Greener Grass: Cuba, Baseball and the United States (2000)

Synopsis of Greener Grass: Cuba, Baseball and the United States

While baseball is loved in America, the sport is revered in Cuba. Packed stadiums play host to fierce competition and a skill level that rivals the best American team. Greener Grass: Cuba, Baseball and the United States documents the historic 1999 swap when the Baltimore Orioles visited Havana and the Cuban national team came to the United States. The trade-off was reminiscent of pre-revolutionary times when Cubans populated American diamonds and the island served as a summer camp for professionals. Baseball has a long history in Cuba, with versions of the game being played since the 1800s. As the sport reached a popular peak in the 1950s, players like Rudolfo Fernandez earned their own American baseball cards. Famed manager Tommy Lasorda similarly remembers fanatic crowds as a member of the Cuban Professional League. The sport also serves as a filter for political and social differences as racial identity, democracy, and music become important issues separating the two countries. The one-hour program features interviews with Cuban exiles such as Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez who now plays for the New York Yankees. The program shows that when it comes to baseball, America and Cuba are more similar than different; passion and pride are heavy hitters on both sides of the water. ~ Sarah Ing, Rovi

Director(s):

Aaron Woolf

Writer(s):

Christopher White

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