Written by Danny Torres
Photo Credit: Andy Esposito
 

Throughout the news conference, not only did I hear the customary language I grew up speaking in school but how overjoyed I was to hear the language I was accustomed to speaking with my beloved parents who grew up on a small island in the Caribbean.

It was music to my ears. Era música para mis oidos.

This extraordinary moment would be historic considering it was the first time in the history of the National Baseball Hall of Fame elections that two Latino ballplayers would be enshrined in the same year.

Both players impacted the game in their respective careers, but it was this phenomenal pitcher for the New York Yankees, whose congenial smile brightened up the dais, who had an unbelievable career in the big leagues.

He was a five-time World Series champion, a World Series Most Valuable Player, had 13 All-Star Game appearances but most importantly, set the Major League Baseball record for the most career saves by a reliever.

By now if you haven’t guessed this household name, then you never followed his meteoric rise into the big leagues, caught one of his dramatic games at the ballpark or watch him pitch on the big screen. I can honestly say it’s unfortunate you missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the unbelievable greatness of this phenomenal ballplayer.

But, there’s something else he can add to his breathtaking resume.

From Panama To NYC

Mariano Rivera became the first player ever to be elected unanimously into the Baseball Hall of Fame. But at this news conference, he revealed a rather heartfelt story about his journey from a fishing village in his native Panama to eventually playing 19 years for the New York Yankees.

Alongside his fellow Hall of Fame inductees, he paused and slowly opened up about his second year in the minor leagues in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“Coming from Panama, I didn’t know any English. I use to go to bed, and [for] a few days, I was crying. Not because of the game, [but] to me the game was easier than I expected, but the language factor was tough for me,” Rivera said matter-of-factly.

But there’s also another eye-opening tidbit to this incredible story.

Rivera added: “Baseball language—we all know that—but if you don’t speak the language, you will be in trouble.”

And yet, both players spoke fluently in English and Spanish at their news conference. But sadly in our society there continues to be a grey cloud hovering over the Latino diaspora; especially the newly-arrived immigrants and their uneasiness of acceptance.

Recently, during a televised news segment, a renowned former news anchor said some disparaging comments about the need for Latinos to assimilate and become fully engaged in American culture and to move beyond their respective communities. His remarks drew a strong reaction and many decried the insensitive nature of his tone.

Like many Latinos who immigrated into the United States, Mariano Rivera is living proof of someone who clearly understood in order to succeed in his/her respective career, the language barrier must be broken in order to slowly overcome those insecurities and the willingness to embrace the English language.

Despite those obstacles and nearly 25 years since his Major League debut, he will be immortalized with a bronze, baseball plaque inside a renowned baseball museum in upstate New York.

But there’s another giant in the big leagues who can certainly relate to Mariano Rivera’s extraordinary narrative.

Language And Barriers

Jaime Jarrín, 83, who is a play-by-play baseball announcer immigrated to the United States and slowly acclimated himself with an unfamiliar culture and language. At the age of 19 and filled with an unbelievable passion for radio, he followed his heart to eventually become the longest tenured broadcaster in Major League Baseball.

Sixty years later, he is affectionately known as “The Spanish Voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers.”

Although he chose to reside in the Los Angeles County area (he even remembers the exact date he arrived in the U.S.), Jaime Jarrín’s acculturation into American society was no easy task. But before he became the Spanish voice of a prominent sports franchise he knew it was his responsibility to learn and speak English.

“The language is the most difficult barrier to conquer when you come from Latin-America,” Jarrín said.

Jarrín strongly believes the perfect ages to settle in another country are between 12 and 14 because by then you would have already mastered your own language. In his particular instance, his native language is Spanish, and his journey to America has been a rather interesting tale.

“It was very difficult when I came over here as an adult. I’ve been in this country for over 60-plus, years but it took a lot of years to conquer the English language.”

Jarrín’s extraordinary resume is undeniably impressive and he has literally received every imaginable award. In 1998, he was the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, an award presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was honored for his meritorious service to Major League Baseball along with his impressive career in radio and broadcasting.

There’s even a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

I visited Jarrín at Dodgers Stadium, and during our conversation, he reflected on those early days in the broadcast booth, partaking in a number of historic Dodgers’ games, his close relationships with some legendary ball players, but the one topic he was adamant about is the necessity to be proficient in another language.

“I’ve always said I work in Spanish. When I was home, I wanted to speak Spanish because I wanted my children to be bilingual. I knew they would learn English in school, but if we don’t speak to them in Spanish, they will never learn it. I am a champion of bilingualism.”

Bilingualism In Academia

In a 2018 Psychology Today article by Francois Grosjean Ph.D. titled “The Amazing Rise of Bilingualism in the United States,” he talked in-depth about what has transpired over a 36-year period:

“Back in 1980, the percentage of bilinguals was 10.68% whereas in 2016, the last American Community Survey (ACS) for which we have data, it was 20.14%, practically a doubling of the number. If we add a few percentage points to take into account those not included in the survey, the proportion of bilinguals today is probably around 22% of the total population.”

Grosjean concluded: “I am happy to observe, more than 30 years later, that an effort is being made to speak and use other languages in addition to English. The position of prominence that English has in the U.S. is in no danger, but some room is now being made for other languages. This can only lead to a person’s personal enrichment, increased ties between generations and cultures, and more diversity in job opportunities.”

Jarrín shared another thought-provoking story on how college applicants ask for his advice about pursuing a career in sports and specifically what they should major in. He was quick to point out the following:

“Lately, many kids come to the ballpark looking for my advice because they are going to college. They ask, ‘What should I take?’ In the last 10 years, everyone is taking communications, communications and communications. I said, ‘Please don’t take communications. Learn another language.’ If you speak Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Hindu—whatever, if you speak three languages you, will be the king of the universe.”

Conclusion

As Marino Rivera looks forward to his Baseball Hall of Fame induction in July and proudly stands at the exact spot where Jarrín accepted his prestigious award, both legends are cognizant of what their fervent words will mean to the thousands in attendance and the millions watching this glorious ceremony throughout Latin-America on TV.

Surely the vast amount of his induction speech will be in English—a once foreign language he couldn’t embrace, but like Jarrín who made sure to acknowledge his Latino ancestry in 1998, Rivera will also speak in the familiar tongue of his native Panama.

Rivera will not only share what baseball meant to his life, his family, teammates and most importantly, the fans, but how once he didn’t understand a foreign language, and it brought tears to his eyes. But now those tears are no longer of sadness from not being able to communicate but tears of happiness from a young boy who grew up in a fishing village in Panama who believed he could do it.

And on July 21, 2019, these appreciative words will certainly be spoken: Thank you and muchas gracias.  •