Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela has died, the workforce introduced Tuesday. He was 63. Valenzuela will probably be honored when the 2024 World Collection begins at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
“Fernando Valenzuela was probably the most impactful gamers of his era,” commissioner Rob Manfred stated in an announcement. “… We are going to honor Fernando’s reminiscence through the 2024 World Collection at Dodger Stadium. On behalf of Main League Baseball, I lengthen my deepest condolences to Fernando’s household, the Dodgers, his pals throughout the sport, and all of the loyal baseball followers of Mexico.”
With a novel supply and an nearly mysterious aura, Valenzuela was a larger-than-life determine who left an indelible mark on the Latino neighborhood, notably in Southern California. “Fernandomania” captivated the area and Dodgers followers within the early Eighties, when the left-hander made his MLB debut as a 19-year-old in 1980.
In 1981, Valenzuela gained the NL Rookie of the 12 months and Cy Younger awards as a 20-year-old by going 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA in a league-leading 192 1/3 innings through the strike-shortened season. He gained his first eight begins that season, finishing seven of them, and threw 5 shutouts. Valenzuela made 5 begins within the 1981 postseason and threw an unbelievable 40 2/3 innings with a 2.21 ERA because the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees within the World Collection.
Valenzuela went to 6 consecutive All-Star Video games from 1981-86 and likewise completed within the prime 5 of the Cy Younger voting in 1982 1985, and 1986. Though 1981 was his best season, Valenzuela was one in all baseball’s biggest pitchers within the Eighties. He averaged 266 innings per yr from 1982-87 with a 3.19 ERA, and was the sport’s preeminent workhorse. Valenzuela led the league with 21 wins in 1986 and in full video games in each 1985 and 1986.
On June 19, 1990, Valenzuela threw a no-hitter in opposition to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. That day, Oakland Athletics ace Dave Stewart additionally no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays. It’s the solely time in baseball historical past two no-hitters have been thrown on the identical day.
After 11 seasons with the Dodgers, Valenzuela completed his profession with stints with the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and Cardinals. He additionally performed within the Mexican League. Valenzuela completed his profession with a 173-153 document and a 3.54 ERA. He’s the all-time chief in wins (173) and innings (2,930) amongst Mexican-born pitchers. Valenzuela is, by any measure, the best Mexican-born participant in MLB historical past.
“It could be actually nice in the event that they remembered me as somebody who at all times tried his greatest to at all times give them a great present, in order that they may have enjoyable with this stunning recreation,” Valenzuela informed MLB.com in 2021.
Born and raised within the small city of Etchohuaquila, Valenzuela started his enjoying profession in opposition to a lot older competitors as a young person with the Yucatan Leones of the Mexican League within the Nineteen Seventies. The Dodgers ultimately signed him for $120,000, on the time an infinite sum for a participant within the Mexican League. Valenzuela made his MLB debut on Sept. 15, 1980, and appeared in two video games that season earlier than becoming a member of the rotation full-time in 1981.
In 1983, Valenzuela grew to become the primary participant to win a $1 million award by arbitration. Three years later, he signed a $5.5 million contract, then the biggest ever for a pitcher. The Dodgers and Valenzuela didn’t at all times have one of the best relationship, although he ultimately accepted an envoy function with the workforce, and spent 22 seasons within the membership’s Spanish language broadcast sales space. He stepped away from the sales space to concentrate on his well being earlier this yr.
“He meant a lot to the Latino fan base,” Dodgers’ Spanish language broadcaster Jaime Jarrin stated about Valenzuela (by way of the Orange County Register). “No different baseball participant did what he did. He made so many baseball followers, greater than anybody else. Individuals who got here right here from Latin America did not care about baseball. However they grew to become followers of Fernando and due to him baseball followers.”
Though no participant wore Valenzuela’s No. 34 after he left the workforce following the 1990 season, the Dodgers didn’t formally retire the quantity in his honor till 2023. Valenzuela fell off the Corridor of Fame poll in 2004, his second yr of eligibility.
