• Still from Greener Grass      Still from Greener Grass  The
Film  The passion for the sport on both sides of the Straits of
Florida was evident in 1999, when a historic two-game series
pitted the Baltimore Orioles against the Cuban National Team.
For the first time in 40 years, a major league team played in
Havana, and the Cuban team traveled to Baltimore. In packed
stadiums, cowbells and fans, and protesters and conga drums
provided a backbeat for the series. But, behind the excitement
lay a complex history of competition and cooperation that
stretches back to baseball’s 19th century origins.  Greener
Grass: Cuba, Baseball and the United States highlights the
defection of Cuban pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, who was
signed by the New York Yankees in 1998.  By looking at more than
a century of baseball history, Greener Grass: Cuba, Baseball and
the United States illustrates the ways in which the game has
served as a common ground and a test of strength between
politically estranged countries. It also