René Cárdenas: The First Spanish Baseball Announcer Dies

May 11, 2026, 20:32
Latin AmericaSports

Introduction

René Cárdenas died at age 96. He was the first full-time Spanish announcer for Major League Baseball.

Main Body

René started his job in 1958 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He wanted more people to hear baseball in Spanish. He did the first Spanish broadcasts for the World Series and the All-Star Game. Later, he worked for the Houston Astros. He started a radio network for 13 countries in Central and South America. He also worked for the Texas Rangers. René worked in sports for 67 years. He talked about baseball and boxing. Many museums gave him awards, but he did not enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Conclusion

René Cárdenas died on May 10. He changed how people listen to sports in Spanish.

Learning

🕒 The 'Past' Pattern

Look at these words from the text:

  • Started
  • Wanted
  • Worked
  • Changed

The Rule: To talk about things that finished in the past, we often just add -ed to the end of the action word.

Examples from the story:

  • Start → Started
  • Work → Worked

Wait! Look at this one:

  • Die becomes Died (We just add the -d because it already ends in 'e').

Quick Guide for A2: If you want to tell a story about yesterday or 1958, use the -ed ending for most regular actions.

Vocabulary Learning

died (v.)
to stop living
Example:René Cárdenas died at age 96.
age (n.)
the number of years a person has lived
Example:He was 96 years old at his age.
first (adj.)
coming before all others
Example:He was the first full-time Spanish announcer.
job (n.)
a paid position of work
Example:René started his job in 1958.
people (n.)
human beings in general
Example:He wanted more people to hear baseball in Spanish.
hear (v.)
to receive sound with the ears
Example:People can hear the announcer.
changed (v.)
to make different
Example:He changed how people listen to sports.
listen (v.)
to pay attention to sound
Example:People listen to the radio.