By Armando Hernandez
24 Oct 2024, 01:48 AM EDT
The Mexican Fernando Valenzuela, emblematic pitcher of the Dodgers and the Major Leagues, fHe died this Tuesday at the age of 63 And just like thousands of fans who mourn his death, the vice president and Democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States, Kamala Harris, expressed her regret over the departure of the popular “Toro” from Etchohuaquila.
Harris highlighted the “indelible mark” that the Mexican icon left on baseball and American society, because the baseball player established himself as a symbol of one of the most popular sports and as an icon that broke cultural barriers and promoted baseball fanaticism among the Mexican-American and immigrant community.
Fernando Valenzuela was a baseball legend who united a generation of Dodgers fans in collective joy, excitement, and awe. He inspired countless young baseball players — in America, Mexico, and across the world — to pursue their own greatness.
As a player, broadcaster, and…
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) October 24, 2024
“Fernando Valenzuela was a baseball legend who united a generation of Dodgers fans. He inspired countless young people, both in the United States and Mexico, to follow their dreams,” Harris wrote on his X account. In addition, he sent his condolences to the ballplayer’s family, especially his wife, Linda, and his children.
After his spectacular season in 1981, the Mexican player not only began his path to stardom with the Dodgers, but also cHe began to build a bridge that managed to attract millions of Latinos to baseball stadiums.
According to voices like the president and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), Brenda Victoria Castillo, “Fernando led our community with grace and talent, demonstrating that the power of determination knows no boundaries. “Throughout his extraordinary career, he sought to bridge cultural gaps, demonstrating that immigrants contribute enormously to the fabric of this country.”
Furthermore, although he lived much of his life in the United States, the Mexican baseball player barely spoke English fluently, which made him a symbol for the Latin generations of humble origins who emigrated to the United States in the 1980s. in search of a better life.
Even the phenomenon known as “Fernandomania” describes not only the fervor for Valenzuela’s performances, but also the social impact he had on the Mexican-American community.
It is worth mentioning that Kamala Harris has always revealed her great love of baseball, Even in her most recent interview with Telemundo, she was questioned about her choice between the Yankees or Dodgers, responding that “Dodgers, always“.
Continue reading:
-Fernando Valenzuela passed away at the age of 63
-“He was like a saint”: fans mourn with devotion the death of Fernando Valenzuela
-Hugo Sánchez remembers Fernando ‘El Toro’ Valenzuela through tears