Prologue: Vinotinto Venezuela Béisbol, 1939–2024

Venezuela might have become a soccer-focused country, like the rest of South America, if not for three pivotal historical events:

1) Venezuelan dictator Juan Vicente Gómez and his son, Gonzalo, developed a profound love for baseball. They sponsored teams and paid the players’ salaries, even when baseball was supposed to be an amateur sport. Their influence lasted from 1908 until Juan Vicente died in 1935.

2) The legendary victory at the Baseball World Cup in Cuba in October 1941. Since then, this Venezuelan team has been known as “The Heroes of 1941.”

3) The arrival of U.S.-based oil companies, Creole and Shell, to Venezuela’s eastern and western regions. These companies embraced the country’s enthusiasm for baseball. By 1944, every oil field had its baseball diamond, promoting the growth and love of the game.

Many talented players emerged from these regions, including Luis Aparicio from Maracaibo and Luis “Camaleón” García from Carúpano.

As historian Eleazar Díaz Rangel noted in his 1967 masterpiece El Béisbol en Caracas, baseball had already been played in Caracas for nearly five decades.1

It all began in January 1895, when a group of young men who had studied in New York returned to Venezuela. They showed up one day at the Stand del Este, near the central railway station, with bats and balls. They had no gloves.

There was a group of boys nearby preparing to play “stone battle,” a popular pastime among children and young adults at that time. One of these boys was Rómulo Gallegos (acclaimed writer and former President of Venezuela), then 11 years old. The wealthy boys invited the rock-throwing kids to play the fashionable sport from the United States. They left their stones and started to learn the game.

This marked the first time baseball was played in Venezuela!

In addition to “stone battles,” Venezuelans also entertained themselves by playing soccer (led by European priests), practicing archery, or attending bullfights, horse races, cinemas, boxing matches, zarzuelas, operas, and plays.

Baseball quickly captivated the attention of boys and young adults in Caracas and spread throughout the country, particularly in inner cities like La Guaira, La Victoria, Maracay, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Maracaibo, and Barlovento.

Cubans in many fields: workers, businessmen, students, travelers, and entertainers were already well-versed in the game and continually came to Venezuela for various reasons. Their presence was crucial in helping Venezuelan players improve their skills and in increasing the game’s popularity among spectators.

Two of the most notable Cuban players from those years were Lázaro Quesada, a catcher, and Emerito Agudín, a second baseman and shortstop who was highly educated and fluent in English. Agudín was the first to translate and publish the rules of baseball in Venezuela.

The first organized team was Caracas B.B.C. Organized by the Franklin brothers— Amenodoro, Emilio, Gustavo, and Augusto Franklin. It consisted of almost everyone who practiced at the Stand del Este—except for Gallegos, whose parents forbade him to play by saying, “That sport is a thing for young criminals.”2

The first registered game was Caracas against Caracas, as there were no other teams. They had to divide the roster into two “novenas” or teams: Los Rojos and Los Azules. The game, which featured three Cuban players, took place on May 23, 1895, as reported by the newspaper El Tiempo.

Los Azules (The Blues) won, 28-19.

The final times of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century were pivotal for the development of baseball in Venezuela. The sport evolved into a national pastime, captivating millions of people, becoming a popular activity for all ages, and developing into a significant industry that provided jobs for tens of thousands while offering national entertainment.

In 1931, Gonzalo Gómez decided to establish his team, Águilas del Concordia, by bringing in talented foreign players and hiring the best local players for the highest salaries. He paid some imported players $2,000 a month, which was equivalent to the salary of Lou Gehrig, the star first baseman for the Yankees at that time.

While the Gómez family and the oil companies played a critical role in the development of baseball in Venezuela, it was “The Heroes of 1941” who ignited the country’s passion for the sport.

On October 22, 1941, the Venezuelan team won the IV Baseball World Cup in Havana. This victory convinced Venezuelans of something they had never believed before, the fact that a Venezuelan team could compete at the same level as the Cubans.

The formation of this team and its journey were seen as a national endeavor. Every Venezuelan felt they were a part of this team.

The Amateur Baseball World Series was born in 1938. The first tournament, held in London, featured only two teams, with England defeating the United States. In 1939, the tournament took place in Havana, featuring three countries—Cuba, the United States, and Nicaragua. The Cubans won, and the event was such a financial success that the 1940 tournament was again held at the Tropical Stadium in Havana.

In 1940, Venezuela participated for the first time, finishing in a modest fourth place. Abelardo Raidi, a young sports journalist from El Universal, took the lead in organizing the team’s trip and logistics, acting as a General Manager or “Delegado,” a term used to describe the person in charge of the team.

Raidi was determined to win the competition, and his efforts were wholeheartedly supported by both players and fans around the country.

From building the roster to overseeing training in Caracas and managing the logistics of the long boat trip, Raidi was in charge of every detail. He worked closely with the Cuban organizing committee to prepare the game schedule and every aspect of the tournament.

The Cuban authorities covered the costs of the return trip, while the Venezuelan government was supposed to fund the journey to Havana. However, the government funds never materialized.

Raidi then launched a public fundraising campaign under the slogan: “A bolívar… for the Love of God!” (The bolívar was and still is the currency of Venezuela.)

The team needed 11,000 bolívares to cover their travel expenses. Fans came together to contribute, ultimately raising 15,000 bolívares.

The team and its mission had captured the hearts of all Venezuelans.

To defeat Cuba in baseball at that time was akin to reaching Mars today. At the end of the tournament, Cuba and Venezuela were tied with seven wins each.

