Despite deep political and ideological differences over the years, Cuba and the United States always have shared a love of baseball. Cairo Santos Jersey .From the Negro Leagues to the current crop of Cuban stars, the communist island and the U.S. are linked by century-old baseball ties. It was during spring training in 1947 in Havana that the Brooklyn Dodgers got an extended look at Montreal Royals star Jackie Robinson, who later that year became broke the major league colour barrier.Major league teams regularly held spring training camps in Cuba and played exhibition games there, and the Cincinnati Reds even had a Triple-A affiliate in Havana before Fidel Castro banned professional sports.Cuban Hall of Famers Jose Mendez, Martin Dihigo and Cristobal Torriente were some of the biggest stars in the Negro Leagues in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and eventual Satchel Paige and Roy Campanella played in Cuba in the 1930s and 40s as parts of careers that led to Hall of Fame induction.President Barack Obamas announcement Wednesday that the U.S. is restoring diplomatic ties with the island nation could usher in a new era in U.S.-Cuba baseball relations, which were strained after the Fidel Castro-led revolution and the U.S. economic embargo. If Congress lifts the trade embargo, American-owned teams might one day return to Cuban soil, and Cuban players could sign with major league teams without defecting.Some key moments in the history of U.S.-Cuba baseball ties:—1864: Baseball is introduced in Cuba by Cuban students returning home from the U.S.—May 1, 1871: Cuban Esteban Steve Bellan becomes the first Latin American player in U.S. baseball, making his debut with the Troy Haymakers of the National Association.—Dec. 29, 1878: First official baseball game in Cuba, between Habana and Almendares. Bellan coached the Habana team, which won 21-20.—1937: New York Giants hold spring training camp in Havana.—1941-42, 1947: Brooklyn Dodgers hold spring training camps in Havana.—1953: Pittsburgh Pirates hold spring training camps in Havana.—1954-60: The Havana Sugar Kings, a Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, play in the U.S. minor leagues. The team was born in 1946 as the Havana Cubans in Class C.—March 21, 1959: Less than three months after Castros revolution, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds play what would be the last game between major league teams in Cuba for the next four decades.—Jan. 14, 1962: Castro bans professional sports in Cuba.—September 1995: Pitcher Livan Hernandez leaves the Cuban national team during a training camp in Monterrey, Mexico, one of the first in a series of high-profile players to defect and sign multimillion dollar contracts with MLB teams.—March 28-May 3, 1999: Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban national team play a two-game series in Havana and Baltimore. Game 1 in the Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana was the first time a major league team played in Cuba in 40 years. It was attended by Castro, and Baltimore won 3-2 in 11 innings. Cuba won the second game 12-6 at Camden Yards, led by future Yankees starter Jose Contreras.—Sept. 27, 2000: The U.S. beats favoured Cuba 4-0 in the gold medal game at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.—2012: For the first time since 1996, a Cuban national team and U.S. college players meet in an exhibition series in Cuba.—Nov. 11, 2013: Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez is voted the NL Rookie of the Year, the first Cuban to win the award in either league since Jose Canseco in 1986. Jose Abreu wins the AL Rookie of the Year in 2014.—Aug. 23, 2014: Rusney Castillo signs a $72.5 million, seven-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, the largest baseball agreement for a Cuban defector.—Dec. 17, 2014: President Barack Obama announces plans to restore U.S.-Cuba diplomatic ties. Isaiah Crowell Jets Jersey .C. -- Colin Kaepernick raced into the end zone, then pretended to rip open his shirt with both hands imitating Cam Newtons Superman touchdown celebration. Trenton Cannon Jets Jersey . The second-ranked Jayhawks will play the Miners of Texas-El Paso at Imperial Arena in the Bahamas. The game can be seen live on TSN2 starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. http://www.thejetsjerseysshoponline.com/Youth-Travis-Swanson-Jets-Jersey/ . Milan was held to 1-1 at home by Torino. Cagliari scored six minutes from halftime when Mauricio Pinilla blasted home from the penalty spot after Facundo Roncaglia tripped Marco Sau. The home side could have doubled its tally in stoppage time as first Fiorentina defender Stefan Savic almost scored an own goal then Albin Ekdals shot clipped the top of the upright.KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After long waits to make their World Series debuts, Tim Hudson and Jeremy Guthrie will get another opportunity to pitch Wednesday night.This time, everything is on the line.Guthrie, who had never reached the post-season before this year, will be on the mound for Kansas City in Game 7. Once again, he will face the 39-year-old Hudson, who finally made it to the World Series with San Francisco after 16 seasons in the majors.Im no different than anybody else. As a kid, you think about it. As a big leaguer, you think about it, said Hudson, set to become the oldest Game 7 starter in Series history. You wonder if youre going to have an opportunity to do it. Sixteen years in the big leagues, Im finally getting that chance. I cant wait to get out there and have some fun.The 35-year-old Guthrie helped pitch Royals to a 3-2 win last Friday night in San Francisco, giving them a 2-1 lead in the Series. But after the Giants rallied to win the next two at home, the teams returned to Kansas City with the Royals needing a victory to force Game 7.They got it — a 10-0 rout — behind a resurgent offence that relentlessly peppered Giants starter Jake Peavy and reliever Yusmeiro Petit, and a brilliant start by rookie Yordano Ventura.A lot of guys had this weird feeling it would come to this, Giants outfielder Hunter Pence said afterward, and here we are.Guthrie allowed two runs over five innings in his World Series debut, and Hudson was nearly as sharp, allowing three runs on four hits while pitching into the sixth. But when the Giants were unable to score a tying run off the Kansas City bullpen, Hudson was stuck with the loss.Now, he has a chance to bag the biggest win possible.I mean, obviously Im going to go as deep as I can, Hudson said. Hopefully I can give a quality six, seven innings out there and turn it over to those guys in the pen.That bullpen could be even stronger than normal with ace Madison Bumgarner, who won Game 1 and pitched a sshutout in Game 5, available for a relief stint Wednesday night. Joe Namath Jersey. Bumgarner has allowed one run over 16 innings in his two starts against Kansas City.Well see where hes at and how hes doing out there, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. I cant tell you exactly how far he could go or how many pitches he could go. I think you read him and see how hes doing out there.Asked what his pitch limit might be Wednesday night, Bumgarner gave a predictably preposterous answer.I said maybe 200. No, I dont know. I dont even know if Im going to be called on. But if you are, as long as youre getting outs and youre not hurting ..., he said.First things first, though: Bumgarner is excited for his pal Hudson.There couldnt be a better story for Huddy. I know hes going to be ready, Bumgarner said.As for playing a Game 7, if you want to be a baseball player, thats what you think about.The Royals will also have a fresh bullpen after Venturas sublime start. Kansas City manager Ned Yost has even said his star trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and All-Star closer Greg Holland would be available to pitch two innings apiece if needed.That keeps all of our big guns fresh and ready to go, Yost said.The Royals also will have a bit of history on their side.When they were last in the World Series in 1985, they also faced a 3-2 deficit returning home against St. Louis. They won Game 6, made famous by umpire Don Denkingers blown call at first base, and then took Game 7 in an 11-0 rout for their only championship.The Giants, meanwhile, had a 3-2 lead this year for the third time in franchise history. Just like in 1924 and 2002, they lost Game 6. Both of those years, they lost Game 7 as well.Well take any win. Close, blowout, any win, Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain said. Guys stepped up and we definitely needed everyone in our lineup. We needed to swing the bats and have a good outing from our starter. We need that again. I hope the entire team gets hot. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '