The lineup cards from Tuesday night’s Mets-Nationals game are going to the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Valencia, which happens to be located between the hometowns of Carlos Mendoza and Miguel Cairo.

Mendoza, 45, of Barquisimeto, and Cairo, 51, of Anaco, made history, becoming the first Venezuelan managers to match wits against each other in a major league game. The pair hugged and posed for photos holding the lineup cards before the game. The ball used for the first pitch will be sent to Cooperstown.

“It’s just an honor for both of us,” Mendoza said before the Mets’ 8-1 victory. “A privilege. I’m humbled by it. It’s a big deal back home. I didn’t recognize that (it was going to happen) until it was brought up to me. It’s a special day and I’m happy to represent our country.”

Photo Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

“I got chills,” Cairo told Jessica Camerato of MLB.com, “because it was cool to see countrymen being managers in the big leagues at the same time playing together.”

The Mets hired Mendoza in November 2023, and Cairo became the Nats’ interim manager last month after serving as bench coach. The only other two Venezuelan managers in MLB history were Ozzie Guillen (White Sox, 2004-12) and Al Pedrique (Diamondbacks, 2004).

“I’ve known Miggy for a long time,” Mendoza said. “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.”

The matchup came two days after the Mets played in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., where Mendoza ran into the Venezuelan team that was from his hometown.

“As soon as we landed, it’s like, ‘hey, the team from Venezuela is from Barquisimeto,’ that’s my hometown,” Mendoza told ESPN’s Buster Olney on Sunday. “I was like ‘wow, this is pretty cool.’ Got off the plane and sure enough, the kids are right there. We were able to get on the bus together, and they just shared stories, experiences, and just watched the kids’ faces as the players came on the bus, the Alvarezes, the Lindors, the Sotos of the world. It was just incredible.

“I mean it was special. It brought me back some really good memories when I was back home. Growing up, I was one of them at some point. For them to experience this here in the States, it’s just pretty surreal for all of them.”