Orosco Charles Johnson Box score BaltimoreABRHRBIBrady Anderson, CF4010Mike Bordick, SS5010Will Clark, 1B3110Albert Belle, RF5000B. J. Surhoff, LF3110Harold Baines, DH5011Willis Otáñez, 3B3000Jesse Garcia baseball, 2B1000  Jeff Reboulet, 2B3000Charles Johnson catcher, C3000 1em CubaABRHRBIJosé Estrada baseball, CF4110Luis Ulacia, LF4030Yobal Dueñas, 2B5000Omar Linares, 3B5011Andy Morales, DH5120Loidel Chapellí, 1B4010  Enrique Esteban Díaz, PR0000Robelquis Videaux, RF5011Juan Manrique, C2000  Eduardo Cardenas, PH1000    Ariel Pestano, C2000Juan Carlos Moreno baseball, SS2000  Roger Machado baseball, PH1000    Danel Castro, SS1010 BaltimoreIPHRERBBSOHRScott Erickson7511220Arthur Rhodes0 2 3111000Mike Timlin1 1 3100020Mike Fetters, W1200020Jesse Orosco, Sv1100000 1em CubaIPHRERBBSOHRJosé Ibar2222111José Contreras82004100Pedro Luis Lazo, L0 2 3211110Ernesto Guevara Ramos0 1 3000100 Game two right|thumb|The second game of the series took place at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on May 3, 1999. This photo depicts the stadium in 2008. The second game was held at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on May 3, 1999,http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-05-03/news/9905030121_1_cuba-people-to-people-contact-people-to-people-exchanges William E. Gibson Rafael Lorente Dana Calvo Cuba, Orioles Take The Field In Game Filled With Intrigue Sun-Sentinel May 3, 1999 March 15, 2013 September 21, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053846/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-05-03/news/9905030121_1_cuba-people-to-people-contact-people-to-people-exchanges dead in front of 47,940 fans. By May 3, the Orioles had a 7–17 win–loss record in the 1999 MLB season. The Cuba national team, meanwhile, was stronger than during the first game; the 1998–99 Cuban National Series was finished so players not available for the first game joined the team for the second exhibition game. A 300-person delegation accompanied the Cuba team, including members of the Cuban media, students, and retired players. MLB requested the Federal Aviation Administration clear the airspace above Camden Yards for the game, in response to an attempt by a Miami-based pilot and veteran of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, to drop anti-Castro leaflets over Estadio Latinoamericano during the first game.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/04/24/orioles_airspace/ https://archive.today/20130410171511/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/04/24/orioles_airspace/ dead April 10, 2013 Associated Press MLB asks for restrictions during Cuba-Orioles game in Baltimore April 24, 1999 Sportsillustrated.cnn.com March 15, 2013 The start of the game was delayed by rain for 56 minutes. The game was further interrupted by protesters, one of whom ran onto the field during the fifth inning and was thrown to the ground by César Valdez, a Cuban umpire. Contreras started the game for Cuba, and he allowed a two-run double by Baines in the first inning. Orioles' starting pitcher Scott Kamieniecki, who was on the MLB disabled list at the time, allowed four runs in the second inning to give Cuba the lead. Norge Luis Vera entered the game for Cuba in the third inning and pitched 6 2 3 innings in relief without allowing a hit, retiring 20 of the first 22 batters he faced. His hitless streak ended when he allowed a home run to Delino DeShields in the ninth inning.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/ml/scoreboards/1999/05/03/recap.BAL-CUB.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054914/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/ml/scoreboards/1999/05/03/recap.BAL-CUB.html dead September 21, 2013 Exhibition Baseball Recap (Cuban All-Stars–Baltimore Sports Illustrated May 4, 1999 March 26, 2013 Gabe Molina, who had made his MLB debut on May 1, allowed Cuba to score five runs in the ninth inning, including a three-run home run hit by Andy Morales. The Cuba national team defeated the Orioles 12–6. Danel Castro batted 4-for-5 for Cuba, including a two run batted in (RBI) triple, and scored four runs. Calvin Pickering, a rookie first baseman for the Orioles who had been promoted from the minor leagues the day prior, committed three errors.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/orioles/daily/may99/04/os4.htm Orioles Get Smoked by Cubans, 12–6 Richard Justice D1 The Washington Post May 4, 1999 March 15, 2013 Linescorehttp://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=19801 March 5, 2013 Wezen-Ball: When Cuba Stomped the Orioles Larry Granillo Baseball Prospectus March 15, 2013 March 2013 Cuba National Baseball Team CUB 0 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 5 12 18 1 Baltimore Orioles BAL 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 6 3 Norge Luis Vera Scott Kamieniecki Andy Morales Delino DeShields Box score CubaABRHRBILuis Ulacia, RF6222Robelquis Videaux, CF4011Omar Linares, 3B4141Orestes Kindelán, 1B4111Andy Morales, DH5133Antonio Pacheco baseball, 2B6000Ariel Pestano, C5130Oscar Machado, LF4200Danel Castro, SS5442 1em BaltimoreABRHRBIBrady Anderson, CF5011Mike Bordick, SS3100  Rich Amaral, LF0000B. J. Surhoff, LF3000  Jesse Garcia baseball, SS0000Albert Belle, RF3100  Gene Kingsale, RF0000Harold Baines, DH3012Calvin Pickering, 