MLB Hall of Famer Rod Carew was sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Friday at age 78, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Carew, who played for 19 years with the Minnesota Twins and California Angels, raised his right hand and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States at the Federal Building in Santa Ana, California. Los Angeles Times.
The ceremony came more than 60 years after Carew moved to New York City from his native Panama at age 14, according to the Los Angeles Times. (RELATED: Watch the moment Enes Kanter becomes a U.S. citizen)
“I'm an American!” Baseball legend Rod Carew finally realizes his dream at age 78 https://t.co/hSyyms1tjA
— LA Times Sports (@latimessports) August 23, 2024
“Hey guys, I'm an American citizen!” he said, as former teammate Bobby Grich cheered him on, the newspaper reported. “I don't know what took me so long!”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Carew won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1967 and the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1977, batting .388.
The famed hitter, who served six years in the Marine Corps Reserves in the 1960s, declared in his Pledge of Allegiance that he would “bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law,” according to the paper.
“I support the United States in any way I can because this is my home and it's one of the greatest countries in the world,” Carew said. “I've been waiting a long time for this day and I want to be a part of all the great things this country has given us, so I'll support it in any way I can.”
Carew always intended to become a citizen, but his baseball career and life got in the way, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“He would talk about it, he wouldn't talk about it, he would talk about it, he wouldn't talk about it,” his wife, Rhonda, told the paper. “He just wasn't focused on it.”
“I love this country and I wanted to officially become a part of it,” Carew said, “even though a lot of people were surprised when I said I wasn't a citizen.”
“I'm a proud American,” the Hall of Famer added.
