Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín received an honorary doctorate degree from California State University, Los Angeles.
Jarrín was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during a commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Letters on Thursday. The program awards degrees to students who pursue careers in the arts and humanities.
Jarrín studied philosophy, letters, journalism and broadcasting at Central University of Ecuador. He began calling Dodgers games in Spanish for the 1959 season and is currently the longest-tenured broadcaster in baseball.
This season — Jarrín’s 64th in the booth — is his last. He is preparing for retirement by only calling home games. “I think it’s time to give way to somebody else because 64 years is a long time,” Jarrín recently told DodgerBlue.com.
“I have enjoyed it very much, it has been a great ride for me to be with the Dodgers. After 64 years, I think it’s time for me to change priorities, dedicate more time to my family, to my two sons. For many, many years I have been away from them for so much.
“I’m trying to pay them back for time that I missed being away with the Dodgers, on the road all the time, so it is very special.”
Jarrín originally intended to retire after the 2021 season but was asked by the Dodgers to remain in the booth for one final year. The team is going to honor him with a commemorative pin giveaway and special pregame ceremony on Oct. 1.
Jaime Jarrín awards
In 1970, the Spanish voice of the Dodgers became the first Latin American to win the Golden Mike Award, which he also received in 1971. Jarrín’s native Ecuador celebrated him with La Gran Cruz al Merito en El Grado de Comendador (highest civilian medal) in January 1992.
In 1998, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame. Also in 1998, Jarrín became the first recipient of the Southern California Broadcaster Association’s President’s Award, he was honored by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2002, Jarrín was inducted into the California Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame and the following year gained enshrinement in the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum. Jarrín additionally received the Foreign Language Sports Broadcaster Award in 2003 and was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame.
Jarrín also was honored by the organization with the Foreign Language Broadcaster of the Year award in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 as well. In 2009, he was recognized by the Society of St. Vincent DePaul for his involvement in aiding at-risk youth.
On Sept. 22, 2019, the Dodgers held a pregame ceremony to induct Jarrín into the Dodger Stadium Ring of Honor.
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