Cuba will be allowed to play in the World Baseball Classic after all. President Bush’s administration issued a license allowing the Cubans to participate in the 16-team tournament.

ByTom

Cuba will be allowed to play in the World Baseball Classic after all. President Bush’s administration issued a license allowing the Cubans to participate in the 16-team tournament.

With the encouragement of President George W. Bush, a former major league owner, baseball’s second application to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to allow Cuba to play in the World Baseball Classic is approved. With the issues of potential espionage by Cuban spies accompanying the team and money going to the Castro government having been resolved, the Olympic champs will be one of the 16 teams to compete in the WBC.

ByTom

With the encouragement of President George W. Bush, a former major league owner, baseball’s second application to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to allow Cuba to play in the World Baseball Classic is approved. With the issues of potential espionage by Cuban spies accompanying the team and money going to the Castro government having been resolved, the Olympic champs will be one of the 16 teams to compete in the WBC.

Danny Graves, the only major leaguer born in Vietnam, travels to Quang Tri province just south of the DMZ, to dedicate the country’s first baseball field. Seventeen explosive devices were removed between home base and the outfield as the former soccer field was transformed into a diamond for the Le Loi High School, using money donated from Major League Baseball and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

ByTom

Danny Graves, the only major leaguer born in Vietnam, travels to Quang Tri province just south of the DMZ, to dedicate the country’s first baseball field. Seventeen explosive devices were removed between home base and the outfield as the former soccer field was transformed into a diamond for the Le Loi High School, using money donated from Major League Baseball and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Baseball officials are cautiously expecting good news soon from the George W. Bush administration that would clear the way for Cuba to participate in the first World Baseball Classic. Meanwhile, Fidel Castro suggests the United States doesn’t want to play Cuba in the WBC. The U.S. Treasury Department last month denied MLB’s application for Cuba to play its scheduled first-round games in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. Later rounds are to be played on the U.S. mainland. The license is required under 45-year-old American sanctions against Cuba. The International Baseball Federation has said it will not sanction the tournament if Cuba isn’t allowed to play.

ByTom

Baseball officials are cautiously expecting good news soon from the George W. Bush administration that would clear the way for Cuba to participate in the first World Baseball Classic. Meanwhile, Fidel Castro suggests the United States doesn’t want to play Cuba in the WBC. The U.S. Treasury Department last month denied MLB’s application for Cuba to play its scheduled first-round games in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. Later rounds are to be played on the U.S. mainland. The license is required under 45-year-old American sanctions against Cuba. The International Baseball Federation has said it will not sanction the tournament if Cuba isn’t allowed to play.

Major league baseball owners unanimously approve the November transaction in which Bob Castellini and two other Cincinnati businessmen bought control of the Reds from previous owner Carl Lindner. It is reported the trio, which includes investors Thomas Williams and William Williams Jr., acquired approximately 70 percent ownership of baseball’s oldest franchise, believed to be valued at an estimated $270 million.

ByTom

Major league baseball owners unanimously approve the November transaction in which Bob Castellini and two other Cincinnati businessmen bought control of the Reds from previous owner Carl Lindner. It is reported the trio, which includes investors Thomas Williams and William Williams Jr., acquired approximately 70 percent ownership of baseball’s oldest franchise, believed to be valued at an estimated $270 million.

Pitcher Danny Graves travels a long way to find his roots. Just a baby when he left Vietnam in 1974, the Cleveland Indians reliever returns for the first time to glean a sense of the country and teach baseball to kids.

ByTom

Pitcher Danny Graves travels a long way to find his roots. Just a baby when he left Vietnam in 1974, the Cleveland Indians reliever returns for the first time to glean a sense of the country and teach baseball to kids.

The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates are selected to play in the annual Hall of Fame Game, to be held this year on May 15th at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY.

ByTom

The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates are selected to play in the annual Hall of Fame Game, to be held this year on May 15th at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY.

After witnessing an exodus of leading players, the Florida Marlins secure the services of ace starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis on a one-year deal worth a reported $4.35 million.

ByTom

After witnessing an exodus of leading players, the Florida Marlins secure the services of ace starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis on a one-year deal worth a reported $4.35 million.

The Cubs and Mark Prior (11-7, 3.67) come to an agreement on a one-year $3.65 million contract, making his salary $900,000 more than the right-hander would have earned under the $3.3 million contract offer he voided in November. The fireballer’s previous contract gave him the right to terminate the deal once he became eligible for salary arbitration.

ByTom

The Cubs and Mark Prior (11-7, 3.67) come to an agreement on a one-year $3.65 million contract, making his salary $900,000 more than the right-hander would have earned under the $3.3 million contract offer he voided in November. The fireballer’s previous contract gave him the right to terminate the deal once he became eligible for salary arbitration.