Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrin has agreed to remain with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three more years.
“I’ve been so blessed,” said Jarrin, who began broadcasting Dodger games in 1959, their second season in Los Angeles, and became the team’s top Spanish-language announcer in 1973. “It has been such a special time sharing the broadcasts with our fans and having my son, Jorge, join me in the booth.”
The 79-year-old Jarrin said he “started thinking about the number 60” this season.
“I sat down with the Dodgers and agreed on three more years to get to my 60th year and then we’ll see about the future at that time,” Jarrin said. “I’m still having a great time and I love what I am doing. And the Dodgers and our fans have been very supportive.”
Jarrin has called 28 World Series, 28 All-Star Games, 21 no-hitters and three perfect games. His honors include the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting by the Baseball Hall of Fame, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A native of Ecuador, Jarrin arrived in the United States in 1955, having never seen a baseball game. He began regularly attending Pacific Coast League games at Los Angeles’ since-demolished Gilmore Field and Wrigley Field from 1955 through 1957 to learn the game.
When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles following the conclusion of the 1957 season, Jarrin was given one year to prepare to become a baseball broadcaster by William Beaton, the station manager at KWKW-AM (1330).
Jarrin never missed a broadcast from 1962-1984, calling nearly 4,000 consecutive games. The streak ended when Jarrin took charge of all the Spanish- language radio coverage and production for the 1984 Summer Olympics.
—City News Service