René Cárdenas, longtime Dodgers Spanish-language announcer, dies

Spanish-language play-by-play announcer Rene Cardenas (left), of the radio station KWKW, listens as baseball player Don Drysdale, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, talks about pitching strategy, Los Angeles, California, 1959. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images) | Getty Images René Cárdenas, the Dodgers first Spanish-language play-by-play broadcaster when they moved to Los Angeles, died on Sunday at age 96. Cárdenas started with the Dodgers in 1958, and helped train Jaime Jarrín, who joined him in the booth one year later.

After four years in Los Angeles, Cárdenas moved to the expansion Houston Colt . 45s, and also called one year of games for the Texas Rangers before returning to call Dodgers games from 1982-1998. 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.

We send our condolences to his loved ones. — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 11, 2026 Born in Managua, Nicaragua in 1930, Cárdenas covered several sports, including baseball, before moving to the United States. From José de Jesus Ortiz at La Esquina : “Rene was a true pioneer in our industry,” said Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrin, the legendary former Spanish voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“He played a predominant role in my start as a baseball broadcaster. “I learned a lot from him and from Jose el Fat Garcia, both of the land of Ruben Dario. Rest in peace, my maestro and friend Chelito Cardenas.