Meet LA Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, the rookie who became a symbol of Mexican American pride and a hero to Latinos everywhere.

 

Celebrate Latino sports history in this inspiring baseball book for kids ages 7–10, from an award-winning baseball reporter and a Pura Belpré Honoree.

 

Fernando Valenzuela was just barely out of his teens when he came to America from Mexico to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the 1980s, Mexican Americans rarely followed baseball. But after Fernando pitched eight winning games, the entire country was talking about him. People in Mexico began listening to games on their radios, and more Mexican Americans in LA began coming to games. A rookie on a historic streak, Fernando became an international star! And the fans gained something too: a hero they could call their own.

 

Baseball reporter Nathalie Alonso and author of Call Me Roberto! celebrates this sensational player who was known for his signature pitching style.

 

“… this book is a grand slam for young baseball fans. … A well-pitched celebration of talent, perseverance, and the power of representation.”—Kirkus Reviews