The Houston Astros added two more superstars to their Hall of Fame – third baseman Ken Caminiti and broadcasting pioneer René Cárdenas.
On Saturday, January 20, the Astros Hall of Fame committee announced former third baseman Ken Caminiti and longtime Astros Spanish radio broadcaster René Cárdenas were joining the elite group.
During the Astros Fanfest event at Minute Maid Park, both former Astros were officially announced as the Class of 2024. This class joins the 26 other members previously been inducted. Presented by Houston Methodist, the Astros Hall of Fame was established in 2019. Visitors to Minute Maid Park can visit the shrine on the stadium’s main concourse in left-centerfield. Cárdenas becomes the Astros’ sixth non-player and fourth broadcaster to be inducted. Caminiti follows 21 other players into the hall.
Astros Add Two to Team Hall Of Fame
Ken Caminiti
Ken Caminiti spent ten seasons donning an Astros uniform. He emerged as a rookie in 1987 and continued with the team until 1994. He would return to Houston for 1999-2000 before retiring. Caminiti spent most of his time on the hot corner. He earned a reputation as one of his era’s best defensive third basemen, known as “the ultimate gamer.”
The Astros
During his six seasons as an Astros starter (1989-1994), Caminiti led all league third basemen defensively in games and putouts while ranking second in assists and total chances. For the Astros, he ranks second all-time among his position in games, innings, and assists while notching third in putouts. Offensively, Caminiti was steadily reliable for the Astros. He ranks third at his position in career RBIs (and 11th all-time for the franchise) and ranks second as a switch-hitter, behind Lance Berkman, in home runs, RBI, and doubles. He picked up three home runs and eight RBIs during the 1999 National League Divisional Series versus the Atlanta Braves.
Padres, Rangers & Braves
In addition to his playing time in Houston, Caminiti logged time with the San Diego Padres from 1995-1998 and had brief stints with the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves in 2001. Throughout his career, Caminiti picked up three All-Star appearances and three Gold Glove Awards and earned the 1996 NL Most Valuable Player award. He has also been inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 2016.
René Cárdenas
René Cárdenas is a pioneer in the sport of baseball. Throughout his career, he has notched multiple awards and honors. While much of this has come within Major League Baseball, through the Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, his influence is felt throughout sports.
His entire life has consisted of baseball. Born in Managua, Nicaragua, his grandfather, Adan Cárdenas, introduced the sport of baseball to Nicaragua in the late 19th century before serving as the country’s President. His uncle, Adolfo, played on the national baseball team as well.
Early Career
Cárdenas’ early career started by breaking barriers. In 1958, he became the first full-time Spanish-language broadcaster to call games for a Major League team. He did so when joining the Los Angeles Dodgers as their original Spanish radio broadcaster. Only a few seasons later, he was poached by the expansion team Houston Colt .45s. There, he established the team’s Spanish radio broadcasts, becoming both the team’s first broadcaster and their director of Spanish broadcasting.
The Astros-International
This role helped him create and grow the popularity of the .45s and the Astros in Houston’s expansive Hispanic populations during the team’s early years. This influence, by 1966, helped Cárdenas establish the first international radio network for the league. His influence reached 13 countries, allowing him to recruit talent for the Astros in South America and Central America. Additionally, he called several high-profile events in other sports. His voice can be heard in the famous 1971 Muhammad Ali-Jimmy Ellis heavyweight boxing match at the Astrodome.
Post-Astros
For 14 seasons, Cárdenas called games for the Astros. Following this stint, he would return to Nicaragua in 1975, calling baseball games on television and radio. In 1982, he moved back across the American border and returned to Los Angeles. There, he would call games for the Dodgers for several more seasons before returning to Houston’s Spanish radio booth in 2007 and 2008. In that final 2008 season with the Astros, he called several Astros games in Spanish on television, a first for the broadcaster.
Following his retirement from the broadcast booth, Cárdenas would write for the Astros Spanish-language website, the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa, and make several appearances on Spanish radio broadcasts for the Astros.
Accolades
Throughout his illustrious career, Cárdenas has notched several honors. He was inducted into the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000. This was followed up by an induction in 2002 into the Broadcasters Wing of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was a three-time finalist for the Cooperstown National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.
Induction Ceremony
Caminiti passed away in 2004, and Cárdenas will be inducted during a ceremony before the Astros’ game on August 17 versus the Chicago White Sox. Inductees receive their Hall of Fame plaque and an Astros Hall of Fame sports coat. His family will represent Caminiti. His close friend and fellow Astros Hall of Famer, Craig Biggio, informed the Caminiti family of the honor. He was with the family in New Orleans for the wedding of Ken’s daughter Lindsey when he announced the news to the family.
Main Photo Credits: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
