Baseball in Venezuela: A Unifying Force and National Identity
This article was written by Leonte Landino
This article was published in Vinotinto Venezuela Béisbol, 1939–2024: 85 Years of Venezuelans in the Major Leagues
In the heart of Venezuela, where passion runs as deep as the Orinoco River, baseball is more than just a sport; it’s a cultural phenomenon that unites a diverse nation. With a history dating back over a century, baseball has transcended its status as a game, becoming a powerful force that bridges divides and reinforces the collective identity of Venezuelans.
From the bustling streets of Caracas to the rural villages in the Andes, from the heating sandlots in Maracaibo to the remote communities in the Amazon rainforest, the diamond’s allure is universal, fostering a sense of belonging and pride.
Baseball in Venezuela serves as a unifying thread in the rich tapestry of the nation’s identity.
The beginnings
In the late nineteenth century, a new form of mass entertainment emerged in Venezuela, gradually transforming into a powerful symbol of national identity.
The origins of baseball in Venezuela remain a subject of ongoing debate among historians. As a researcher and historian, I support the version that attributes its introduction to wealthy Venezuelan students who studied at universities in the United States. This narrative aligns with early written accounts and has been passed down through oral tradition by some of our earliest chroniclers and writers.
While abroad, these students were introduced to the emerging sport, learning and playing it during their academic years. Upon returning to Venezuela in the early 1890s, they began sharing the game with friends and peers within the upper social circles of Caracas, planting the seeds of what would eventually become a national passion.
One well-supported and widely accepted account – documented in early Venezuelan newspapers – indicates that by May 1895, Amenodoro Franklin and his brothers Emilio, Gustavo, and Augusto founded the first organized baseball club in the country: the Caracas Base Ball Club.
According to accounts from Eleazar Díaz Rángel and Guillermo Becerra Mijares, this historic moment began on a pleasant afternoon when the Franklin brothers and a group of their friends arrived at a popular open field in the eastern area of Caracas. They came equipped with baseball gear, including bats, gloves, and balls, transported in four horse-drawn carriages.1
This open field, located in front of the Central Railroad Station in Quebrada Honda, had previously been used by British railway workers and local enthusiasts for a game known as “Rounders.” Over time, it evolved into a game referred to as “Rondada.” The field served as a space for open sports activities, distinct from the nearby tennis courts.
These areas were regarded as recreational spaces for the affluent residents of Caracas, and to this day, they stand as some of the city’s finest and most picturesque locales. The lovely Parque Los Caobos, which continues to serve as a public space, is a direct descendant of those peaceful and open areas.
The Franklin brothers were enthusiastic about spreading the game they learned in the United States. Although similar to rounders, baseball held a special excitement for them. They began practicing tirelessly until Sundays became a regular day for learning and playing the new sport. As their dedication to baseball continued to grow, the Caracas Baseball Club was officially formed, and the field was later christened the Campo de Ejercicios del Caracas Base Ball Club.
The Caracas B.B.C. decided to organize the “First Official Baseball Game in Venezuela,” intending it to be a grand event to generate publicity. On May 22, 1895, they sent out open invitations and published an announcement in El Tiempo, a local newspaper. The game was so novel and unfamiliar to the public that the reporter described it as “a new type of chess game, Base Bale [sic].”2
The following day at 3:30 P.M., the two teams of the Caracas B.B.C., Los Rojos and Los Azules, took to the field. The latter, managed by Amenodoro Franklin, won, 28-19. Some of the players were the Franklin brothers, Emilio, Gustavo, and Augusto, Adolfo Inchausti, Alfredo Mosquera, the Todd brothers – Jaime and Roberto – and Mariano Becerra.
All of them, who had studied in the United States, are considered the pioneers of the game in Venezuela. Among the other participating players were the Gonzalez brothers – Manuel and Joaquín – as well as Emilio Gramer, who were Cubans living in Caracas.
El Tiempo did not know much about baseball after the first game, and many people thought they were going to witness a “chess game” due to the reporter’s mistake. A note appeared the next day describing more of the atmosphere than the game itself:
“It looked like a Sunday carnival, but without costumes, flowers, sweets, or red things. The delight of the people was such that not a single complaint about the country’s poverty was heard all afternoon. And, as on other occasions, the people had fun, at least those who have more means to do so.”3
Venezuela, filled with internal revolutions throughout the country, was led by rural or military leaders who were trying to take control of the government. By 1895, General Joaquín Crespo was the president, and the country was impoverished after many years of civil war.
