LOS ANGELES – Fernando Valenzuela was a six-time All-Star, National League Rookie of the Year, NL Cy Young Award Winner and World Champion in his prolific career. Now the legendary pitcher can add one more accolade to his list, green card.
On Wednesday, the former Dodgers pitcher turned Spanish Language broadcaster became a U.S. Citizen in a ceremony in downtown Los Angeles that featured nearly 8,000 other immigrants.
Valenzuela was born in Sonora, Mexico in 1960, and sparked the craze "Fernandomania" at Dodger Stadium in the 1980s when he won the NL Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and World Series all in the 1981 season.
"The Los Angeles Dodgers extend their congratulations to broadcaster and legendary left-hander Fernando Valenzuela," the organization said in a press release.
Valenzuela retired from the game in 1997 and joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in the broadcast booth along side Jamie and Jorge Jarrin in 2002.
Over 130 countries were represented in the nationalization ceremony on Wednesday as all immigrants pledged the oath of allegiance in front of the American flag.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, three of the top 10 countries represented were from Latin America, with Mexico being the top country overall.
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