Fernando Valenzuela: Iconic Pitcher Sparked ‘Fernandomania’

AFP/APP

Los Angeles, United States: Fernando Valenzuela, the charismatic pitcher who ignited “Fernandomania” in 1981, has died at the age of 63. His talent and charm forged a lasting connection between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Mexican fans, a bond that remains strong today.

“He was our champion, nuestro campeon,” said U.S. Senator Alex Padilla of Los Angeles in 2023 during the Dodgers’ celebration of “Fernando Valenzuela Day,” when the team officially retired his No. 34 jersey.

Valenzuela made his mark in Major League Baseball at just 20 years old, winning his first eight games—including five shutouts in 1981.

That remarkable season saw him become the only player in MLB history to win both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award. He led the National League in strikeouts, shutouts, complete games, innings pitched, and starts, helping the Dodgers secure the World Series title.

In 1986, Valenzuela led the National League in wins with a 21-11 record and a 3.14 earned run average (ERA). He was also part of the Dodgers team that clinched the World Series in 1988 and earned six All-Star selections throughout his career.

Notably, he pitched a no-hitter on June 29, 1990, a moment immortalized by Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who famously said, “If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”

Born on November 1, 1960, in Etchohuaquila, Mexico, Valenzuela was discovered by a Dodgers scout while playing in the Mexican League in 1977.

After leaving the Dodgers following the 1990 season, he pitched for several teams, including the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals. He ended his career with a 173-153 record and a 3.54 ERA.

Valenzuela remained connected to Mexican baseball, serving on Team Mexico’s coaching staff during multiple World Baseball Classics and purchasing the Mexican League team Tigres de Quintana Roo in 2017.

In 2003, he returned to the Dodgers as a Spanish-language broadcaster, often alongside longtime announcer Jaime Jarrin, who once acted as his translator.

“Fernando Valenzuela created more new fans than any player in major league history,” Jarrin said in 2006. “He turned so many people from Mexico, Central America, and South America into fans.”