Yankees establish “Armando Talavera Summer Internship”

The New York Yankees, in conjunction with The City University of New York (CUNY), today announced the “Armando Talavera Summer Internship” in honor of the former Yankees Spanish language broadcaster who passed away in May 2024.

The June through August summer internship, which will be funded by the Yankees, will be awarded annually to a Lehman College student who is dedicated to pursuing a career in sports media, broadcasting or journalism. The internship will be structured to impart valuable experience and specialized skills in those areas.

Talavera, born in Caracas, Venezuela, called Yankees games on WADO from 1997-2004 and was a longtime staple in the Spanish-language broadcasting community. His career began in 1972 and spanned over five decades, as Talavera covered top-tier events across the sports world, including MLB All-Star games, World Series, NBA Finals, Super Bowls, the FIFA World Cup and the Caribbean World Series. In addition to calling games, from 1993-2004, Talavera hosted “WADO Deportivo,” a popular four-hour sports talk show.

In 2004, Talavera helped establish the Latino Sports Writers & Broadcasters Association (LSWBA), opening the door for expanded media access and participation for Spanish-language reporters. That same year, his advocacy contributed to the Yankees’ establishment of a monthly Spanish language press conference geared to meet the needs of the Spanish language media, and that monthly tradition remains in place to this day.

Additionally in 2011, Latino Sports, the LSWBA and the Yankees presented Talavera with the Buck Canel Award for his work with ESPN Deportes, and in 2000, he was honored in the New Jersey Congressional Record for his contributions to journalism and service to the Hispanic American community.

Residing in Flushing, Queens, N.Y., and the Dominican Republic throughout most of his life, Talavera’s love for sports — and specifically baseball — stretched beyond the broadcast booth. Between coaching Little League in his free time and teaching his own children and grandchildren how to play, Talavera was a true ambassador of the game.

“The Yankees are proud to partner with CUNY to create this internship in Armando Talavera’s memory,” said Jason Zillo, Yankees Vice President of Communications and Media Relations. “He truly loved what he did, and he was someone that others wanted to emulate, both in the quality of his work and in the way he treated people along the way. Most significantly, we are thrilled to be able to provide the valuable skills and experience that can launch a Bronx-based CUNY student on a similarly impactful path.”

The announcement was made during the Yankees’ second annual Hispanic Heritage Media Day, a season-ending culmination of our monthly Spanish language press conferences, which the Yankees have hosted throughout the last two decades. In addition to providing Spanish language media members with exclusive access to Yankees players and executives, the press conferences also reflect the gratitude that the Yankees have for the Spanish language media and the service they provide to fans and the community.

Lehman College students will be able to apply for the 2025 internship beginning in late January.