El Pregonero, another newspaper, also covered the game and, in its report, mocked El Tiempo’s advertisement about the “chess game”:
“See! ‘El Tiempo’? The game was Ball, not Bale. ‘El Tiempo’ always gets it wrong.”4
But it also added:
“But this game of baseball provides health and strength to the body, as well as happiness to the spirit.”
Three months later, on August 15, a magazine, El Cojo Ilustrado, published the first photographs of baseball in the country, sent by Mariano Becerra.
Days later, everyone in the city was talking about the “new sport,” and Alfredo Mosquera’s father, the owner of Cervecería Caracas, built the first official stadium in the country with stands and regulation measurements. It was the Stand del Este, near the Petare train station, a suburb of Caracas.
The boys finally had a real ballpark. For its maintenance, they formed a company to manage the ballpark and even sold stock to local enthusiasts. This company, Compañía Anónima de Las Glorietas, managed the Stand del Este, aiming to improve the facility. In return, every Sunday, an entry fee was charged for adults to watch games. Children’s admission was free.
Teams and players began to emerge across the baseball scene in Caracas, boosted by growing coverage in the local press. Squads such as Venezuela, Miranda, and Sucre joined the already established Caracas team to compete in the city’s first organized tournament. Caracas quickly established itself as the dominant force, capturing the inaugural championship title. At the heart of their success was shortstop Emérito Argudín, who stood out as the tournament’s first true star. His skill and leadership on the field earned him widespread recognition in the newspapers of the time, cementing his place in history as Venezuela’s first celebrated baseball figure.
Argudín was a Cuban-born college student who arrived in Venezuela amid the turbulence of the Spanish-American War in 1898, fleeing his homeland during the American invasion to pursue studies at the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV). However, his academic aspirations were soon disrupted by the rise of General Cipriano Castro, who seized power in 1899 and imposed authoritarian control over the nation, including its educational institutions. In 1901, the Castro regime temporarily shut down UCV following waves of student protests, leaving Argudín – and many other upper-class students – without access to formal academic life.
The closure sparked significant public backlash, eventually forcing the government to reopen the university, albeit under tight restrictions. But the damage was done: the regime’s efforts to centralize and suppress higher education – including the permanent closure of the universities of Zulia and Valencia in 1904 – transformed Venezuela’s universities into epicenters of political dissent. Students and professors became active participants in resistance movements, prompting further crackdowns and intermittent closures across the academic landscape.
With his studies stalled and political tensions rising, Argudín, like many of his contemporaries, turned to baseball—not just as a pastime, but as a new intellectual and athletic pursuit.
He quickly emerged as a maestro of the game, introducing tactical elements that were novel in Venezuela at the time. Among these were the bunt, strategic baserunning, and the use of curveballs – concepts he had likely learned from American-influenced play styles. His contributions helped raise the technical standards of Venezuelan baseball during its formative years, laying the groundwork for what would become a deeply rooted national passion.
The USS Marietta baseball team from 1902. (Courtesy of historian Javier Gonzalez.)
An established game
In the annals of Venezuelan history, October 19 and 26, 1902, hold a remarkable place. On these dates, the USS Marietta, a U.S. Navy gunboat, was docked at the port of La Guaira. What made these moments special was the presence of Marietta’s crew, who had brought along their own baseball team.
Two games were scheduled against the Caracas team, and what unfolded left an indelible mark on the country’s sporting history, as it was the first time local talent faced off against experienced baseball players from the United States.
In the first game, the Marietta claimed victory, though not without a quirky twist. A covert player substitution took place, going unnoticed because the American players all looked alike, making identification difficult. The substitute stepped up to the plate and hit a game-changing three-run home run, sealing the contest with a win. In the rematch, Caracas bounced back with a win of their own, and notably, Emérito Argudín played in both games, showcasing his skill and power by hitting, according to those reports, “several home runs”, further cementing his status as Venezuela’s first great baseball star
But aboard the USS Marietta was a standout player – virtually unknown at the time – second baseman Frank Martin, a former major-league third baseman who had retired in 1899 and later enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Martin had played parts of three seasons in the National League, suiting up for the Louisville Colonels, the Chicago Orphans, and the New York Giants. His presence added a level of professional polish to the American squad that local fans had never seen before.
