Baseball in Venezuela: Welcome Cardenales de Lara (Part I)
If you are between forty and sixty years old, you may retain the feeling that Cardenales is a younger organization than Tigres, even knowing that both franchises entered the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, LVBP, in the same year. This perception comes from when we were kids, years in which Cardenales struggled to stand out and Aragua already had championships in its display case, in addition to proudly showcasing the star of the moment, David Concepción, so great for a child that he was even called the 'King' - which was no small thing in those days, because the other one they called that was the global star from Brazil, Pelé.
TL;DR
- Cardenales' origins date back to 1942 in Carora, Venezuela, long before its entry into the professional league.
- The team was founded by Amabilis Mendoza and Medardo Oviedo, inspired by the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Businessman Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez became instrumental in the team's development and financing.
- Cardenales won amateur championships at the city and state levels, culminating in the 1955 III National Baseball Championship AA.
- The team transitioned to professional baseball through the short-lived Liga Occidental de Beisbol Profesional (LOBP) in 1962, renaming from Cardenales de Carora to Cardenales de Lara.
- Despite initial struggles and the LOBP's eventual collapse, Cardenales achieved a runner-up finish in its first professional season.
- Attempts to join the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) faced initial resistance from league officials and existing teams.