The baseball world lost a true pioneer this week. Former Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster René Cárdenas passed away at the age of 96 on Sunday. A trailblazer in every sense, Cárdenas made history in 1958 as the first full-time Spanish-language broadcaster in Major League Baseball history, joining the Dodgers right after their move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

His impact was immediate and historic. In 1959, Cárdenas was part of the first-ever Spanish-language broadcast of the World Series, opening the door for millions of Hispanic fans to experience America’s pastime in their native language. Over the course of his career, he spent 21 memorable seasons behind the microphone for the Dodgers.

"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," the Dodgers shared on social media Sunday.

Cárdenas’s career took him beyond Los Angeles. In 1962, he joined the expansion Houston Colt .45s—who later became the Astros—for their inaugural season. He spent 14 seasons in Houston before taking a six-year break from baseball to return to his home country of Nicaragua in 1975. When he returned to the booth in 1981, he made history again, becoming the Texas Rangers' first Spanish-language broadcaster. After just one season in Texas, he returned to the Dodgers in 1982, where he remained until his retirement in 1998.

For his groundbreaking contributions, Cárdenas was inducted into the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000, the Broadcasters Wing of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Astros Baseball Media Wall of Honor in 2013. His voice not only called games but also helped build a bridge between the sport and its growing Hispanic fanbase—a legacy that will be felt for generations to come.