The 1902 games against the Marietta marked a pivotal moment in the history of Venezuelan baseball. They represented the country’s first international competition – and its first victory against foreign opposition.
Caracas’s triumph over a team that included a former major leaguer ignited a wave of national enthusiasm and sparked a new era of development for the sport.
In the years that followed, baseball in Venezuela experienced rapid and organic growth. New teams began to form across cities and towns, and dedicated baseball fields were built to meet the growing enthusiasm for the sport. What had begun as a curiosity imported from abroad quickly transformed into a national passion—one that would come to define generations and embed itself in the cultural fabric of the country.
In 1903, the prominent Vollmer family took a significant step in formalizing organized sports by dedicating part of their San Bernardino estate in Caracas to a variety of athletic activities. Their grounds hosted baseball, football, cricket, tennis, polo, basketball, track and field, and even target shooting. From this fertile athletic environment emerged the “San Bernardino” baseball team, which went on to defeat the established “Caracas” club and quickly asserted itself as the dominant force in the capital’s baseball scene during that era.
These formative moments laid the groundwork for Venezuela’s enduring love affair with baseball. What started with students and sailors evolved into a deeply rooted national identity, where diamonds became sacred ground and players became symbols of pride. More than a century later, the spirit of those early games, including the landmark contests against the USS Marietta, still echoes in every pitch, swing, and cheer.
Baseball in Venezuela is not just a sport; it’s a legacy.
A Humble Beginning to a Legendary Legacy: The Birth of Magallanes
On October 26, 1917, in a modest gathering at the Back Stop bar – an unassuming hangout for local baseball aficionados – a few friends unknowingly laid the foundation for what would become one of Venezuela’s most iconic and enduring baseball franchises: Magallanes.
Antonio Benítez, the owner of the bar and a passionate supporter of the sport, proposed the name Magallanes for their newly conceived team. The name paid tribute to the legendary Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who had once charted the coastal waters near Venezuela. A vote was held among the bar’s regulars, and though it passed by the slimmest of margins – just one vote – the name Magallanes was chosen, sealing the first chapter in the club’s storied history.
The team’s early days were humble. Its headquarters were established in the neighborhood of Catia. In early 1918, they held tryouts to select the first players to wear the Magallanes jersey. That same January, the club officially registered to compete in the national championship. Their debut, however, was far from glorious – a crushing 20-6 defeat at the hands of Flor del Ávila. Although they bounced back with a win in their next outing, a string of losses eventually forced the team to withdraw from the tournament.
But those initial struggles did not mark the end. On the contrary, they became the spark that fueled the team’s determination to persevere.
Rather than fading into obscurity, Magallanes grew in stature, its spirit shaped by adversity. The foundation had been laid, not just for a team, but for a legacy.
A decade later, Antonio Benítez revived the Magallanes name and entered the team into Caracas’s second division, part of a tiered amateur system based on playing level. Once he managed to recruit a stronger roster with more seasoned talent, Magallanes was promoted to the prestigious first category for the historic 1930 season.
That same year marked the start of an intense rivalry with Royal Criollos, a powerhouse team founded in 1927 under the sponsorship of the Royal typewriter company. With financial backing and a mission to field exclusively Venezuelan players, Royal Criollos quickly became a dominant force. The emergence of Magallanes as a worthy challenger set the stage for one of Venezuelan baseball’s earliest and most passionate rivalries – an enduring battle that captured the imagination of fans and helped elevate the sport to new heights across the country.
From the bar room to the ballpark, Magallanes transformed from a casual dream into a symbol of pride, resilience, and tradition – a legacy that still endures over a century later.
1930s: The Decade of Growth and Identity
The 1930s marked a pivotal era of growth, structure, and national awakening for baseball in Venezuela. Referred to by renowned baseball historian Javier González as the country’s “Period of Consolidation,” this decade witnessed the transformation of the sport from an elite urban pastime into a nationwide cultural force.
As Venezuela moved from the iron grip of General Juan Vicente Gómez’s dictatorship toward a slow and uncertain path to democracy, baseball emerged not just as a game but as a unifying element in the reshaping of national identity. In a country marked by political tension and social upheaval, baseball offered common ground, a shared language that transcended class and region.
The year 1930 was especially significant. It saw the creation of the Asociación Venezolana de Béisbol, the governing body that organized the first official national championship for first division teams. This milestone represented the birth of semi-professional, structured baseball in Venezuela. For the first time, clubs competed under unified rules, with clear standings and national recognition – an essential leap forward from the informal city tournaments of earlier decades.
