PA Announcer Renaldo Gonzales's Sweet Sixers Story

Born here in San Bernardino, Renaldo Gonzales has been a fan of baseball his whole life.
"My dad had season tickets to Fiscalini Field growing up. I remember seeing Kevin Costner when he played here. I saw Ken Griffey Jr. and Adrián Beltré," Gonzales said.
Watching baseball is not just a great father-son experience, just as Gonzales and his dad shared. A game at San Manuel Stadium can also lead to creating new relationships.
"The first time my fiance and I went on a date was right here in 2008. We were in Section 119, and it was a group outing with friends," Gonzales explained.
"We went to plenty of more games and we loved it. I remember coming to the stadium and listening to the former announcer and thinking about how that guy had talent, and how bad I wanted that job."
That chance came this March. Gonzales was told of the open position via family friend, after the 66ers posted the opening on the social media outlet, Instagram.
"Thank God for social media. If it wasn't for that, I never would have heard of the opportunity to join this organization."
Gonzales is no stranger to Public Address Announcing. His PA work has spanned over 10 years, calling numerous different sports. His resume includes working for MTV2, calling CIF Individual Wrestling Championships, as well as being the voice of Bloomington High School Sports for the last six school years.
When Gonzales got the news he was scheduled for a tryout, he was ecstatic. When he told his fiance, Kelli, about it, according to Gonzales she said, "We need to go shopping. You need to look professional."
Sporting his new blue button down dress shirt and Anchor Bay khakis, he was dressed to impress the Director of Promotions, Adam Franey.
"I came in and I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect. I've done this before, but not at this level."
Gonzales and the other candidates learned during tryouts that not only does the Public Address Announcer handle player introductions and sponsor reads, but they also control when, and what music is played during 66ers games.
With no previous experience performing both duties at the same time, "I thought this was going to be it. I thought I was fired before I even started," Gonzales expressed.
It was not until one week later did Gonzales receive a call about his interview. He was sitting in his Physical Geography class at Moreno Valley College .
"It was two minutes before class, and I got a call from the stadium's number," Gonzales started. "It was Adam offering me the job, and it was a dream come true. I would have bought him a steak dinner if he was right there."
The first thing Gonzales did after hearing the good news was call his fiance.
"If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be close to doing all of the things I am doing now."
Gonzales graduates from Moreno Valley College with three associate's degrees this summer, and is transferring to Cal State University of San Bernardino this fall to pursue his major in History.
"I used to sit down in those seats with my fiance and pray that I would catch a hotdog from the guy in the blue-man suit, or that Bernie would spray me with silly string. Now I am working with the blue-man guy and Bernie. I park, I walk in, and I can't get over how rad this is."
Gonzales resides in Moreno Valley with his fiance of nine years, Kelli, their daughters Marissa and Jade, and their pitbull-lab mix, Sooshie.
-By Aris M Theofanopoulos