In an attempt to permit Cuba to participate in the 16-team World Baseball Classic, Venezuela offers to host the Group C teams in place of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and suggests the finals be played in Canada, rather than in San Diego’s Petco Park. The changes in venue would mean Castro’s charges would avoid playing on U.S. soil, and not be subject to the U.S. Treasury Department regulations which ban the team due to American trade and financial embargoes.

This Day In Baseball

On December 29, 2005 — In an attempt to permit Cuba to participate in the 16-team World Baseball Classic, Venezuela offers to host the Group C teams in place of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and suggests the finals be played in Canada, rather than in San Diego’s Petco Park. The changes in venue would mean Castro’s charges would avoid playing on U.S. soil, and not be subject to the U.S. Treasury Department regulations which ban the team due to American trade and financial embargoes.

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