05/11/26 11:54:00
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05/11 11:53 CDT Ren Crdenas, pioneer in Spanish-language broadcasts of MLB
games, dies at 96
Ren Crdenas, pioneer in Spanish-language broadcasts of MLB games, dies at 96
HOUSTON (AP) --- Ren Crdenas, 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 Crdenas died Sunday at his home in Houston.
Crdenas 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 Ren Crdenas, 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 Crdenas 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."
Crdenas 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, Crdenas wrote for the Astros' Spanish-language website and for
La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper.
Crdenas 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.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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