Kessel, John. "The Franchise"
Divergence: 1948 CE
What if: After meeting Babe Ruth, George H.W. Bush decided to become a professional baseball player, and later that year Fidel Castro did likewise.
Summary: The 1959 World Series becomes a personal battle between the New York Giants' ace pitcher Castro and the rookie Washington Senators first baseman.
Published: In Asimov's Science Fiction, August 1993; Nebula Awards 29: SFWA's Choice for the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year (ed. Pamela Sargent), Harcourt Brace 1995 (0151001073BUY, 015600195BUY); and The Pure Product, Tor 1997 (0312861176BUY), 1999 (0312866801BUY).
Awards: Nominee: 1994 Hugo for best novelette.