Even Now, Jarrin Likes Talking a Good Game

Covering the 200 or so yards from the clubhouse to Holman Stadium, Dodger players take such aptly named Dodgertown paths as Don Sutton Square, which becomes Don Drysdale Drive, which intersects with Vin Scully Way, which crosses paths with Avenida Jaime Jarrin.

The Dodgers’ hall-of-fame and long-time Spanish-language announcer is as much a part of Dodger lore as Dodger Stadium. In fact, Jarrin has been calling Dodger games for Spanish-language listeners since before the Dodgers moved to Chavez Ravine.

“Walking up to the games and going through the intersection, it’s a great feeling, wonderful,” Jarrin said. “It’s very special to me. The Dodgers have always treated me with dignity and with respect. That’s why I have lasted so long.”

Jarrin, a native of Ecuador, was 22 when he called his first Dodger game in 1959, a year after they moved from Brooklyn and were playing at the Coliseum. Now starting his sixth decade and 42nd season with the Dodgers, Jarrin is in the final year of his contract.

“I’m not really worried about that,” he said. “We’ll sit down fairly soon. I have until the end of the season and the Dodgers have always been extremely fair.”

Coach Manny Mota said that Jarrin is revered not only among stateside Latinos, but throughout Latin America.

“Jaime represents a lot, from the Dodger organization to the Latino community in an overall sense,” Mota said. “He has so much knowledge of the game that helps the fans understand the players and the game.”

Plus, the comentarista serves as a bridge between the U.S. way of life and the Dodgers’ young Latino talent.

“Whenever he does any kind of activity in the community, he always invites us along,” third baseman Adrian Beltre said. “That helps us and helps the Spanish-speaking people that watch and listen to baseball.”

In calling Dodger games for KWKW 1330 AM, Jarrin has missed significant time only once, in 1990 when he was involved in a serious car accident in Vero Beach during spring training. He was in the hospital from March until July.

Among his favorite Dodger broadcast memories: four Sandy Koufax no-hitters, nine Dodger World Series appearances (five titles) and the phenomenon that was Fernandomania in 1981.

“I was fortunate to be with him everywhere,” said Jarrin, who served as Fernando Valenzuela’s translator.

*

The Dodgers were among six teams represented Monday at the first meeting in Las Vegas to discuss building a spring training complex there.

Team counsel Sam Fernandez led a contingent of Dodger and Fox executives at the gathering that included officials from the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers. Las Vegas officials unveiled preliminary proposals during the four-hour meeting.

The project hinges on the Dodgers’ involvement, but the club won’t commit at this point, industry officials said. A bill that would provide funding for the Dodgers to consider remaining at Dodgertown is slowly moving through the Florida state legislature.

“The meeting was productive,” said Derrick Hall, Dodger senior vice president. “In our case, we’re unable to make any decisions until all of our options are on the table.”

*

The Dodgers are in Jupiter, Fla., today for a Grapefruit League game against Montreal. Darren Dreifort will pitch for the Dodgers.