LOS ANGELES — The baseball world was forever changed by the phenomenon known as “Fernandomania.”
When 19-year-old Fernando Valenzuela made his MLB debut for the Dodgers on Sept. 15, 1980, no one could have predicted the incredible career that lay ahead. Over the next seven years, the young left-hander from Etchohuaquila, Mexico, would become the face of the franchise.
Valenzuela, who passed away at the age of 63, leaves behind a legacy of excellence and pride for both the team he represented and the country of his birth.
The 1981 season was a whirlwind for the Dodgers’ legend. It marked his first full season in the majors and solidified his status as an icon. Valenzuela quickly rose to prominence as one of the top pitchers in baseball, capturing the hearts of fans in Los Angeles, across the U.S., and in Mexico, where his popularity soared. The 20-year-old thrived in Dodger blue.
Valenzuela had a historic rookie season, posting a 13-7 record with a 2.48 ERA and 196 strikeouts. He became the first player to win both Rookie of the Year and the NL Cy Young Award in the same season. Additionally, he played a key role in leading the Dodgers to their fifth World Series title in 1981.
For the next nine seasons, Valenzuela was a mainstay in the Dodgers’ rotation, following in the footsteps of pitching greats like Sandy Koufax, Don Sutton, and Don Drysdale. In his final season with the Dodgers in 1990, the man known as “El Toro” achieved the pinnacle of his career by throwing a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Valenzuela went on to play for six more seasons with the Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres, and Cardinals. He retired with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA, 41.5 WAR, and 2,074 strikeouts. His career highlights include six All-Star appearances, 113 complete games, and 31 shutouts.
Valenzuela’s connection with Los Angeles was unparalleled. In a city with a significant Mexican-American population, he became a larger-than-life figure. Even today, at Dodger Stadium, fans can be seen wearing Valenzuela’s retired No. 34 jersey in his honor.
His cultural impact was profound, especially considering the historical tensions between the team and its Latino fan base. As noted in the Los Angeles Times’ obituary:
The electric atmosphere was also surprising considering the fraught history at Chavez Ravine, when Latino families were uprooted from neighborhoods there throughout the 1950s to eventually clear the way for the construction of Dodger Stadium. L.A.’s Latino community never forgot that chapter in the city’s history, but Valenzuela’s meteoric rise and everyman appeal proved hard to resist.
In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers as a color analyst for the team’s Spanish-language broadcasts, a role he held until taking a leave of absence prior to the MLB postseason to focus on his health.
As the Dodgers prepare to face the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series, Valenzuela’s passing adds another layer of emotion to the series. His memory will be honored during the championship, as confirmed by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement:
Following his memorable career, Fernando was an outstanding ambassador for baseball. He consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events across his home country. As a member of the Dodger broadcasting team for more than 20 years, Fernando helped to reach a new generation of fans and cultivate their love of the game. Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired.
As the Dodgers take the field with heavy hearts, they will honor the legacy of one of their greatest players and one of the sport’s most influential ambassadors. Valenzuela’s memory will live on in the hearts of fans as they mourn and celebrate the life of a true Dodgers legend.