Los Angeles Dodgers Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Los Angeles Dodgers and partner Aeromexico will participate in the two largest Los Angeles area celebrations

09/07/2007, LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the culture, legacy and contributions of the Hispanic community in Los Angeles. Hispanic Heritage Month is a four-week long national celebration beginning September 15 and ending October 15. This year the Los Angeles Dodgers will join partner Aeromexico and participate in the city's two largest celebrations: the 58th annual East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade and celebration on Sunday, September 9 and the Huntington Park Mexican Independence Day Parade and Celebration on Sunday, September 16.

Former Los Angeles Dodger relief pitcher from the 1981 World Series Championship team and East L.A. native Bobby Castillo will join Aeromexico West Coast Regional Director Gabriella Cavalheiro and other Aeromexico and Dodger Staff members aboard the Los Angeles Dodger Blue Fire Truck and Dodger Baseball Golf Cart in the 58th annual East LA Parade. The parade, held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be televised by the Univision Television Network. More than 500,000 are expected to attend the parade making the East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade and celebration the largest outside of Mexico.

"The Dodgers are proud to be a part of and support the Hispanic community in Los Angeles," said Dodger Chief Operating Officer Marty Greenspun. "We are happy to join Aeromexico and our fans in celebrating the important contributions of the Hispanic community in Los Angeles."

The Dodgers have been the leader in recognizing the importance of the Hispanic market and in 1958 instituted the first and now longest-running Spanish-language radio broadcast. The Dodgers were also one of the first MLB teams to implement a Spanish-language Web site, losdodgers.com. Aeromexico is part of the family of Hispanic-owned businesses that partner with the Dodgers including Cacique, Las Palmas, Camachos and Los Defensores. Recently, the Dodgers celebrated the 10th annual Viva Los Dodgers festival which drew a record number of more than 10,000 attendees. The event has become a signature celebration of Hispanic culture in Los Angeles and the most anticipated among all fans.

"As a sponsor of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aeromexico is very pleased to be joined by the Dodgers in celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Los Angeles' vast Hispanic community," said Cavalheiro. "Aeromexico and the Dodgers share strong ties to the Southern California Hispanic community as demonstrated by Aeromexico's commitment to be the number one air carrier to and from Mexico, and the Dodgers' long history of serving the Latino sports fan as no other team in Major League Baseball has."

The Dodgers will also be a part of a national tribute in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The Dodgers will be the only professional sports organization featured in AOL Latino's annual month-long Hispanic Heritage special. Former Dodger pitching star Fernando Valenzuela will be the highlight of AOL Latino's Deportes channel. The content will include Valenzuela's reflection on his culture, career, "Fernandomania" and his current involvement with the Dodgers.

AOL Latino's bilingual month-long special will go live Thursday, September 13 and honors Hispanic history, culture and political influence in the U.S. The Dodgers will then join Aeromexico once again at the Huntington Park Mexican Independence Day Parade and Celebration on Sunday, September 16.

More than 42 percent of Dodger fans are of Hispanic descent and 7.4 million Hispanics call Los Angeles home, that's about 15 percent of the total Hispanic population in the U.S. The Dodgers have played a major role in fostering Hispanic talent having signed more than 100 players from Latin American countries throughout the team's history. The organization has also been at the forefront of Hispanic player development. This year the Dodgers' baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, Campo Las Palmas celebrated its 20th anniversary. This facility was a first-of-its-kind establishment and has since been replicated by numerous MLB teams. MLB continues to hold the highest Hispanic participation among all professional sports.

Source: MLB

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •