Latest news with #FernandoValenzuela
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New mural at Dodger Stadium honors Fernando Valenzuela
Nine months after his death, Fernando Valenzuela stands immortalized in a new mural on the loge‑level wall at Dodger Stadium — a vibrant fusion of art and legacy unveiled Saturday. Painted by Mexican American artist Robert Vargas, the mural shows Valenzuela tipping his cap to the sky in a Dodgers Mexican‑heritage jersey — featuring a green sleeve, red sleeve, white center — alongside two striking images of Valenzuela in his pitching stance. Vargas said the mural is meant to symbolize unity within the Latino community. 'I felt it very important to show that the Latino community has a place within these walls and has had a place within these walls,' Vargas said. He wanted to reflect Valenzuela's spirit that still lives in the hearts of many fans and feature the man behind the player. 'What he did in the community, is what resonates so much more for me than just the player — but the man, the person that he was,' Vargas said. Valenzuela played for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990. He grew up in Etchohuaquila, a small town in Mexico, and took Major League Baseball by storm in 1981, earning rookie of the year and Cy Young honors. Latino fans who previously felt little connection to the Dodgers were thrilled to see one of their own winning, sparking Fernandomania. Valenzuela wore No. 34 and it remains a popular jersey worn by fans at Dodger Stadium. Claudio Campo choked up as he gazed at the tribute. Traveling from Phoenix with his son to celebrate the boy's 11th birthday, Campo shared memories of a player whose greatness felt deeply personal. Valenzuela's nickname, "El Toro," are inked on Campo's left arm. 'He was a staple for the people that didn't have anything and then where he came from showed that anything is possible if you go ahead and revive what you are,' Claudio said. Read more: Plaschke: Fernando Valenzuela was the man who connected L.A. to the Dodgers Fans holding Valenzuela bobbleheads given away by the Dodgers took their pictures in front of the new mural Saturday night. Longtime fan Dulce Gonzalez held back emotion as she showed off her shirt with the name 'Valenzuela' written across it, describing the reason she started watching baseball. 'He was the first Latino player I could truly connect with and be proud of,' she said. For Gonzalez, Valenzuela's story resonated because he came from the same roots, offering representation she had longed for. 'We are a melting pot of races here, people love baseball from all races, but because I am Latina, I feel a little bit more connected," she said. Read more: Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, who changed MLB by sparking Fernandomania, dies at 63 Her son, Nicolas, dressed in a red and green Dodgers Mexican-heritage jersey, said Valenzuela helped heal some wounds after Mexican American families were displaced from their homes in Chavez Ravine shortly before Dodger Stadium was built on the same land. 'He really opened the city up to the Dodgers after a long difficult entry and he really represented triumph over adversity,' Nicolas said. Read more: Everybody wants to have a hero | 'Fernandomania @ 40' Ep. 1 Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Los Angeles Dodgers led baseball's move to more diverse roster
No organization in all of sports has been as diversified as baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers. Indeed, few businesses in any field can match the Dodgers in terms of employing men and women from every faith, color and ethnicity in the world. From Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have a rich and long history of diversity: Advertisement Consider: *The Dodgers signed the first African-American to a major league contract and Jackie Robinson, beginning in 1947, built a Hall of Fame career. They shortly added Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Joe Black, who all played major roles in the Dodgers success during those years in Brooklyn. Dodgers former players Don Newcombe and Sandy Koufax throw out the first pitch. *The Dodgers had the greatest Jewish player (although not the first, that would be Hank Greenberg) in Sandy Koufax. He retired from the game 59 years ago, but remains a dignified and beloved presence whenever he's at Dodger Stadium. *The greatest – and most famous – Mexican to play in the majors played for the Dodgers – Fernando Valenzuela. And he was more than a pitching star, he was a phenom, especially among the large Hispanic population in Los Angeles. Anyone who ever experienced it will not forget the magic of 'Fernando Mania.' Advertisement *Chan Ho Park became the first Korean in the majors, pitching for the Dodgers in 1994. Twenty eight Koreans have followed Park into the majors. *The most famous player in the game today is from Japan and wears Dodger Blue – Shohei Ohtani. (It should be noted that the Dodgers made these moves for the primary purpose of winning. All the players listed above became All-Stars and the team won a World Series with Robinson, Koufax, Valenzuela and Ohtani. Attendance also flourished, especially during 'Fernando Mania'. *Manager Dave Roberts is the only Japanese-American manager in the majors. And a highly successful one, having guided the club to nine consecutive postseason appearances. Advertisement *Kiki Hernandez is Puerto Rican, Miguel Rojas Venezuelan. Three of their starting pitchers this year are Japanese. *There's also been players in the past from the Dominican Republic like Manny Mota, Adrian Beltre, Pedro Guerrero and Manny Ramirez. *One of the first females to work in a major league front office was Kim Ng, an assistant general manager for the team in 2002. There apparently is no discrimination in the Dodgers when it comes to the bottom line – winning. Hear hear. Pete Donovan is a Palm Desert resident and former Los Angeles Times sports reporter. He can be reached at pwdonovan22@ This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Los Angeles Dodgers led baseball's move to more diverse roster
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants Announcer Shares Unexpected Dodgers Confession Amid NL West Race
Giants Announcer Shares Unexpected Dodgers Confession Amid NL West Race originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Between his seven seasons pitching for the San Francisco Giants and the decades he's spent calling their games, Mike Krukow has seen enough of the Los Angeles Dodgers to last a lifetime. Advertisement In his own lifetime, Krukow has a Dodgers-related wish—and no, it doesn't involve their first 100-loss season since 1908. NBC Sports Bay Area showed an intriguing graphic during Friday's 8-7 Giants victory over the Dodgers. As it turns out, Krukow's 1.94 home ERA is the lowest of any starting pitcher in the Dodgers-Giants rivalry since both teams moved to California in 1958. Six-time All-Star Fernando Valenzuela ranked second on the list with a 2.07 ERA, setting the stage for Krukow's heartwarming admission. 'I hope Fernando Valenzuela gets into the Hall of Fame someday,' Krukow said. 'We know that Clayton Kershaw's gonna be in the Hall of Fame,' Krukow added. '[Sandy] Koufax and [Juan] Marichal, of course.' Advertisement Valenzuela, who died last October, earned 6.2% on his first Hall of Fame ballot in 2003. However, he fell off the ballot a year later; candidates need 5% to stay on the ballot, and Valenzuela only tallied 3.8%. Valenzuela went 173-153 with 3.54 ERA and 37.3 bWAR in 17 seasons, 11 coming with the Dodgers. After throwing 17 1/2 scoreless innings in 1980, he burst onto the scene with a 2.48 ERA and eight shutouts in 1981. Valenzuela captured NL Cy Young and Rookie of the Year honors, helping the Dodgers to their first championship since 1965. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando ValenzuelaMalcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Valenzuela earned All-Star honors the next five seasons and posted four top-5 Cy Young finishes in that span. He pitched a no-hitter in 1990, his final season with the Dodgers, and played for five teams through 1997. Advertisement We'll see if Krukow eventually gets his wish. Valenzuela could potentially enter the Hall of Fame later this year via the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee. The current Dodgers hold a four-game lead over the Giants in the NL West. Related: MLB Makes Impressive Shohei Ohtani Announcement Before All-Star Break Related: Dodgers Predicted to Add Paul Skenes in 6-Player Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Hill
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Swing and a miss: The Dodgers played identity politics and struck out.
Back when I used to work for the San Diego Padres, we used to dread when the Los Angeles Dodgers came to town. Petco Park would turn into Dodger Stadium South. We liked to tell ourselves that it was Dodgers fans coming down from Los Angeles to see a real ballpark, but the reality was that quite a few of those Dodgers fans came from San Diego — particularly from the Latino community. The Dodgers don't just have a huge fanbase, they have a huge Latino fan base that covers all of California and beyond. And they have done a wonderful job of marketing to, collaborating with, and promoting those Latino ties. There's just one problem: That community is now wondering why the Dodgers seem so hellbent on not speaking up for them. Identity politics and the Dodgers may not seem like they go hand in hand. But in this current political atmosphere, one has to be aware that any type of corporate outreach to any specific demographic does make you engaged in that identity. Going back to Fernando-mania, the Dodgers used the hype surrounding the late, great Fernando Valenzuela to attract new fans across Mexican communities. Over the past generations, the Dodgers have done everything from 'Los Doyers' jerseys to Mexican themed giveaways, mariachi performers, and more. But here's the problem the Dodgers should have seen coming. When you specifically market to groups to sell tickets, jerseys, merchandise and to increase TV ratings, you also make yourself an ally to these groups. And if said groups end up being embroiled in politics, then you also risk being dragged into their political fight. That's what happened when Border Patrol agents arrived at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers said they refused entry to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents when they tried to access the stadium. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they were never there — that it was actually Customs and Border Protection agents wanting to set up in the parking lot. Regardless, protesters showed up. Police arrived next. And there was a standoff that eventually dissipated before the Dodgers played the Padres that night. However, the Dodgers had already begun to bear scrutiny not for what happened at Dodger Stadium, but for what didn't happen on social media. Los Angeles Football Club and Angel City Football Club both put out statements supporting the local immigrant community and voicing their belief that immigrants belong in Los Angeles. Angel City went as far to distribute shirts that said 'Immigrant City Football Club.' Fans looked at that and said, surely the Dodgers will say something. Except they didn't. After several days of silence, a video of the national anthem being sung in Spanish, and posting about Juneteenth, the Dodgers decided to put out a carefully worded statement, pledge $1 million to immigrant families whose lives have been disrupted, and said there was more to come. But the anger is still there, and the Dodgers have found themselves trying to save face. All sports teams, just like other businesses, take on varying types of initiatives to reach out to different demographics. You might call it marketing, virtue signaling, corporate responsibility, social justice awareness, or 'going woke.' Some teams like the Yankees stray as far away from it as possible. Some leagues like the NFL will embrace league wide initiatives. The NHL made a big push in its 'Hockey is for Everyone' campaign before backing off on gay and transgender pride initiatives. You might be cynical and say it is all a show. And you are probably right. Just like corporations changing their logos for Pride Month on LinkedIn or posting an occasional Martin Luther King meme, these teams and leagues have been able to proclaim loudly how inclusive and diverse they are. But when those groups find themselves in the political crosshairs, they expect allies to be … well, allies. Singer Chappel Roan cultivated a devoted and loyal following, and part of that was portraying herself as an advocate for queerness. There is no doubt that she is, but the backlash was swift when she decided to 'both-sides' the 2024 election — she had to clarify that she was not going to vote for Donald Trump, who has a definitive anti-gay, anti-transgender agenda. Sometimes it goes the other way. In an effort to find new markets, you might end up alienating your core demographic. Look at the trouble Bud Light has had, and the continued struggles by Harley Davidson to expand sales to younger age groups. The lesson is the same — know your customers. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley recently decided to take on businesses who take on these initiatives and decided to invoke Dolly Parton. 'I always say that the best approach is the Dolly Parton approach,' Haley said. 'Everybody loves Dolly Parton. No one knows what she stands for but everybody loves her.' Except Dolly has spoken out supporting Black Lives Matter, gay and transgender rights and a myriad of issues. She just does it in a genuine manner that doesn't reek of corporate cynicism. The Dodgers knew, going back years, that Trump and his administration wanted to carry out mass deportations. They knew he was going to select Democratic cities and target immigrant communities. And they knew of all those cities; they had to be at the top of the list. And yet, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents started snatching people off the street or at immigration hearings, the Dodgers decided to sit this one out … until they were forced to say something. They might have been worried about getting on the wrong side of the Trump administration, like Harvard, Columbia, law firms, the whole state of California, and others have and worried they may have been subjected to dubious presidential penalties. Or maybe their ownership group, which recently purchased the Lakers, feels sympathetic to Trump's immigration views. Regardless, the Los Angeles Dodgers learned that marketing and selling to demographics makes you involved with them politically, no matter how much you want to pretend you aren't. With the Trump administration sending Guardsmen and Marines and pledging to carry out more arrests, there will be a lot of eyes on the Dodgers. Not just for their amazing ball team, but for their actions in a community they claim to represent. Jos Joseph, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq, is a published writer based in Anaheim, Calif. and a graduate of the Harvard Extension School and Ohio State University.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
LA Dodgers pledge $1 million to aid families affected by immigration raids
Live Events The Los Angeles Dodgers , one of Major League Baseball's biggest teams, announced a $1 million contribution to help immigrant families impacted by recent federal raids in and around Los Angeles. The move came after days of public pressure from the team's largely Latino fan contribution, made in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, aims to support families and workers who have lost income or been impacted by the recent enforcement action. The raids, conducted by U.S. immigration authorities, have caused fear and disruption across neighborhoods with large immigrant Dodgers said the money will be used for food aid, basic supplies and mental health services. The team is working with the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and other local organizations to support families in need.'What's happening in Los Angeles has reverberated among thousands upon thousands of people, and we have heard the calls for us to take a leading role on behalf of those affected,' said Stan Kasten, President and CEO of the Dodgers. 'We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles.'(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)The announcement came after growing criticism of the team's silence as immigration enforcement increased across the area. The Dodgers have long had a strong bond with Latino communities — a relationship that grew during the era of Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela in the 1980s and continues to this day. Today, roughly 40% of the team's fan base is Angeles Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the team's contribution. 'These last weeks have sent shock waves of fear rippling through every neighborhood and have had a direct impact on our economy,' she said. 'My message to all Angelenos is clear: We will stick together during this time, and we will not turn our backs on one another — that's what makes this the greatest city in the world.'The contribution came after a group of more than 50 activists and local leaders signed a letter urging the team to oppose federal immigration raids and ensure its stadium property would not be used for enforcement. The Dodgers clarified that federal agents had arrived at the stadium recently, but said their request to use the parking lot was team, which has long celebrated its connections with the city's diverse communities, has promised to continue working with local organizations to help those impacted by the raids.