The tiebreaker set the stage for the now-famous pitching duel between Cuba’s Conrado Marrero and Venezuela’s Daniel “El Chino” Canónico, who had already recorded four victories in the tournament.

The game began with an unexpected twist. In the first inning, Marrero, typically known for his precise control, struggled to find the strike zone. The Venezuelan team capitalized on this rare opportunity, scoring three quick runs before Marrero could regain his composure. This shaky start would ultimately prove decisive.

After the difficult first inning, Marrero settled down and began dominating the Venezuelan hitters, showing the skill and command he was famous for, and effectively shutting down the Venezuelan offense for the remainder of the game. The early damage was already done, and the three runs scored in the first inning proved critical.

Meanwhile, Canónico was in peak form. He confounded the Cuban batters with a masterful mix of pitches, keeping them off balance throughout the game. The powerful Cuban lineup, known for its heavy hitters, was held scoreless until the ninth inning. In a last-ditch effort, Cuba managed to score a lone run when Segundo “Guajiro” Rodríguez hit a double, followed by a single from Rafael Villa Cabrera. But it was not enough.

As Canónico recorded the final out, the scoreboard read 3-1 in favor of Venezuela. The Cuban crowd, a mix of disappointment and admiration, rushed onto the field to celebrate Canónico’s remarkable performance. In a show of respect and sportsmanship, they lifted Canónico and his South American teammates onto their shoulders, honoring their incredible achievement.

This historic victory not only secured Venezuela’s first-ever Baseball World Cup title but also solidified its status as a baseball powerhouse. The passion and skill displayed by both teams, particularly in this intense pitching duel, left an indelible mark on everyone who witnessed it.

This win was more than just a triumph on the field; it was a moment that united the Venezuelan people in their love for baseball, turning the sport from a pastime into a national obsession.

The nine teams finished thus:

 

TEAM	RECORD
Venezuela	8-1
Cuba	7-2
Mexico	6-2
Panama	5-3
Dominican Republic	5-3
United States	2-6
Nicaragua	2-6
Puerto Rico	1-7
El Salvador	1-7

 

The entire Venezuelan team played their best, sensationally enough, but “El Chino” Canónico was extraordinary, recording five wins without a loss.

Here are the two rosters of that transcendental and historic game:

Cuba

• Pitchers: Conrado “Connie” Marrero, Julio “Jiquí” Moreno, Pedro “Natilla” Jiménez, Ramón Roger, Tomás Hecheverría, Raúl Ávalos, Daniel Parra, PA Fernandez.
• Catchers: Andrés Fleitas, Rouget Avalos.
• Infielders: Bernardo Cuervo, Clemente González, Napoleón Reyes, Domingo Gálvez, Antonio “Mosquito” Ordeñana.
• Outfielders: Rafael Villa-Cabrera, Rogelio “Limonar” Martínez, Charles Pérez, Segundo “Guajiro” Rodríguez.
• Manager: Joaquín Viego.
• Coaches: Narciso Picazo, Bernardo Rodríguez.

Venezuela

• Pitchers: Daniel “Chino” Canónico, Pedro “Diver” Nelson, Benjamín Chirinos, Juan Francisco “El Gatico” Hernández, Domingo Barboza, Julio “El Brujo” Bracho, Ramón “Dumbo” Fernández, Felipe González.
• Catchers: Guillermo “Aquilino” Vento, Enrique Fonseca.
• Infielders: Luis Romero Petit, José Antonio Casanova, Dalmiro Finol, José Pérez Colmenares, Atilano Malpica.
• Outfielders: Jesús “Chucho” Ramos, Héctor “Redondo” Benítez, Francisco “Tarzán” Contreras.
• Manager: Manuel “El Pollo” Malpica.
• Coaches: Carlos Maal, Jesús Corao.
• Kinesiologist: Jesús Rodil.
• Delegate: Abelardo Raidi.

Less than five years later, Venezuelan baseball had become fully professional. The Venezuelan Professional League championship began on January 12, 1946, with all games played in Caracas and featuring the teams Magallanes, Venezuela, Cervecería de Caracas, and Vargas.

At that time, Caracas, the capital, had a population of 561,415, in a country with a total of 3,934,429 people. With just one bolívar, a person could buy a full meal in many restaurants across the country.

As baseball became more organized, it opened the door to more international competitions and player exchanges with both the minor and major leagues in the United States. In 1949, Venezuela began participating in the Caribbean Series.

Without the Gómez family, “The Heroes of ’41,” or the support of the oil companies, it would have been impossible to present the 50 vibrant biographies contained in this publication.

Venezuela might not be the country it is today, producing some of the world’s best baseball players who now shine in the multibillion-dollar industry of Major League Baseball and around the world.

JUAN VENE’ is a legendary Venezuelan sports journalist, author, and baseball historian whose career spans more than seven decades of continual coverage. Renowned across Latin America and the United States, Vené has become a revered voice in baseball through his incisive writing, vivid storytelling, and deep knowledge of the game. He is best known for his columns, books, and radio broadcasts that have chronicled generations of Latin American players and major-league history with passion and precision. He is a voting member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and an advocate for Latino contributions to the sport. Vené’s influence transcends borders, establishing him as one of the most respected chroniclers of béisbol in the Spanish-speaking world.

 

NOTES

1 Eleazar Díaz Rangel & Guillermo Becerra Mijares, El Béisbol en Caracas: 1895-1967 (Caracas: Ediciones del Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos, 1967).

2 Juan Vené, 5 Mil Años de Béisbol (Caracas: Ediciones B., 2007).