Juan Vené Belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame

[IMPORTANT: Make this 4 times longer with much more detail]

Baseball Juan Vené Belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame by Julio Pabón January 17, 2025 Juan Vené, a one-of-a kind baseball sports journalist that belongs in the Baseball HOF – Image Credit: Archivo On January 10th, 2025, our most senior writer, Mr. Juan Vené, celebrated his 96th birthday. Juan, whose real name is José Rafael Machado Yanes, was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 10th, 1929. He adopted the professional name Juan Vene and has become a pillar in baseball reporting since his first job as a journalist in 1947 at Noticias Gráficas in Maracaibo, Venezuela. I missed the opportunity to wish him a very happy and healthy birthday, as I do not have any record of our writers’ and team members’ birthdays. I can hardly keep up with my three adult children and their tribe of eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter’s birthdays. However, upon learning of Juan’s birthday, I felt something different. Let’s face it—how many people do we know who, at the age of 96, are writing a daily, well-thought-out, sometimes humorous, sometimes provocative baseball column filled with fascinating facts and data that boggle the mind? Mr. Juan Vené covering what he loves best, baseball – Image Credit: Vené Archives Juan has one of the most in-depth and interesting backgrounds, and I must highlight just a few points. He graduated from Havana University with a degree in journalism and earned a certification as a Baseball Historian from St. Francis College in Annandale, Minnesota. Juan has been a voting member of the BBWAA since 1981. He has covered every single World Series for TV, radio, or print media from 1960 to 2005. His column, “En La Pelota,” has been published daily since 1960 and is syndicated in numerous newspapers across Central and South America. We are proud to translate and publish his daily column on our site. Juan is also a published author of no fewer than twenty books about baseball, including the popular titles “ Cinco Mil Años de Béisbol ” (Five Thousand Years of Baseball) and The History of Baseball . In 1997, Juan was also honored in the U.S. Congressional Record for his fifty years in journalism. Juan is an established and well-respected baseball columnist who was the first Venezuelan to broadcast a World Series radio transmission to his homeland. With over sixty-nine years of writing a daily baseball column, he deserves recognition in the Guinness World Records. Mr. Vené was the baseball reporter for New York’s oldest Spanish-language newspaper, El Diario – La Prensa. Back in the early 1990’s while covering Yankees games, he saw me several times outside the stadium by the players’ entrance, where I stood, trying to speak to players. At that time, I didn’t know anything about credentials or how to request them. On one of those occasions, he kindly approached me and guided me on how to request my first credentials to Yankee Stadium. He also took the time to advise me on the protocols for being a reporter and sitting in the press box. I will always be grateful to Juan for his mentorship to me, a young South Bronx Puerto Rican who was trying to get into the sports reporting business. Julio Pabón, President of Latino Sports & Columnist, Juan Vené – Image Credit: Latino Sports His dedication has helped elevate the visibility of Latino athletes in the sport, allowing for greater recognition and appreciation of their talents and impact. His advocacy in reporting for the Spanish dominant baseball community has been a bridge between cultures in the baseball community certainly positions him as a notable figure deserving of accolades. Enshrining Juan Vené in the Baseball Hall of Fame would not only honor his achievements but also acknowledge the importance of diversity in baseball. It would celebrate his role in promoting understanding and respect for Latino players, further enriching the narrative of America’s pastime. This call for recognition reflects a broader understanding of the historical and cultural significance of Latino athletes and those who cover the game and the need for their contributions to be celebrated at the highest levels. Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content Instagram: @latinosportsoficial Facebook: Latino Sports Twitter: @latinosports Related Topics Baseball Hall of Fame BBWAA Cinco Mil Años de Béisbol Cooperstown El Diario – La Prensa En La Pelota featured Guinness World Records José Rafael Machado Yanes Juan Vene Latino Sports Writers and Broadcasters Association LSWBA Major League Baseball MLB Noticias Gráficas St. Francis College The History of Baseball U.S. Congressional Record Click to comment Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. 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