10 best photos from MLB's historic game in Cuba
The Tampa Bay Rays made history Tuesday with their benchmark visit to Cuba to compete against the island's national team.
A goodwill visit of significant importance, the Rays took the field at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana in front of a crowd exceeding 50,000 that included U.S. president Barack Obama and his family, Cuban president Raul Castro, and numerous distinguished guests from major-league baseball.
Here are the 10 best photos from the afternoon in Cuba's capital where the Rays won 4-1:
The first MLB team to play a game in Cuba since 1999, members of the Rays wave to the crowd during pregame introductions.
Wearing its signature red, white, and blue jerseys, members of the Cuban national team await their introduction in front of the home crowd.
Players and coaches of the Cuban team greet president Castro and president Obama behind home plate prior to first pitch.
Following the hosts lead, members of the Rays walked over to greet both presidents. Rays right-hander Chris Archer brought Obama the glove of starter Matt Moore as a gift for attending the game. Moore was unable to meet the U.S. president himself as he was busy warming up pregame.
Obama was the first standing president to visit Cuba in 88 years. He sat next to president Castro and the two even took part in doing the wave during the first inning.
Many distinguished guests were in attendance, including 93-year-old Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie Robinson.
Cuban fans celebrate watching the historic game. On Monday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and Cuban baseball commissioner Heriberto Suarez said a new system for Cuban players to reach the majors will hopefully be introduced in the near future.
Minor leaguer Dayron Varona has never appeared in a major-league game but was included on the trip at the request of Rays' All-Stars Evan Longoria and Archer. Varona's return to Cuba marked the first time he had been on the island since leaving with his mother three years ago with ambitions of playing in the majors.
A raucous near-capacity crowd packed the Estadio Latinoamericano Stadium on the overcast day. Rays first baseman James Loney homered and drove in three runs while Moore tossed six shutout innings as Tampa Bay went on to the 4-1 win.