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| Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers/X
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Fernando Valenzuela, one the most popular players in Los Angeles Dodgers history, died Tuesday at the age of 63, the team announced.
A makeshift memorial outside Dodger Stadium for Valenzuela was increasing in size Wednesday following news of the legendary pitcher’s death.
Valenzuela’s legacy includes two World Series wins, Cy Young Award, years in the Dodger broadcast booth and his storied start to the 1981 season that inspired “Fernandomania.”
His death comes two days before the start of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers will face the American League champion New York Yankees.
“On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” team President and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement Tuesday evening. “He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes.”
No cause of death was provided, but earlier this month the Dodgers announced that Valenzuela would forego the rest of the season as one of the team’s Spanish-language broadcasters because of an undisclosed health problem.
Media reports indicated Valenzuela was hospitalized after he left the broadcast booth Sept. 24 during the Dodgers’ playoff series with the San Diego Padres. No details about his condition were reported.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said that MLB would honor the beloved former pitcher and broadcaster’s memory during the upcoming World Series at Dodger Stadium.
“Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation,” Manfred said in a statement. “With his distinctive pitching style, the Dodgers left-hander’s rookie season generated so much excitement in the U.S. and his native Mexico that it became commonly referred to as ‘Fernandomania.’ His 1981 season ranks among the most decorated pitching years of all-time as Fernando was the National League Rookie of the Year, the NL Cy Young Award winner, a Silver Slugger and a World Series champion.
“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.”
Kasten said Valenzuela “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 Navojoa, Mexico, the youngest of 12 children, Valenzuela joined the Dodgers in July 1979, moving from Leones de Yucatan of the Mexican League to the Dodgers’ Class-A California League affiliate in Lodi.
His Major League debut at age 19 with the Dodgers was on Sept. 15, 1980. For the remainder of that season the budding star threw 17.2 innings without allowing an earned run.
From opening day 1981, Fernandomania took hold among Dodger fans, as their newfound hero went on an unprecedented career-opening run, with complete games in his first eight career starts, including five shutouts, and an ERA of 0.50.
Valenzuela was the only MLB player to win the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award in the same season.
He is credited with drawing thousands of Mexican-American fans to Dodger Stadium and pro baseball stadiums nationwide.
The 1981 dream season for Valenzuela concluded with a World Series victory over the Yankees in six games. Valenzuela won Game 3 at Dodger Stadium after LA had lost the series’ first two games in New York. Valenzuela was also on the Dodgers team that won the 1988 World Series over the Oakland A’s.
Valenzuela’s career statistics were a 173-153 win-loss record and a 3.54 earned run average. He pitched in 453 games with 424 starts.
Valenzuela also hit 10 home runs in his MLB career.
He left the Dodgers after the 1990 season and pitched for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
Valenzuela’s No. 34 was retired during a three-day Fernandomania weekend in August 2023.
“He created more baseball fans, and Dodger fans, than any other player,” Jaime Jarrín, the Dodgers’ Spanish-language play-by-play announcer from 1959-2022, said before the ceremony. “Thanks to this kid, people fell in love with baseball, especially within the Mexican community.”
In a 2021 interview Valenzuela, said, “It would be really great if they remembered me as someone who always tried his best to always give them a good show, so that they could have fun with this beautiful game.”
Valenzuela is survived by his wife Linda, children Fernando Jr., Ricardo, Linda and Maria Fernanda and seven grandchildren.
