René Cárdenas, pioneer in Spanish-language broadcasts of MLB games, dies at 96

TL;DR

René Cárdenas, the first Spanish-language broadcaster in MLB history, has died at 96. He was known for his work with the Dodgers, Astros, and Rangers over a 60-year career.

Key points

René Cárdenas was the first Spanish-language broadcaster in MLB history.
He worked for the Dodgers, Astros, and Rangers during his 60-year career.
Cárdenas passed away at the age of 96 at his home in Houston.

Mentioned in this story

René CárdenasHoustonNicaragua

Los Angeles DodgersHouston AstrosTexas Rangers

HOUSTON (AP) — René Cárdenas, the first Spanish-language broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers during a 60-year career, has died. He was 96. The Astros said Monday that Cárdenas died Sunday at his home in Houston. Cárdenas joined the Dodgers when they moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn in 1958. He was part of the first Spanish broadcast of the World Series in 1959 and the All-Star Game two years later. “We mourn the passing of René Cárdenas, who in 1958 with the Dodgers became the first full-time Spanish-language broadcaster in MLB history and would ultimately spend 21 years behind the mic for Los Angeles,” the Dodgers said Sunday in a social media post. The expansion Houston Colt .45s hired Cárdenas in 1961 for their inaugural season of 1962. He spent 14 seasons with a franchise that was renamed the Astros in 1965, when they moved into the Astrodome. “With yesterday’s passing of Rene Cardenas, we lost a true legend and pioneer in broadcasting,” the Astros wrote Monday in a statement on social media. “As the franchise first Spanish broadcaster, Rene had a tremendous impact on the success of the Colt .45s/Astros in Houston’s large Hispanic community and beyond. We send our heartfelt condolences to Rene’s family and loved ones.” Cárdenas returned to his native Nicaragua in 1975 before coming back to MLB in 1981, when he was the first Spanish broadcaster for the Rangers, according to retired Rangers public relations executive John Blake. A second stint with the Dodgers lasted nearly two decades starting in 1982. He also returned to the Astros, becoming the first to call games in Spanish on television for Houston in 2008. After retiring, Cárdenas wrote for the Astros’ Spanish-language website and for La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper. Cárdenas also called high-profile events in other sports, including the Muhammad Ali-Jimmy Ellis heavyweight boxing match at the Astrodome in 1971. He was inducted into the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000. He was inducted into the Broadcasters Wing of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted into the Astros Baseball Media Wall of Honor in 2013. \\_ AP MLB:

Q&A

What teams did René Cárdenas broadcast for during his career?

René Cárdenas broadcasted for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers.

When did René Cárdenas become the first full-time Spanish-language broadcaster in MLB?

Cárdenas became the first full-time Spanish-language broadcaster in MLB history in 1958 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What significant events did René Cárdenas cover in his broadcasting career?

Cárdenas was part of the first Spanish broadcast of the World Series in 1959 and the All-Star Game in 1961.

René Cárdenas, pioneer in Spanish-language broadcasts of MLB games, dies at 96

TL;DR

Key points

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