WASHINGTON — The lineup card exchange is a longstanding pregame tradition in Major League games.
On Tuesday, the gathering represented a special first.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo met at home plate before the Nationals’ series opener against New York to commemorate being the first two Venezuelan-born managers to face each other in baseball history.
“A privilege,” said Mendoza. “I’m humbled by it. It’s a big deal back home.”
Said Cairo: “It’s two countrymen and friends. And now to be exchanging the lineup at home plate, we’re excited about it.”
Cairo and Mendoza appreciate the journeys they both took to manage in the big leagues. They overlapped in the Yankees’ organization and have seen each other ascend in baseball over the years.
“I’ve known Miggy for a long time,” said Mendoza. “Obviously when he was a player, I was at the beginning of my career as a coach. And then we were able to work together. When I was at the big league level [with the Yankees], he was the infield coordinator. Just being from the same country, playing against each other for a little bit — it’s just an honor for both of us.”
“You have to go through everything: you have to go through the Minor Leagues, you have to work your way up … you have to go through development,” Cairo said. “Nothing is easy, and you’ve got to earn it. He earned it, I think I earned it. To be on this stage, it’s an honor for both of us.”
Per Elias Sports Bureau, Cairo and Mendoza are two of only four Venezuelan-born managers in baseball history, joining Ozzie Guillen (2004-12) and Al Pedrique (‘04). Guillen and Pedrique overlapped in ‘04, but their teams did not play each other that season.
“For us, it’s really exciting. I’m very proud to be here,” said Cairo. “There aren’t too many Latino managers and coaches. Today is a big day for him and for me.”
In Spring Training 2024, Mendoza exchanged lineup cards with Venezuelan-born Astros bench coach Omar López, who was managing a split-squad Grapefruit League game. At the time, Venezuelan reporter Daniel Álvarez-Montes noted it was the first Spring Training game with two Venezuelan managers.
The image of Cairo and Mendoza exchanging the lineup card is a visual representation of the goals they worked towards and the possibilities for those who want to reach the same position.
“Dreams come true. Dreams come true,” Cairo said. “With doing the right thing and a lot of hard work, dreams come true.”
MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo contributed reporting to this story.
