Remembering Fernando Valenzuela: Dodgers Legend Passes Away
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By Angela Redding | Los Angeles, CA | HB | Hollywood Beat magazine October 22, 2024
Lead Image: Diana Castro for Hollywood Beat magazine
Other page media: Los Angeles Dodgers and Diana Castro for Hollywood Beat magazine
Valenzuela – A Legend Dies
Fernando Valenzuela, daughter, and granddaughters 2017 Fanfest (photo Diana Castro for Hollywood Beat magazine)
10/2024
One of the most well-liked and cherished Dodgers of all time, Fernando Valenzuela, was a broadcaster and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He died early this evening at the age of 63.
Fernando Valenzuela and granddaughter – Fanfest January 28, 2017 (photo Diana Castro/Premier Photo Intl.)
Dodger Organization Expresses Condolences
“On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” said Stan Kasten, President & CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers. “He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes. He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Linda and his family.”
Born in Etchohuaquila, Sonora, Mexico
Born in Etchohuaquila, Sonora, Mexico as the youngest of 12 children, Valenzuela made his Major League debut at age 19 with the Dodgers on September 15, 1980, throwing 17.2 innings without allowing an earned run for the remainder of the season. In 1981, beginning with a 2-0 Opening Day shutout of the Houston Astros in an emergency start, he went on an unprecedented career-opening run, with complete games in his first eight career starts – five of them shutouts – and a 0.50 ERA. Immediately, Fernandomania became a fan sensation.
“He turned the game into a religion,” Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin once said.
Valenzuela later started the 1981 All-Star Game and finished the regular season 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and 11 complete games, including eight shutouts in 25 starts, while tilting his gaze upwards in his pitching motion and confusing batters with his trademark screwball. He was the first player in Major League Baseball history to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. He pitched eight innings every start, went 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in the postseason, and won Game 3 of the 1981 World Series with a full game of 146 pitches.
“This was not the best Fernando game,” said Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully. “It was his finest.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. pic.twitter.com/MXeBlDzDWJ
Valenzuela, a renowned baseball player, was an All-Star every year from 1981-86, striking out five All-Stars in his final season. He was a lifetime.200 hitter with 10 home runs, winning two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove Award. Valenzuela’s final season featured a no-hitter, inspiring Scully’s famous “If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky.”
Broadcaster
Valenzuela, a former Major League Baseball player, has a 173-153 record and 3.54 ERA across 17 seasons with various teams, including the Dodgers Spanish language broadcasting team.
Number 34 Retired
On August 11, 2023, the Dodgers retired Valenzuela’s number after he was inducted into the first class of the Legends of Dodger Baseball in 2018. Valenzuela has been inducted into many Halls of Fame, such as the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame and the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum. He actively supported several team and Latino community activities. In 2007, he received the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program’s (RBI) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions.
Survived by His Family
His wife Linda, four children (Fernando Jr., Ricardo, Linda, and Maria Fernanda), and seven grandchildren survive Valenzuela.
What would you like to say to Fernando Valenzuela’s family? Leave comments below.
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Fernando Valenzuela and Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten the official retirement of Valenzuela’s jersey number 34 (Photo by Diana Castro/Hollywood Beat magazine)Kike Hernandez (photo by Diana Castro for Hollywood Beat mag.)Brianna Betts, Nichol Whiteman, Joe Kelly attend Dodgers-Baby2Baby-Holiday-Party-2023 (Photo: Diana Castro)
World Series Schedule
FRI, Oct. 25 Game 1: NYY @ LAD
SAT, Oct. 26 Game 2: NYY @ LAD
MON, Oct. 28 Game 3: LAD @ NYY
TUES, Oct. 29 Game 4: LAD @ NYY
WED, Oct. 30 Game 5*: LAD @ NYY
FRI, Nov. 1 Game 6*: NYY @ LAD
SAT, Nov. 2 Game 7*: NYY @ LAD
*If neccessary
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