HAMILTON — Anaheim-area Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo was just 11 years old when Vladimir Guerrero used his free agent status to sign with the Angels in January 2004.
Fajardo played baseball himself before devoting himself entirely to football on the advice of a coach. He has always loved this sport.
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“I was a midfielder,” he said. Baseball is probably the only major sport I’ve always followed, even more so than the NFL. To this day I am a proud Angels fan.”
Fajardo appreciated Vlad’s defensive play, including his cannon arm, and savored the former Expos’ batting presence even more.
Cody Fajardo, quarterback for the Alouettes. Dominic Chan / QMI Agency
“It was so much fun watching Vlad because he could hit every field,” said the Alouettes quarterback. The ball could hit the ground and he could still throw it over the fence. I thought, “This guy is awesome.”
Like father, like son
Today, Fajardo watches Vladimir Guerrero Jr. do the same with the Blue Jays…
“To sum up my passion for baseball, I would say the Angels won the World Series in 2002 when I was a kid and I literally fell in love with them,” said Fajardo enthusiastically. The big debate among Angels fans over Vladimir Guerrero now is whether his number 27 should be retired. The problem is that Mike Trout now wears 27.
Getty Images via AFP
After the Angels had a great time beating the poor Colorado Rockies 25-1 – a real football score – on Saturday, Fajardo and the Alouettes now have to prepare for the July 1 game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Montreal . There’s no telling that the Montreal club, who are unbeaten in two games this season, will then be able to pick up as many points as the Angels. And it’s nothing against Fajardo!