Article: Cardinal's pitch scores for Yankee O'Connor's intercession with Castro reunites `El Duque' and family

NEW YORK -- Inside the Palace of the Revolution in Havana late Wednesday, Fidel Castro and two envoys sent by the archbishop of New York sat down to watch Game 4 of the World Series via satellite from San Diego.

The emissaries carried a personal letter from Cardinal John O'Connor, asking Castro to grant visas to the mother, former wife, and two young daughters of Yankees pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who defected from Cuba last Christmas in a 20-foot skiff.

To their amazement, Castro agreed, calling O'Connor personally in New York. The two emissaries then returned to their hotel, picked up the phone, and dialed El Duque in the visitors clubhouse at Qualcomm Stadium, where the ...

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