Venezuela’s Baseball Win Unleashes Rare Joy Amid Crisis | AP News
CARACAS — The streets of Caracas erupted Wednesday as Venezuelans celebrated their national baseball team’s stunning 3-2 victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final, a moment of collective joy that resonated deeply in a nation grappling with political and economic turmoil. The win, secured Tuesday night in Miami, unleashed a wave of emotion rarely seen in public in Venezuela, where expressions of happiness have often been tempered by fear of government reprisal.
“We had not expressed that happiness that we want to shout,” said Deyanira Machado, a hairdresser in Caracas, reflecting a sentiment echoed throughout the capital. The final score, unlike so many aspects of life in Venezuela, felt immutable, a source of unadulterated joy free from the threat of revision or control.
The victory arrives at a particularly complex moment for Venezuela. Just months prior, the nation witnessed the clandestine removal of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Authorities, who subsequently presented him in handcuffs in New York City, according to reports. The White House then engaged in negotiations with loyalists within the ruling party, rather than the political opposition, in an attempt to stabilize the country. While many Venezuelans abroad celebrated Maduro’s removal, those within Venezuela largely remained silent, wary of the government’s history of repression. Following the disputed 2024 presidential election, individuals who publicly expressed support for the opposition faced imprisonment, and even seemingly innocuous posts on social media were enough to trigger arrest.
“The country needs this happiness with all the things that we’ve gone through,” said Eugenio Suárez, the Venezuelan designated hitter whose ninth-inning RBI double secured the win, in a statement reported by ESPN. The hit reversed a momentum shift created by Bryce Harper’s game-tying home run in the eighth inning.
The economic situation in Venezuela continues to be dire, with triple-digit inflation eroding purchasing power and forcing many to work multiple jobs to afford basic necessities. The victory offered a temporary respite from these hardships. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a “National Day of Rejoicing,” designating Wednesday a non-working holiday, though many had already decided to celebrate regardless.
Celebrations throughout Caracas included impromptu street parties, with residents banging pots and pans, honking car horns, and singing the national anthem. Beer supplies in 24-hour stores were quickly depleted as people celebrated late into the night. The Venezuelan flag was prominently displayed, adorning windows, motorcycles, and serving as makeshift scarves.
“This award doesn’t just mean a baseball game, what people think,” said Lanjhonier Lozada, a hospital employee, while walking to work Wednesday, waving a Venezuelan flag. “This match means history. This is more than You can describe. We are world champions! Who would have thought?”
Yenny Reyes, a mother of two young baseball fans, expressed a broader sentiment, stating, “This triumph was not only celebrated by Venezuela, in every corner of the world there is a Venezuelan. I am convinced that this is the year of Venezuela. This is the beginning of many good things to come for Venezuela.”