(28 Mar 1999) Natural Sound
The historic exhibition game being held in Havana between the Baltimore Orioles and a national squad has been won by the American team, 3-2, in 11 innings.
Both teams were welcomed at the start by the country's leader, Fidel Castro, himself a baseball fan.
The match marked the return of major league baseball to the communist island after 40 years.
Over 50-thousand baseball fans crammed in to Havana's 'Latino Americano' stadium for the historic match.
For many fans the game was an opportunity to see how their national players stand up against the professionals of the United States.
For many the game was undoubtedly one of the most exciting sporting events to hit Cuba.
Fidel Castro himself welcomed the players before the game.
The Baltimore Orioles were the first major league baseball team to play at the communist island for 40 years.
The island came to a standstill for the game, as thousands huddled around television sets to watch Cuba's number one sport.
The last time Cubans played a big league team on the island was in March 1959 - three months after the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the exhibition game with Cincinnati.
Fidel's revolution has done nothing to stifle the enthusiasm for the sport, which is played by children and adults alike, on every street corner.
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