Dodgers Broadcaster Jaime Jarrín Will Retire After Next Season

LOS ANGELES, CA —Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín, who has been the team's Spanish language radio announcer for 64 years, said Tuesday that next season will be his last in the booth.

Jarrín, 85, and a native of Ecuador, began broadcasting Dodger games on KWKW when the team moved from Brooklyn, New York to Los Angeles in 1958. He permanently joined the broadcast team in 1959.

Jarrín became the longest-tenured announcer in baseball when legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully retired in 2016 after 67 years calling games for the organization.

In 1998, Jarrín was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award -presented annually to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball -becoming only the second Spanish-language announcer to achieve the honor.

Prior to this season, Jarrín and his son Jorge spent six seasons together in the broadcast booth, becoming the first father-son duo to share the Spanish broadcasting booth in Major League history

"I'm grateful to the Dodgers - the best organization in baseball - for giving me the opportunity to do what I love most for 64 years," Jarrín said in a statement the Dodgers posted on Twitter. "As much as I'll miss my 'baseball family' at Dodger Stadium and across the country, I'm looking forward to spending more time with my sons Jorge and Mauricio and my grandchildren and nurturing my love of travel."

Jarrín later told the LA Times: "I think it's a good time to put an end to my 64-year vacation because my job is a vacation because I like it so much."

According to the Dodgers, Jarrín has called three perfect games, 22 no-hitters, 30 World Series and 30 All-Star Games during his career. He also served as Fernando Valenzuela's interpreter during the latter's emergence with the Dodgers in the early 1980s.

Tributes to Jarrín poured in from members of the Dodgers family.

"It's impossible to put into words what Jaime has meant to the Dodger organization. For over six decades, he's brought us signature calls of baseball's biggest moments, while serving the Dodgers and Los Angeles with grace, integrity and class," Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement. "Jaime was integral in introducing the Dodgers to Los Angeles and in giving a voice to the franchise's Latino stars. We're going to cherish this last year with him on the broadcast and wish him the best in retirement."

Scully, now 93, later posted a tribute to Jarrín on Instagram.

"Los Angeles has been so lucky to have enjoyed the talent of Jaime Jarrín for over six decades," Scully tweeted. "I'm thrilled my dear pal will get to spend precious time with his family in retirement. All the best to you Jaime."

Jarrín said Tuesday that he only will broadcast the 81 Dodgers home games during his final season in 2022.