North side mural pays tribute Latino players, including this All Star from Fort Worth

Traces of children’s laughter and sounds of traditional Latin music filled the air Wednesday morning as a mural was unveiled and celebrated in the north side.

The artwork, gracing the side of Artes de La Rosa Cultural Center at 1440 N. Main St., showcases seven baseball players from T-ball to the big leagues, including Yovani Gallardo, who graduated from Fort Worth Trimble Tech and spent 12 seasons in the majors, including two seasons with the Texas Rangers.

Gallardo was born in Mexico and moved to Cowtown when he was 4 to start elementary school. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2004 after he graduated from high school, and was an All Star in 2010. He played for the Rangers in 2015 and 2018.

Gallardo and other Rangers players are depicted in the mural, illustrating the journey from tee-ball to the pitcher’s mound as a professional player.

“Growing up as a young kid, you have doubts, and this mural itself will take that away once you look at it,” Gallardo said. “To have young kids come to take a look at it will make them realize they can achieve what they want if they set their mind to it and move forward.”

Fort Worth artist Juan Velasquez was picked to paint the mural after his Arlington painting of the memorable 2016 fight between the Rangers’ Rougned Odor and the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista went viral in January 2023.

The unveiling of the mural begins All-Star festivities leading up to the game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Globe Life Field. The MLB Draft is Sunday at the Cowtown Coliseum in the Stockyards, and the All-Star Village is Saturday through Tuesday at Choctaw Stadium.

Velasquez has also started painting home plates that will be auctioned at the All-Star Village and online.

Paying homage to his heritage and the place he grew up was a special moment for Velasquez, he said. This mural celebrates the Latino community, showcasing the evolution of Latino and Latina baseball and softball players pursuing their dreams.

“It was a journey, mainly because of the weather. I was very nervous leading up to this moment. I look very serious, but I’m very happy,” Velasquez said.