This new championship didn’t just raise the level of competition. It sparked a cultural phenomenon. Baseball became more than a weekend activity; it was now a national obsession, broadcast on the radio, debated in cafés, and chronicled in newspapers with growing enthusiasm. The players became folk heroes, the rivalries turned into neighborhood passions, and the sport began weaving itself into the social fabric of the country.
The 1930s laid the foundation for what was to come – a Venezuela where baseball wouldn’t just be the most popular sport, but a defining feature of national pride, cultural expression, and international aspiration.
Just a year later, in March 1931, another milestone was achieved: the first live radio broadcast of a baseball game in Venezuela. This technological leap allowed thousands of fans to experience games in real time, regardless of physical distance. Baseball became accessible to all, not just the privileged few, in stadiums. The advent of live broadcasting fueled nationwide rivalries, deepened fan engagement, and solidified the sport’s growing presence in everyday Venezuelan life.
While the Liga Nacional de Béisbol (National Baseball League) had been created in 1927 to regulate the many amateur tournaments emerging across the country, its leadership revealed a strong political tie. Its first president and vice president were Gonzalo Gómez and José Vicente Gómez, sons of Venezuela’s dictator, General Juan Vicente Gómez. These brothers didn’t just oversee the league—they also owned teams that doubled as political propaganda.
For instance, the club Paz y Unión bore the exact slogan of the regime: “Unión, Paz y Trabajo.” Another team, Independencia, was similarly named to align with the government’s messaging. However, the club that truly catalyzed baseball’s competitive evolution was Águilas del Concordia from La Victoria, in the state of Aragua.
Backed financially by Gonzalo Gómez, Concordia was not just a political tool but a powerhouse that elevated the standard of play and brought international attention to Venezuelan baseball.
This was the era in which local heroes began to gain global traction. Legends such as Luis Aparicio Ortega and Alejandro “Patón” Carrasquel began making names for themselves beyond Venezuelan borders. Concordia served as a launching pad, becoming a traveling super-team that represented Venezuela abroad – part athletic showcase, part political soft power. The club featured elite talent from across the Caribbean, including Hall of Famer Martín Dihígo of Cuba and Dominican speedster Tetelo Vargas, further legitimizing Venezuelan baseball on the international stage.
Meanwhile, in western Venezuela, the city of Maracaibo – buoyed by the oil boom – was nurturing its own baseball culture. Local rivalries, especially between Gavilanes and Pastora, galvanized the region’s passion for the game. Scouts from Caracas began recruiting heavily in cities like Maracaibo, Barquisimeto, and Cumaná, triggering a steady influx of players to the capital in search of better pay and playing conditions.
By the mid-1930s, Venezuelan baseball was no longer just a game. It was a national phenomenon – politicized, professionalized, and popularized – set on a trajectory that would eventually produce some of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
As a direct result of Concordia’s success as a traveling team throughout the Caribbean, Venezuelan players began to garner international attention and opportunities. Luis Aparicio Ortega became the country’s first baseball export in 1934 when he signed with Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Republic, opening the door for future generations to follow.
Just a few years another trailblazer emerged. In 1938, Alejandro “Patón” Carrasquel received an invitation from Cuban legend Martín Dihigo to join the Cuban Winter League, playing for the modest Club Cuba under the leadership of Joseíto Rodríguez. Carrasquel quickly made a name for himself, dominating hitters and ultimately earning the league’s Most Valuable Player honors. Rodríguez, a former infielder for the New York Giants in 1916, connected his star pitcher with renowned scout “Papa” Joe Cambria, the longtime talent spotter for the Washington Senators.Unlike today’s prospects, who often sign with MLB organizations at the age of 16, Carrasquel was already 27 when he broke through. He had spent years establishing himself as a formidable pitcher in Venezuela and Cuba, playing with clubs like Valdés, where Cambria first saw him in action. Impressed by his poise and command, Cambria recommended him to Senators owner Clark Griffith.
In February 1939, Carrasquel made his first trip from Cuba to the United States, landing at the port of Tampa. However, due to immigration laws in effect since 1917, which barred illiterate foreigners from entering the country, Carrasquel was initially denied entry and sent back to the port of origin.
