Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín was named one of the Honored Guests for the 131st Rose Parade that is themed “The Power of Hope.” On Jan. 1, 2020, Jarrín and fellow Honored Guests, Sonia Manzano and Ellen Ochoa, will ride together down Colorado Blvd. in a 1915 Pierce Arrow Model 48 made in Buffalo, New York.
“These three amazing individuals exemplify the power of hope in both how they’ve aspired to be their best and how they’ve inspired those around them to reach higher,” Tournament of Roses president Laura Farber said.
“With hope anything, in fact everything, is possible. Hope is more than simply the possibility of fulfillment. Hope is dignity and respect, joy and happiness, aspiration and achievement.”
The honor for Jarrín becomes the latest recognition in what’s been an illustrious career. He’s been part of the Dodgers broadcasting team since 1959, their second season in Los Angeles.
Jarrin was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, becoming only the second Spanish-language announcer to receive that honor. That same year Jarrín received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of both the California Broadcasters’ Association Halls of Fame and the Southern California Sports Broadcasters’ Association.
In September 2018, he was added to the Dodger Stadium Ring of Honor, and this year Jarrín received the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern California Sports Broadcasters’ Association.
However, 2019 also brought about tragedy for Jarrín as his wife suddenly passed away during Spring Training. That did spur the family into action with the establishing of the the Jaime & Blanca Jarrín Foundation.
Jarrín hosted the foundation’s first annual golf classic in November. “This is really very special for me. It has a great meaning,” Jarrín told DodgerBlue.com at the event. “I was married 65 years to my wife Blanca and she was really a very special lady. Very generous. I’m sure she’s very pleased with what is going on today.”
Jarrín’s multi-year contract extension runs through the 2020 season, which will mark his 62nd in the broadcast booth.
Sonia Manzano
For more than 40 years, Manzano has inspired, educated, and delighted children and families as “Maria” on Sesame Street. Named among the “25 Greatest Latino Role Models Ever” by Latina Magazine, Manzano broke ground as one of the first Hispanic characters on national television.
A first-generation American of Latin descent, Manzano’s story of success is one of perseverance and courage as she overcame countless obstacles to become one of the most influential Latinas in television.
Ellen Ochoa
Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she was part of a nine-day mission aboard the shuttle Discovery. Ochoa has flown in space four times, logging nearly 1,000 hours, and she was the 11th Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston (from 2013 until retiring in May 2018).
Prior to her astronaut career, Dr. Ochoa was a research engineer and an inventor, with three patents for optical systems. Ochoa currently serves on several boards, including as Vice Chair of the National Science Board.
Ochoa was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, the California Hall of Fame, International Air & Space Hall of Fame, and has six schools named after her.
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