Friday, February 01, 2013

Congratulations, Fernando

From "Valenzuela to be inducted into Caribbean Hall of Fame" by Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com:
Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela will be inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Valenzuela -- whose arrival from the Mexican League in 1980 led to "Fernandomania" and a National League Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year Award, All-Star berth and World Series ring in 1981 -- is now a team broadcaster. Jaime Jarrin, now Valenzuela's broadcast partner and then his interpreter, will accompany Valenzuela to the induction, as will former manager Tommy Lasorda and Dodgers vice president Lon Rosen.

"I'm happy to accept this honor," Valenzuela said. "I started my career in Sonora, Mexico, playing for Navojoa, and also played in Hermosillo, where I am headed back tomorrow. It's nice to return to the place where I got started. I'm also very happy to be joined by Dodger colleagues and friends and my former manager this Sunday. Mexico has always been very important to the Dodgers and I thank them being there for me, for this continues to show that."

The Dodgers' unofficial policy of retiring only Cooperstown members (save Jim Gilliam) prevents Valenzuela's number from being retired at Dodger Stadium, so it's nice to see Fernando receive some long overdue accolades.

4 comments:

Dusty Baker said...

I had a dream about SoSG Nomo last night. You were wearing a black ironic t-shirt and you were hanging out at some whisky bar with Mrs. Dusty and me. It was a good time.

Maybe it's an omen.

Pistol Pete Reiser said...

You should ask Vladimir Shpunt what the hell that means.

Fred's Brim said...

"Caribbean" is a bit of a stretch isn't it? I could see if they had a Gulf of California Baseball Hall of Fame, I could see it, but Navajoa and Hermosillo might be the least Caribbean cities in Mexico

Fred's Brim said...

But I am OK with any award Fernando gets