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The Fernando Valenzuela mural is officially unveiled in Boyle Heights. But wait, there's more!
The new Fernando Valenzuela mural in Boyle Heights has been officially unveiled.
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Jason Rodriguez
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LAist
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A new mural of late Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela was unveiled in Boyle Heights on early Sunday afternoon. In an announcement, muralist Robert Vargas said at today's event that he will start working on a new third panel today.
Fans gathered around site all morning, about a block west of Mariachi Plaza, to celebrate the moment.
Jocelyn Ramirez brought her family to the event after seeing Vargas working on it yesterday in their neighborhood.
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The Fernando Valenzuela mural in Boyle Heights. Two panels were unveiled on Sunday. Muralist Robert Vargas said he'll start working on the third panel today.
(
Jason Rodriguez
/
LAist
)
(
Jason Rodriguez
/
LAist
)
"My cousin, he passed away last year and he was a huge Dodger fan, a huge Valenzuela fan," Ramirez said. "So seeing the mural be painted here within the community is like something really special to us. Like, it's just really big."
Vargas, who was born and raised in Boyle Heights, recently completed the Shohei Ohtani mural in Little Tokyo. He worked around the clock to finish this mural. It's location on the side of the Boyle Heights Apartments is a fitting setting, to many fans.
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"I like how it's bringing everyone together," Ramirez said. "Seeing not just Dodger fans, but baseball fans and Boyle Heights families come out ... it's really special to me."
Fans show up in Boyle Heights to celebrate the unveiling of the mural.
(
Jason Rodriguez
/
LAist
)
Fans gather to celebrate the unveiling of the new Fernando Valenzuela pained by Robert Vargas in Boyle Heights
(
Jason Rodriguez
/
LAist
)
To so many in the community, Valenzuela was more than a lethal southpaw and baseball player who wore No. 34.
"I remember bonding with my father over listening to Fernando on the radio," said Josefina Lopez, a playwright. "And so for a lot of us Fernando represents our fathers, our brothers, our uncles, and he represents a good man, a hero."
LAist producer Kevin Tidmarsh contributed to this story.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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