Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On Tuesday, Fernando Valenzuela died at 63. He was a legend of Dodger baseball. Last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers retired his #34 even though he wasn’t in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Every time Valenzuela delivered the ball to the plate, he looked to the sky. Now, he is with the large Dodger in the sky with Jackie Roosevelt Robinson, Tommy Lasorda, and Vin Scully.
A fat 19-year-old lefthander from rural Mexico appeared in Los Angeles in September 1980 and took the baseball world by storm. Having ice water through his veins, Valenzuela was never overwhelmed by the situation. If the Dodgers didn’t have Valenzuela as a reliever in September 1980, they probably wouldn’t have tied the Houston Astros forcing a 3-game playoffs, which the Dodgers lost.
Before Valenzuela was a Dodger, the large Mexican population boycotted the Dodgers. The Dodgers displaced a large number of Mexicans when they built Dodger Stadium. Valenzuela brought the Mexican population to Dodger Stadium. They haven’t left.
Entering the 1981 season, everyone who followed the Dodgers closely knew Valenzuela would be in the starting rotation, but nobody could predict Valenzuela would pitch Opening Day against the Astros. Jerry Reuss was slated to start Opening Day. But he pulled a calf muscle while running in the outfield at Dodger Stadium. Lasorda turned to the left-handed rookie.
Fernando Valenzuela shut out the Astros 2-to-0, and Fernandomania was born. In his first eight starts, he had eight wins, including five shutouts. His popularity didn’t seem to bother him though Valenzuela was a reserved gentleman. He was the only major leaguer to win the Rookie of the Year, National League Cy Young Award, and world championship.
Valenzuela was a six-time All-Star. He could field his position well, and he won a Gold Glove in 1986. He was one of the best-hitting pitchers that baseball has known. He won two Silver Slugger awards. In 1986, he hurled 20 remarkable complete games. His screwball baffled every hitter.
In 1988, Valenzuela injured his valuable left shoulder and opted not to have surgery. Though Valenzuela pitched a no-hitter on June 29, 1990, he never regained his dominance. The Dodgers parted ways with Valenzuela during spring training of 1991. He jumped around the major leagues until 1997.
Valenzuela joined the Dodger Spanish broadcasting team in 2003 as a color analyst. He was the only player I have ever seen who never made a mental mistake on the baseball diamond. On June 3, 1990, the Dodgers had a 22-inning game in Houston, and Valenzuela played first base for several innings, making all the plays, including a leaping catch.
In September, Valenzuela took a leave of absence from the team to focus on his health. As the Dodgers prepare to face the New York Yankees in the World Series for the first time since 1981, Valenzuela died. Every Dodger fan will cheer on their favorite team with a heavy heart. Fernando Valenzuela will live in Dodger baseball forever.
