Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, who sparked ‘Fernandomania’, dies at 63 – San Bernardino County Sun

LOS ANGELES — One of the most beloved figures in franchise history, responsible for attracting an entire demographic to the team’s fan base, Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela died Tuesday night.

Valenzuela, 63, had been hospitalized for the past few weeks with health problems that his family preferred to keep secret.

“It’s a crushing blow, even though I knew he was in really, really bad shape,” said retired broadcaster Jaime Jarin, who served as Valenzuela’s translator during the Mexican lefty’s early years in the majors and then as his broadcast partner later. “He was very special to me — and to Dodger fans.”

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten called Valenzuela “one of the most influential Dodgers ever” and said he “belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes.”

The Dodgers acknowledged this last year when they officially retired his uniform number “34” in a stadium ceremony. Previously, the Dodgers had limited the retired number honor to players elected to the Hall of Fame (excluding Jim Gilliam).

“I’m very glad they broke protocol and retired his number. It was well deserved,” said Orel Hershiser, Valenzuela’s teammate for several seasons. “His impact on baseball, on the LA Dodgers, the city and what he meant to Latino fans changed the way Dodger baseball was seen.

“I hate to compare him to Jackie Robinson. It didn’t break the color barrier. But what he did… he was an agent of change.

Valenzuela’s phenomenal start to the 1981 season ignited the “Fernandomania” craze and increased interest in the team among the Mexican-American fan base in the region.

His death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela will be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

Born in a small town in Navajo, Mexico, the youngest of 12 children, Valenzuela was discovered by legendary scout Mike Brito in 1978. Brito was on a scouting mission to Guanajuato to evaluate a shortstop for one of the teams. Valenzuela came on in relief and struck out that player.

“I forgot all about shortstop,” Brito said years later.

The Dodgers signed Valenzuela in 1979 and brought him up to the majors a year later after just 30 games in the minors. He went 2-0 and didn’t give up an earned run in 17⅔ innings as a September call-up in 1980.

But Valenzuela’s big break came in 1981, when he was forced into duty as the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter when Jerry Royce had to go down with an injury.

“The way he started that first start,” Hershiser recalled. “He had just thrown his side session the day before, but when they asked him, he just said, ‘Sure, I can get the ball.’ … He was just a baseball player through and through.”

Valenzuela threw a complete game shutout on opening day and a “craze” was born. He started the season 8-0 with eight complete games, five of them hitless. His big frame, distinctive looks, skyward eyes and unique blend of play featuring an unstoppable back combined with his youth (he was not yet 21) and small-town origins made him a sensation.

Los Angeles’ large Hispanic community had never embraced the Dodgers after they unceremoniously took over Chavez Rain to build Dodger Stadium, displacing many in the process. But they embraced Valenzuela and packed the stadium for his titles. During Valenzuela’s warm-ups, ABBA’s hit “Fernando” blared from the speakers. Latino fans also turned out in large numbers on the road – to see “El Toro,” the Bull.

Jarin was by his side during ‘Fernandomania’.

“He meant so much to the Latino fan base,” Jarin said Tuesday. “No other baseball player has done what he has done. He made so many baseball fans, more than anyone else. People who come here from Mexico, from Latin America, don’t care about baseball. They didn’t. But they became fans of Fernando, and because of him they became fans of baseball.”

Manfred acknowledged this, calling Valenzuela “one of the most impactful players of his generation”.

“Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired,” Manfred said.

The 1981 season was interrupted by a players’ strike, but Valenzuela finished the season 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and became the first (and only) player to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season. He became a cult hero practically overnight.

Fernando Valenzuela as a 20-year-old rookie in 1981:

35.0 inning scoreless streak
All-Star Game starting pitcher
Cy Young
Rookie of the Year
World Series title

No other pitcher in MLB history has accomplished all of these accomplishments in his entire career (same season or not). pic.twitter.com/u0mwihfKly

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 23, 2024

“He turned the game into a religion,” Jarin once said.

He then went 3-1 in the postseason as the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series.

“He energized the fans with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since,” Kasten said.

Valenzuela played 11 seasons with the Dodgers, making the All-Star team in six consecutive years (1981-86). In his final season with the Dodgers, Valenzuela invoked the magic once more, throwing a no-hitter on June 29, 1990.

“If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!” Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully exclaimed in his game talk.

Before the game, the Dodgers gathered around the television to watch Oakland A’s pitcher Dave Stewart throw a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“You just saw a failed player on TV,” says the legend Valenzuela. “Now you will see one in person.”

His shoulder worn out from all the years he was “El Toro” for Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, Valenzuela bounced around for seven more seasons with four different teams, including the Angels. Working his way through the minor leagues before joining the Angels for two starts in 1991, Valenzuela began a rehab stint in the California League at the venerable Palm Springs Stadium. Thousands showed up, clambering over the wrought-iron fence surrounding the stadium when lines at the ticket gates grew too long and forced the team out of the standing-room field’s warning rails.

Valenzuela finished his career with a 173-153 record and 3.54 ERA, including 141 wins as a Dodger (ninth on the franchise’s all-time list).

It wasn’t enough to earn Valenzuela election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. His No. 34 was never given to another player after he left the Dodgers, and the franchise finally caved to persistent calls and officially retired the number in 2023.

“Fair? I’d rather have the bases loaded with no outs,” Valenzuela said when asked how nervous he was before his jersey retirement ceremony. “I think it’s something really important for me and my family. This is something I never imagined would happen. But here we are.”