1B4110Willis Otáñez, 3B4210Delino DeShields, 2B4113Charles Johnson catcher, C4010 CubaIPHRERBBSOJosé Contreras1 1 333221Norge Luis Vera, W733324Ormari Romero0 2 300001 1em BaltimoreIPHRERBBSOScott Kamieniecki, L1 1 354330Doug Linton1 2 342213Ricky Bones340003Mike Fetters211021Gabe Molina145511 Aftermath Rigoberto Herrera, a retired Cuba national team member who accompanied the Cuba delegation, defected to the United States during the visit. Six retired players overslept the day after the game in Baltimore and missed their flight back to Cuba, but no other members of the delegation defected.http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-05-05/news/9905041180_1_cuban-exiles-cuban-umpire-cuban-diplomatic-mission Castro Welcomes Stars Home Sun-Sentinel Dana Calvo Rafael Lorente May 5, 1999 March 15, 2013 November 10, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131110011810/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-05-05/news/9905041180_1_cuban-exiles-cuban-umpire-cuban-diplomatic-mission dead left|thumb|250px|José Contreras pitching for the Chicago White Sox in 2008 To discourage defections during the exhibition in Baltimore, Cuba maintained strict security around their young players, not allowing sports agents to speak with them. Though no active Cuba players defected during the trip to Baltimore, members of the Cuba national team did defect in the years following the series. Andy Morales defected in 2000.Beaton Rod 2000-07-21 One sure thing is Cuba's Morales will get offers https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-one-sure-thing-is-cubas-moral/168714648/ 2025-03-24 USA Today 8C Newspapers.com Contreras, who was considered Cuba's best pitcher, gained international fame after the series and defected from Cuba in 2002.https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/11/sports/baseball-roundup-cuban-defector-wants-to-pitch-in-majors.html Baseball: Roundup; Cuban Defector Wants to Pitch In Majors The New York Times October 11, 2002 March 15, 2013 Nelson Díaz, a Cuban umpire who officiated the game in Baltimore, defected from Cuba to the United States in 2009.https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4701570 Report: Top Cuban umpire Nelson Diaz defects to U.S. Associated Press ESPN ESPN Internet Ventures November 30, 2009 April 13, 2013 MLB and the Major League Umpires Association engaged in a dispute regarding the amount of pay owed to umpires for officiating the game that took place in Baltimore. This was one factor that led to the mass resignation of MLB umpires that took place on September 2, 1999.https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/15/sports/baseball-umpires-threaten-to-quit-on-sept-2.html Baseball; Umpires Threaten To Quit On Sept. 2 Murray Chass The New York Times July 15, 1999 April 13, 2013 In 2000, Syd Thrift, the Orioles' general manager, told The Washington Times that the team had a practice of not signing players who had defected from Cuba, which he attributed to Angelos' desire to avoid doing "anything that could be interpreted as being disrespectful or ... encouraging players to defect". Investigations by Major League Baseball and the United States Department of Justice did not find evidence that the absence of Cuban players on the Orioles' roster or in its minor league system was due to discrimination.http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/s/2002/1110/1458871.html ESPN.com Bud passes the buck on Cuba ESPN Internet Ventures July 16, 2003 March 15, 2013http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/aug/17/20010817-024844-7964r Probe of Orioles finds no violations The Washington Times August 17, 2001 March 15, 2013 The Cuba national team next played in the United States during the 2006 World Baseball Classic (WBC). President George W. Bush attempted to prevent the Cuba team from participating in the tournament, but other nations promised to withdraw if Cuba was barred.https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/20/sports/sportsspecial/20chass.html?_r=0 Stars Are Mostly Gone, Save the One on Cuba's Flag Murray Chass The New York Times March 20, 2006 April 13, 2013 The next American team to travel to Cuba was the Tampa Bay Rays, which played an exhibition against the Cuba national team in March 2016.https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/21/sports/baseball/when-mlb-broke-the-ice-with-a-game-in-havana.html When M.L.B. Broke the Ice With a Game in Havana David Waldstein The New York Times March 20, 2016 March 21, 2016 See also Baseball Cuba United States Politics 1999 in baseball American Series Cuba–United States relations Ping-pong diplomacy Cuban thaw References 30em Category:International baseball competitions hosted by Cuba Category:International baseball competitions hosted by the United States Category:History of the Baltimore Orioles Category:1999 in baseball Category:1999 in sports in Maryland Category:1999 in Cuban sport Category:Cuba national baseball team Category:Cuba–United States baseball relations Category:Politics and sports Baltimore Orioles-Cuba national team exhibition series Baltimore Orioles-Cuba national team exhibition series Category:1990s in Baltimore Category:Baseball competitions in Havana Category:20th century in Havana Category:Foreign policy of the Clinton administration