Several tense days passed before Griffith intervened, paying a $400 fee and formally assuming responsibility for the pitcher. With the paperwork cleared, Carrasquel finally arrived at the Senators’ spring training facility in Orlando, Florida, ready to make history.
The news of Carrasquel’s imminent major-league debut reverberated back home. For a nation still new to the idea of exporting athletic talent, it was a moment of immense pride.
“News from a Cuban outlet informs us that recently our paisano and magnificent player Alejandro Carrasquel was signed to play with the Washington Senators,” wrote El Universal, one of Venezuela’s leading dailies, on January 24, 1939.
That historic milestone arrived on April 23, 1939, when Carrasquel took the mound at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., facing off against the powerhouse New York Yankees.
With that first pitch, he became the first Venezuelan to play in the major leagues. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Impact of 1941 and the LVBP
However, it was in 1941 that baseball truly became ingrained as an expression of Venezuelan national identity. That year, Venezuela’s amateur national team achieved a stunning victory in the World Amateur Baseball Championship held in Havana, Cuba.
The win was more than a sporting triumph – it was a cultural and emotional milestone that brought the entire country to a standstill. As the final game was aired on the radio, Venezuelans across all walks of life paused their daily routines to listen, united by a sense of pride and anticipation.
The reaction was unprecedented. President Isaías Medina Angarita declared an immediate national holiday, and celebrations erupted across cities and small towns alike. The victory stirred a powerful sense of unity and patriotic emotion, forever linking baseball with the Venezuelan soul.
In recognition of the achievement, October 22 was officially declared National Sports Day, a symbolic tribute to the moment when baseball became more than just a game – it became part of the nation’s character.
This overwhelming public enthusiasm laid the foundation for the creation of a professional league, one that would affiliate with the U.S.-based National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL). Just five years later, in 1946, the dream took shape as the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) was officially born.
The inaugural LVBP season began on December 27, 1946, with four pioneering teams: Cervecería Caracas, Navegantes del Magallanes, Patriotas del Venezuela, and Sabios del Vargas. These early clubs set the tone for a league that would become a cornerstone of Venezuelan sports culture.
The league’s growth in the following decades was nothing short of extraordinary. Fans filled stadiums in droves, creating an electric and passionate atmosphere that rivaled the best baseball environments in the world. As the league expanded, iconic franchises such as Leones del Caracas, Tiburones de La Guaira, Tigres de Aragua, and Cardenales de Lara emerged, intensifying rivalries and strengthening regional pride. The historic rivalry between Caracas and Magallanes – which eventually relocated to Valencia as their permanent home – became the heart of Venezuelan baseball tradition.
Meanwhile, in the western state of Zulia, the game flourished as a regional powerhouse, largely inspired by the legendary Luis Aparicio Ortega. From 1954 to 1963, Zulia hosted its own professional circuit, the Western Professional League, which showcased local talent and drew massive support in a baseball-obsessed region.
But it wasn’t until 1969 that Maracaibo, capital city of Zulia state, officially joined the LVBP. That year marked the debut of Águilas del Zulia, a franchise that would grow to become one of the most beloved and successful in the country. With six championship titles to its name, Águilas has helped complete and solidify the LVBP as a truly national institution, uniting fans across all corners of Venezuela.
The league underwent a second expansion in 1992, welcoming two new franchises: Petroleros de Cabimas and Caribes de Oriente. Cabimas eventually relocated – first to Acarigua, and later to its current home on Margarita Island, rebranded as Bravos de Margarita. Caribes, on the other hand, found a stable and passionate home in Puerto La Cruz, rebranding as Caribes de Anzoátegui to better reflect the local identity.
Today, the LVBP stands as one of Latin America’s premier winter leagues, deeply interwoven with the cultural, social, and emotional fabric of Venezuela.
It all began with a spark in Havana, and from that historic 1941 triumph, a nation’s love affair with baseball was forever sealed.
Ronald Acuña Jr. became one of MLB’s brightest stars, winning the 2023 National League MVP after a 40–70 season. His blend of power and speed has redefined the modern leadoff hitter. (Getty Images)
Baseball as a Cultural Force in Venezuela
The evolution of baseball in Venezuela is more than a story of athletic development – it is a powerful cultural and national narrative. Adopting a constructionist approach, baseball in Venezuela has been consciously shaped and elevated as a symbol of national identity, developing in tandem with the nation’s modern history and serving as both a mirror and an engine of social progress.
