UPDATED:  November 29, 2008 11:26 PM
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JACL Lauds Wakamatsu Hiring as Mariners Manager



SAN FRANCISCO, California–The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, commends the Seattle Mariners Baseball organization for its hiring of Don Wakamatsu, 45, as manager for the Mariners and as the first American of Asian ancestry to become a manager in major league baseball.

Commented JACL National Executive Director Floyd Mori: “This is a major milestone for major league baseball and for the Asian American community. We congratulate Mr. Wakamatsu for his success in the field of baseball. He is a good role model and example to aspiring, young Asian Americans as they pursue their dreams. We wish him well as he undertakes this big responsibility, and we commend the Seattle Mariners organization for their hiring of Don Wakamatsu as manager.”

JACL said the hiring “is meaningful in showing that diversity is becoming more accepted in major league baseball and other areas.” The hiring comes as JACL marks the anniversary of Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The law provided for reparations and a Presidential apology to thousands of Japanese Americans wrongfully incarcerated in concentration camps in remote areas of the United States during World War II,

Born in Hood River, Oregon, Wakamatsu graduated from Hayward High School in California in 1981, lettering in baseball, basketball, and football. He lettered four seasons at Arizona State University and earned All-Pacific 10 Conference honors in each of his final three seasons in college. His career spanned 12 seasons (1985-96), including 18 major league games with the Chicago White Sox in 1991.

Wakamatsu spent three seasons in the Los Angeles Angels organization and has managerial experience on the minor league level. He has been a big league coach since 2003 and a bench coach (equivalent to the position of an assistant head coach) through five major league seasons with the Texas Rangers and with the Oakland A’s.

 

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