Dodgers iconic pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who won the Rookie of the Year award in 1981, died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital. The cause of death of the 63 year old has not yet been revealed.
The Dodgers are preparing to play the opening match in the World Series at home against the New York Yankees. According to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, Valenzuela would be happy to know the opening match was at the Dodgers Stadium.
Valenzuela pitched for 17 seasons before he ventured into sports broadcasting. He was the Spanish language broadcaster for the Dodgers.
Called up late in the 1980 season, Valenzuela was an unexpected force that took the baseball world by storm. On his debut, he recorded a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros and went on to begin the season with an 8-0 record, including five shutouts, and an 0.50 ERA. The head coach at that time, Tommy Lasorda, saw what nobody could see.
Tommy Lasorda came up to me and said, ‘Are you ready to pitch tomorrow?’ I said, ‘I’m ready,'” Valenzuela recalled in 2023.
“That’s what I was looking for, the opportunity to show what I can do.”
Before he died, Valenzuela had not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he is still well-recognized and respected as ‘hall of fame’ worthy.
“His charisma was unbelievable,” Hall of Fame Dodgers Spanish-language announcer Jaime Jarrin said in 2023.
“The fact that he came here to the major leagues after spending just a few weeks in San Antonio at Double-A — and from the beginning, he was just amazing. And the people fell in love with him.”
Valenzuela finished the 1981 season with a 13-7 record, 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games and 8 shutouts. Sounds of his praise rattled the baseball world. They had not seen anything like that before.
That same year, Fernando led the National League pitching about 192 1⁄3 innings. He also sat pretty at the top of the majors with 180 strikeouts.
“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes,” Stan Kasten, president and CEO of the Dodgers, said in a statement.
“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.”
Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990. Ten years of solid play. He had a streak of 255 subsequent starts, which ended in August 1988.
“63 is way too young. … A piece of my childhood is gone,” Access Hollywood co-host Mario Lopez posted on X.
“Growing up as a Mexican kid one of the main reasons I’m a Dodgers fan is because of Fernando. … Not only a great player, but a great man to the community. What a legend.
