Today in History—October 28: Castro and Chávez Play Ball

On this day in 2000, Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Venezuelan Pres. Hugo Chávez brought their shared love of baseball to the field in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. (No umpires were harmed.)

This was not their first game together, but it gave us one of history’s most delightful diplomatic incidents.

The friendly exhibition game took place during Castro’s five-day visit to Venezuela, aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries and negotiating an agreement that would provide Cuba with Venezuelan oil.

Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.

SIGN UP

By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

The game pitted a team of retired Cuban baseball stars, managed by Castro, against a Venezuelan team featuring Chávez. Cuba emerged victorious, 17–6, but the game’s most memorable moment had little to do with the score.

At one point, Chávez, a left-handed pitcher, faced Castro at the plate. Wearing a blue-and-red batting helmet, a warm-up jacket, and military fatigues, the Cuban leader watched as Chávez delivered a fastball that the umpire called strike three. Castro, however, apparently disagreed. Rather than accept the call and return to the dugout, he casually made his way to first base. Chávez did not protest, later joking that Castro had “negotiated” his way onto the base.

The playful exchange took place against the backdrop of an important diplomatic visit. Just two days after the game, Castro and Chávez signed an agreement allowing Cuba to purchase Venezuelan oil on favorable terms. The arrangement also permitted Cuba to pay for some of the oil by sending doctors, athletic trainers, engineers, and other specialists to Venezuela, marking a significant step in the growing political and economic alliance between the two countries.

The visit reflected the growing relationship between two leaders who shared leftist political ideals and frequently criticized U.S. influence in Latin America.

Despite the serious diplomatic discussions taking place off the field, their baseball encounter offered a lighter moment in international politics. For Castro, at least, even a called third strike was apparently open to negotiation.