| Baseball in the United States dates back to | | | | the World Series. |
| the 1840s, but many other countries picked up | | | | |
| and played the sport soon after. In Cuba, | | | | Baseball season in Latin America stretches |
| students who enrolled in the United States | | | | from October to January. The winners of the |
| educational system returned home to the | | | | four national leagues meet in February to |
| island nation with a bat and a ball. The | | | | play the Caribbean Series. Mexican players |
| popularity of the game in Cuba was so high as | | | | participate in a summer minor league that has |
| to be considered part of the identity during | | | | connections with the U.S. Minor League |
| the war for independence during the late | | | | Baseball governing body. Mexico has been |
| 1800s. | | | | given Triple A status. There are also |
| | | | Dominican Republic and Venezuelan summer |
| The Spaniards assumed that the baseball | | | | rookie leagues that are affiliated with Minor |
| practice and teams were just a cover-up for | | | | League Baseball. |
| the preparation to go to war. Throughout the | | | | |
| Caribbean region, Cuban players spread their | | | | Although professional baseball existed in |
| newfound knowledge which increased the | | | | Cuba from 1878 until 1961, it was abolished |
| popularity of the game. It was two Cuban | | | | by the Cuban government at the professional |
| brothers who carried the game to the | | | | level. The Cuban national team now dominates |
| Dominican Republic and Cubans in the country | | | | the world amateur competitions, winning gold |
| of Venezuela along with Venezuelan nationals | | | | medals at Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in |
| who had matriculated in the U.S. brought the | | | | 1996. |
| sport to Venezuela, beginning in 1895 and to | | | | |
| the island of Puerto Rico in 1897. | | | | About 30 percent of the major league players |
| | | | in baseball today are connected to Latin |
| In Mexico, it was also Cubans who had fled | | | | America in some fashion. Either they are from |
| from the island during its struggles for | | | | Latin America or are descendants of Latin |
| independence that brought baseball to Mexico. | | | | Americans who grew up in the U.S. In the |
| The Cubans in Mexico were assisted by U.S. | | | | general population, only eleven percent of |
| merchant marines and railroad workers. | | | | the people are from Latin America. Latino |
| Various regions of Mexico were converted to | | | | baseball players overwhelmingly are foreign |
| the sport during the years from 1877 to 1899. | | | | born and claim Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, |
| In terms of popularity, the sport of baseball | | | | Venezuela and the Dominican Republic as a |
| is number one in Cuba, Dominican Republic and | | | | birthplace. |
| Venezuela with a strong showing in Puerto | | | | |
| Rico. | | | | Unfortunately, some of the major teams have |
| | | | gained a reputation for an almost sweatshop |
| Mexico still places football as the dominant | | | | approach to baseball academies in the Latin |
| sport. In Central America, baseball is also | | | | American region. Young boys with talent are |
| very popular. In the United States, players | | | | signed and sent to these training regimens |
| from Latin America and Puerto Rico have | | | | where life is harsh in the hopes of winning a |
| become a growing force in major league | | | | contract with one of the major clubs. Many of |
| baseball. There are professional leagues | | | | these players travel to Latin America to play |
| organized in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico | | | | the winter league baseball games in the Latin |
| and the Dominican Republic. | | | | American leagues. |
| | | | |
| As in the rest of the world, football | | | | The countries in the Caribbean basin that are |
| (soccer) is unquestionably the most popular | | | | baseball enthusiasts send national teams with |
| sport in Latin America. Yet, it is also true | | | | championship titles to participate in the |
| that in much of the Caribbean basin, baseball | | | | Caribbean World Series each year since 1949. |
| is the number one sport. In fact, where U.S. | | | | For players of Latin American descent, the |
| imperial power spread throughout the world, | | | | opportunity to play in Major League Baseball |
| and in Latin America specifically, the | | | | is high success and tremendous financial |
| influence of baseball was the strongest. | | | | gain. |
| During a military occupation, many countries | | | | |
| were introduced to American baseball. | | | | Beginning in 2006, the World Baseball Classic |
| | | | between the United States, Puerto Rico, |
| It has been said that if Fidel Castro had | | | | Japan, Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic |
| been a better baseball player, the history of | | | | and Venezuela, was held. Nicaragua did not |
| the Cold War might have played out very | | | | attend, but Cuba did send a team. The |
| differently. Castro is an avid fan and once | | | | tournament was won by Japan, which was a |
| played the game. The reverse is also true: | | | | tremendous surprise to many if not most of |
| Orlando Hernandez "El Duque" left Cuba in | | | | the observers. |
| 2000 and played for the New York Yankees in | | | | |