
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.
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Mildred Martínez
January 19, 2025 at 4:12 pm
It’s a travesty, that, despite the immense contributions of Latino, sportsman, reporters, and Professionals, they remain largely unrecognized. The lack of representation and acknowledgment is a significant reason why many are spectacle when accolades are predominantly given to white individuals.
The Latino community has consistently proven itself in various sports, yet their achievements are often overlooked. This oversight is why organizations like Latino sports, led by Julio Pabón, are vital. They advocate for recognition, appreciation, and cultural preservation within the community.
Columnist, Juan Vené at the age of 96 stills follows and Contributes for the love of the sports, and Julio Pabón‘s contributions to baseball are deserving of accolades, including recognition in the baseball Hall of Fame. Their achievement’s not only honors theirs personal success, but also acknowledges the historical and cultural significance of Latino contributions to the sports.
It’s time to celebrate and complements of Latino sports professionals at the highest levels. Let’s give them the recognition they deserve!
#Latino,Recognition
#SportsEquality
#BaseballHallOfFame.
Julian Guilarte
January 20, 2025 at 3:03 am
Great piece and he def is HOF worthy!