Corridor of Fame Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín rose to nationwide prominence when he turned Fernando Valenzuela’s interpreter throughout his rookie season. Jarrín shared a few of his ideas about working with Valenzuela, who died on Tuesday at age 63.
At any time when a minor league participant was known as up, a Latino participant, I all the time went right down to the clubhouse to welcome the participant in our language, to make him really feel snug with the group, explaining to him what the Dodgers group is, what are the rules to comply with and all that.
And I bear in mind distinctly that we have been in Houston with the Dodgers in 1980, once they known as and advised me, we have now a child right here who was introduced up from AA San Antonio. I went down and it was Fernando. So I met this younger man, 19 years outdated, lengthy hair, gordito, didn’t converse a phrase of English, Indigenous options — and he caught my consideration.
He was very, very introverted. He didn’t speak a lot, very light. However I appreciated him tremendously as a result of he was humble. He regarded humble and he regarded shocked over having made it to the massive leagues.
By 1981, Fernando was designated because the third starter for the group. Jerry Reuss was going to begin the primary recreation, Burt Hooton the second, and Fernando was presupposed to pitch the third recreation within the first sequence of 1981, however then Jerry Reuss harm his ankle. Then they went to Burt Hooton, however he additionally harm his toenail. Then they known as Fernando, and that’s when what everyone knows because the well-known Fernandomania started.
Since Fernando didn’t converse English in any respect, they requested a Dominican second baseman, Pepe Frias, to assist Fernando, translating for him. And he did that after one of many video games. Then later, they requested Manny Mota, who was a primary base coach, to assist Fernando.
However then Fred Claire, who was the general public relations director for the Dodgers, got here as much as me and mentioned, “Jaime, it’s not fair that we are bothering the ballplayers and the coaches to help Fernando as his translator. Since you work with the team and you are with the team everywhere, we would like you to help Fernando as his interpreter.” And I mentioned, “Of course, my pleasure.”
And that’s how I began to accompany Fernando in all places, on all of the excursions.
It was all the time us, Fernando and me. Generally Fernando’s agent Tony DeMarco additionally got here, and we all the time left a day earlier than the group with the intention to meet the requests of the press in all of the cities. And that’s how I began to turn out to be near Fernando.
Jaime Jarrín, left, talks to Fernando Valenzuela earlier than a recreation in 2022, Jarrín’s closing 12 months as play-by-play announcer for the Dodgers’ Spanish-language saying group.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Related Press)
I used to be shocked by Fernando in that despite the fact that he didn’t converse a lot, neither Spanish nor English — he didn’t know any English — he was all the time attentive and type with the press. I solely gave him one piece of recommendation: I advised him you aren’t obligated to reply each single query they ask you. If for some purpose you don’t like a query, kindly say, “I am not interested in answering this question. Next question, please.”
Fernando was all the time taken with going through the press, to attempt to all the time reply all of the questions. And thank God we didn’t have any disagreeable incidents as I see different individuals have had with the press. Thank God the whole lot went off with none issues.
Many believed that Fernando didn’t notice the success he was having. That’s not true. Fernando all the time knew the whole lot that was occurring round him, he was so good in the course of the recreation and really good after he left the sport. He was a marvel, actually, fielding and understanding the place to throw the ball within the blink of a watch. He was additionally a powerful hitter, despite being a pitcher. He batted very effectively and he hit with energy, too. I don’t suppose he would have gotten used to the designated hitter in use today as a result of he beloved to hit. So he was an entire ballplayer for six years from 1981 till 1986. Fernando was actually an unimaginable present, actually unimaginable.
Fernando by no means modified, Fernando was the identical Fernando as all the time. He realized that he was starring not solely in a sporting occasion, a sporting phenomenon, however a sociological phenomenon. He realized that he had an incredible duty to the Mexican neighborhood particularly — additionally to Mexican People and Latinos basically. And I feel his habits was commendable. It was extraordinary and was a beautiful instance for youngsters and younger individuals studying to beat obstacles.
I sincerely imagine that Fernando ought to have been voted into the Corridor of Fame for one easy purpose. Sure, he didn’t obtain the required numbers for many gamers, akin to having greater than 200 wins, however within the creed of the Corridor of Fame it asks what have you ever accomplished for baseball. And I imagine that there isn’t a participant who has accomplished extra for the great of baseball than Fernando Valenzuela.
Fernando created an unimaginable Latino fan base that helped tremendously, not solely the Dodgers, however baseball basically. Let’s keep in mind that within the ’80s, baseball was within the doldrums. We had no idols, there was the specter of a strike that broke out in 1981 and that’s when Fernando emerged and saved baseball. Fernando has accomplished a lot, there isn’t a different participant, no different determine in Main League Baseball that has created as many new baseball followers as Fernando.
Gamers like Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, Orel Hershiser, they’ve been super. However right here the American-born kids already knew baseball from faculty as a result of they began taking part in the game on the age of 5 or 6 years outdated.
With Fernando, one thing totally different occurred: Folks from Mexico, Central America, South America who have been completely detached to baseball all of the sudden turned baseball followers to the purpose that the Dodgers created an unimaginable fan base with extraordinary financial energy. All because of Fernando’s magic.
Once I began with the Dodgers, the Latinos have been 8% or 10% of the individuals who got here to the stadium. At this time, Latinos are 42% to 46% of people that come to the stadium to look at video games, and we owe that to Fernando Valenzuela.
So for these causes I feel Fernando needs to be within the Corridor of Fame in Cooperstown.
It gave me nice pleasure, a deep satisfaction, to see the Dodgers honor him by retiring his No. 34 [in August 2023]. It was one of many few instances that I noticed nice emotion in Fernando. When the ceremony passed off and he was strolling from the dugout to the stage and the microphone close to the mound, I noticed him lastly displaying nice enthusiasm and emotion, a smile from ear to ear, and he was completely happy. Everybody was there — his household, his spouse, his two sons, his two daughters, his seven grandchildren. And for that, I salute the Dodgers who had the great sense to place Fernando of their ring of honor.
Now we should take pleasure in savoring the legacy that Fernando leaves us, the legacy that Fernando leaves to future generations. He got here right here as an immigrant to satisfy his golden dream of being the most effective to play professionally. It ought to encourage younger individuals to work exhausting and notice that on this nation, there are alternatives to succeed.