Far beyond its recognition as Venezuela’s official national sport, baseball has functioned as a unifying force, transcending class, political ideologies, and geographic divides. It has brought people together through joy, competition, and shared pride, especially during moments of hardship and uncertainty. No other sport – or leisure activity – has matched baseball’s penetration into the country’s social fabric, educational systems, and collective imagination.
Baseball’s reach extends across every layer of society. From organized school leagues and youth development programs to semi-professional circuits and the crown jewel of the sport – the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) – baseball in Venezuela is not merely played; it is lived. The Winter League, held annually from October to February, holds a sacred place in the hearts of Venezuelans.
It is during this season that hometown heroes, many of whom play in the U.S. major leagues, return to suit up for their national clubs, reuniting with fans and reigniting regional rivalries in sold-out stadiums.
As Venezuelan players continued to make waves internationally, the nation began to follow their journeys with intense passion. The emergence of Luis Aparicio, Venezuela’s first Hall of Famer, and stars like Dave Concepción, Andrés Galarraga, Omar Vizquel, Miguel Cabrera, and José Altuve, among others, elevated the country’s global baseball standing. These players not only excelled in Major League Baseball (MLB) but also carried with them the spirit of Venezuelan baseball wherever they played, becoming symbols of aspiration for generations of young players.
The success hasn’t been limited to individuals. Venezuela’s national team has proudly represented the country on the international stage, earning accolades in prestigious tournaments such as the Caribbean Series and the World Baseball Classic. These performances have united the nation in celebration and reminded the world of the depth and passion that define Venezuelan baseball.
Moreover, baseball has acted as a catalyst for social change. Across the country, grassroots programs and baseball academies have created vital opportunities for youth, particularly in underserved communities.
These initiatives offer not only athletic training but also education, structure, and a path to a better life. Many of today’s MLB stars began their journeys in such programs, demonstrating how baseball serves not just as a sport but as a mechanism of empowerment, mobility, and national pride.
In Venezuela, baseball is more than a pastime. It is a cultural institution, a symbol of identity, a source of pride, and a unifying voice in a nation that has endured both triumph and turmoil. The sport’s continued expansion, its impact on youth development, and its international acclaim underscore its profound role in the country’s past, present, and future.
An Impactful Social Shift: Baseball Amid Crisis and Migration in Venezuela
The journey of baseball in Venezuela has been as dynamic as the nation itself, rich with triumphs but not without formidable challenges. Over the past two decades, economic collapse, political instability, and national security concerns have deeply impacted the sport’s development at every level. Since the rise of the socialist revolution under Hugo Chávez in 1998, the professional baseball industry—once a thriving ecosystem of private sponsors, media partners, and packed stadiums—has faced immense pressure and decline.
And yet, despite this unraveling of the country’s traditional structures, baseball has endured, driven by the unbreakable resilience and passion of the Venezuelan people.
The Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) has managed to survive under increasingly adverse conditions. With corporate sponsorships and television deals evaporating, the league and its teams became increasingly dependent on financial backing from the government, a controversial pivot. Crowds once common during the golden eras of the sport are now rare, with stadiums filling only during a few key rivalry games, finals, or special appearances.
Still, baseball persists as a centerpiece of national pride. In 2023, Venezuela hosted the Caribbean Series and leveraged the event to inaugurate the Estadio Monumental Simón Bolívar, a 40,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium in Caracas, reminiscent of San Diego’s Petco Park. It now serves as the new home of Leones del Caracas. That same year, the government also opened Estadio Fórum La Guaira, a modern, visually striking ballpark overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Despite its smaller capacity, the stadium features lavish fan amenities such as hot tubs, wet bars, and field-view pools, hallmarks of a world-class experience.
These grand investments, however, sparked backlash. Critics called them tone-deaf, pointing to Venezuela’s crippling humanitarian crisis, record-high inflation, and the displacement of nearly 8 million citizens in search of safety and opportunity, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 5. Opponents questioned how a country struggling with basic needs could justify funding high-end stadiums. Furthermore, the government of Nicolás Maduro, which was only legitimately recognized by eight nations in the world6 and widely recognized as a dictatorship7, continues to face allegations of human rights violations, election fraud, and corruption, adding layers of controversy to any major state-sponsored project.
Meanwhile, baseball has transformed into one of Venezuela’s most powerful cultural exports. As millions of citizens settle across Latin America, North America, and Europe, they carry with them not only their identity but also their passion for the game.
