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A “House of Cards” Shout-Out to the Red Sox’ Class A Affiliate

Here’s one more piece of data for Netflix to add to its famed recommendation algorithms: “House of Cards” fans also enjoy watching minor league baseball, and vice versa. The tidbit has come to light in the show’s second
season. Turns out that early in his days as a politician, the scheming Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey ) threw out the first pitch at a Greenville Drive game, the Red Sox Class A affiliate since 2005 in Greenville, S.C. Ever since Underwood’s wife, Claire (Robin Wright ) mentioned that pitch, crossover fans have been tweeting with joy. “Whaaaaat?! @GreenvilleDrive just mentioned on @HouseofCards,@KatieJooones tweeted. “I think we’ve made it now. #YeahthatGreenville.” The Drive play in a 4,500-seat stadium that looks like a mini Fenway Park — complete with Green Monster and Pesky Pole — and the priciest seats go for $9. Since 2006, 32 Drive players have climbed the Red Sox ranks to the majors, including Jon Lester , Clay
Buchholz
, Brandon Workman , Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales (now with the Colorado Rockies) Will Middlebrooks and Xander Bogaerts . Tiny spoiler alert: Underwood’s pitch didn’t quite reach the catcher.