Don Kelsen
Los Angeles Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela, a two-time World Collection-winning pitcher and six-time All-Star, has died on the age of 63.
Each Main League Baseball and the Dodgers group confirmed the information relating to Valenzuela, who additionally labored 21 seasons as a broadcaster for the crew’s Spanish radio and tv simulcast.
MLB @MLB
We’re deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of former Dodgers nice Fernando Valenzuela.
“Fernandomania” swept by way of baseball in 1981 when the 20-year previous rookie sensation started the season 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA. The lefthander capped off his unimaginable 12 months by profitable each the… pic.twitter.com/a28H5Cptox
Los Angeles Dodgers @Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. pic.twitter.com/MXeBlDzDWJ
MLB Communications @MLB_PR
Major League Baseball remembers the life of the groundbreaking Fernando Valenzuela, the @Dodgers pitcher who grew to become a phenomenon and impressed thousands and thousands of followers in the US, Mexico, and past. He was 63. pic.twitter.com/qmucVyRcav
In addition, commissioner Rob Manfred said in his statement that MLB will “honor Fernando’s memory” during the upcoming World Series at Dodger Stadium. This year’s Fall Classic begins in L.A. on Friday, when the Dodgers will host the New York Yankees for Game 1.
Per NBC 4 Los Angeles on Oct. 1, Valenzuela was hospitalized with an unspecified well being problem. The Dodgers confirmed that Valenzuela had stepped away from the crew and wouldn’t be a part of the postseason broadcasts.
The left-hander was born the youngest of 12 youngsters in Etchohuaquila, within the state of Sonora, Mexico. He worked on the household farm rising up earlier than enjoying skilled baseball in Mexico in 1977. Two years later, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers group. He made his debut on the tail finish of the 1980 season on the age of 19, pitching 17.2 scoreless innings in reduction over 10 appearances.
Nobody may anticipate what occurred in 1981, when Fernandomania took over baseball.
At 20 years previous, the southpaw befuddled opposing batters, starting the 12 months with a 7-0 document and 0.29 ERA over seven full video games.
He completed the strike-shortened 12 months because the Nationwide League Cy Younger winner and Rookie of the Yr after posting a 13-7 document, 2.48 ERA, 11 full video games (eight shutouts) and a serious league-high 180 strikeouts. He’s the primary and solely participant in MLB historical past to win each awards in the identical season.
Valenzuela and the Dodgers additionally gained the World Collection for the primary time since 1965, taking down the New York Yankees in six video games.
Through the playoffs, Valenzuela went 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA. He threw 147 pitches in a complete-game, 5-4 win over the Yanks in Recreation 3. Richard Roeper, the Chicago Solar-Occasions movie and TV reviewer, supplied his perception on that one.
Richard Roeper @RichardERoeper
For all of the shutouts, Fernando Valenzuela’s most spectacular efficiency may need been Recreation 3 of the 1981 World Collection, when he gave up 9 hits and seven walks as he gutted out a 147-pitch full recreation victory. Pure coronary heart. RIP to a legend. pic.twitter.com/TRu5A2Vs8W
Valenzuela made the Nationwide League All-Star crew in every of his first six seasons and threw a no-hitter in 1990.
He finally pitched in 17 MLB seasons (1980-1991, 1993-1997) for the Dodgers, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
Six years after his enjoying profession ended, Valenzuela rejoined the Dodgers as a broadcaster. The group additionally retired his No. 34 jersey in August 2023.
This text might be up to date quickly to offer extra data and evaluation.