In corners of the world where baseball was once unknown or dormant, Venezuelan migrants are reviving the sport, introducing it in schoolyards, public parks, and local leagues. From remote towns in Chile and Spain to the streets of Miami and Toronto, baseball has become a tool of cultural connection, and Venezuelan children are growing up as global ambassadors of the game.
Back home, MLB stars rarely return to participate in the winter league, due to concerns over security, contractual restrictions, and insurance limitations. Only a few players appear for brief stints – typically as part of injury rehabs, off-season conditioning, or deeply personal tributes to family and community.
One notable exception in the 2023–2024 season was Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., fresh off winning the 2023 National League MVP award. Acuña stunned fans by playing for Tiburones de La Guaira, where he hit a staggering .441 in 10 games. He helped lead the team – managed by World Series champion Ozzie Guillén – to its first title in 37 years.
Guillén made history, becoming the first Latino manager to win a World Series, a Winter League championship, and a Caribbean Series title. That crowning moment came in loanDepot Park –home of the Miami Marlins – where the Caribbean Series was hosted in an MLB stadium for the first time.
The stands were packed with expatriate Venezuelans, turning the game into a celebration of identity, pride, and resilience.
And while Venezuela continues to be a vital contributor to MLB’s international talent pool, a new generation of players is rising—the children of migrants. These athletes are entering amateur draft pipelines in the U.S., Canada, and beyond, receiving development through school systems and travel ball circuits instead of traditional Latin academies.
Some, like Jesús Luzardo, a strong MLB starting pitcher born in Peru to Venezuelan parents, are redefining what it means to be a “Venezuelan” player. Others, like Abraham Toro, a versatile infielder born in Quebec and listed as “Canadian” on his baseball card, are Venezuelan to the core.
“More Venezuelan than an arepa con carne mechada,” as fans like to say.
In the face of economic ruin and mass migration, baseball remains woven into the Venezuelan fiber. It is not just a sport—it is an identity, a bridge to the past, and a hope for the future. No matter where they are in the world, Venezuelans continue to be the game’s most passionate ambassadors, spreading its joy, values, and rhythm to places that never knew it before.
The global impact of Venezuelan baseball is no longer measured only in wins and championships. It is seen in classrooms, community fields, and family traditions far from home. The game has survived war, scarcity, exile, and silence—because it lives in the heart of its people.
For Venezuelans, baseball it’s not a game, it’s not a passion. It’s a religion.
LEONTE LANDINO is a Venezuelan-American journalist. With over 25 years in the baseball industry, he led baseball content production for ESPN International for almost two decades and became the first-ever Venezuelan with an executive position at the Office of the Commissioner. Landino is a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America and chair of SABR’s Luis Castro Chapter.
SOURCES
In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted:
Javier González y Carlos Figueroa Ruiz, Campos de Gloria: El Béisbol en Venezuela, 127 años de historia. 1895-2022 (Caracas: Biblioteca Digital Banesco, 2022).
Javier González, El Béisbol en Venezuela (Caracas: Fundación Bigott, 2003).
José Luis Salcedo-Bastardo, Historia Fundamental de Venezuela (Caracas: Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1996).
Juan Vené, Cinco mil años de Beisbol (Caracas: Ediciones B., 2006).
Juan Vené, Las Mejores Anécdotas del Beisbol (Caracas: Ediciones B., 2008).
NOTES
1 Eleazar Díaz Rangel and Guillermo Becerra Mijares, El Béisbol en Caracas 1895-1966 (Caracas: Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos, 1967).
2 Díaz Rangel and Becerra Mijares.
3 Díaz Rangel and Becerra Mijares.
4 Adolfo Navas, Mi Taller de Baseball 2020. https://baseballtaller.wordpress.com/2020/12/14/historia-del-baseball-en-venezuela-i/.
5 UN Refugee Agency. Accessed on June 24, 2025. https://www.unrefugees.org/news/venezuela-crisis-explained
6 “Venezuela Elections: Map Shows Countries That Have Recognized Maduro’s Win,” Newsweek, July 31,2024. Accessed on June 24, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/venezuela-elections-map-shows-countries-that-have-recognized-maduros-win-1931498
7 “Venezuela tumbles deeper into dictatorship with Nicolás Maduro set to extend 12-year rule,” The Guardian, January 9, 2025. Accessed on June 24, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/09/venezuela-dictatorship-nicolas-maduro-democratic-leaders-boycott