Former Dodgers Spanish-Language Announcer Rene Cardenas Passes Away

"René Cárdenas, who was the first full-time Spanish-language announcer in MLB history with stints for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, passed away at the age of 96."

"Cárdenas began what would be a 60-year career when he joined the Dodgers' radio booth in 1958, which was their first season on the West Coast after relocating from Brooklyn. He most notably worked and became a mentor to legendary broadcaster Jaime Jarrín, who also enjoyed a career that spanned more than six decades."

"Cárdenas was most notably part of the first Spanish broadcast of the World Series in 1959 and the All-Star Game two years later. He initially spent three years in Los Angeles before moving to Houston to join the expansion Colt .45s, who would later become the Astros."

"Cárdenas returned to the Dodgers the following year for a second stint as their Spanish-language announcer that lasted nearly two decades. Among other achievements, he called games for L.A.'s World Series championship in 1988. Cárdenas eventually returned to the Astros in 2007, when he announced several games on television for the first time in his career."

René Cárdenas, who died at age 96, built a 60-year broadcasting career as MLB’s first full-time Spanish-language announcer. He began with the Los Angeles Dodgers radio booth in 1958, their first West Coast season after moving from Brooklyn. He worked on the first Spanish broadcast of the World Series in 1959 and the All-Star Game in 1961. After three years in Los Angeles, he joined the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, calling games for parts of 14 seasons and later returning to MLB in 1981 as the first Spanish-language broadcaster for the Texas Rangers. He returned to the Dodgers for nearly two decades, including calling the 1988 World Series championship. He later worked with the Astros again in 2007, including television for the first time, and wrote for their Spanish-language website after retiring. He also called major boxing events, including Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Ellis in 1971, and was inducted into the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame and the Astros Hall of Fame.

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