'Fernandomania' and past: Remembering Fernando Valenzuela's greatest moments

by Anthony S. Hansen
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The baseball world misplaced one of the adorned Latino gamers in historical past and a Los Angeles Dodgers icon simply days forward of the 2024 World Collection.

Fernando Valenzuela has handed away at age 63, the Dodgers introduced late Tuesday. The previous pitcher loved a legendary 18-year profession, spending 11 seasons with the Dodgers. He was one of many sport’s high pitchers throughout his time in Los Angeles, incomes six All-Star nods, a Cy Younger win and profitable a World Collection title.

[Read more: At fans’ urging, Dodgers made exception in retiring Fernando Valenzuela’s number]

Because the baseball and Los Angeles communities mourn the lack of Valenzuela, let’s bear in mind a few of his biggest moments.

Valenzuela makes his first profession begin on Opening Day in 1981

The lefty unexpectedly grew to become the Opening Day starter for the World Collection-contending Dodgers in 1981. Jerry Reuss, who was supposed to start out Opening Day for the Dodgers, was injured the day earlier than the 1981 season started. With Reuss sidelined and star Burt Hooton unable to go, the Dodgers tapped on the 20-year-old Valenzuela to pitch Opening Day.

After making his debut as a reliever in September 1979, Valenzuela appeared at dwelling on the mound immediately as a starter. He pitched a complete-game shutout towards the Houston Astros, who beat the Dodgers in a one-game playoff the prior season. Valenzuela allowed simply 5 hits with 5 strikeouts and two walks that day.

‘Fernandomania’ is born within the spring of 1981

The Dodgers had signed Valenzuela in July 1979, buying him from Yucatan of the Mexican League for $110,000. Previous to the Dodgers’ buy of Valenzuela, scout Mike Brito allegedly instructed basic supervisor Al Campanis that he “Simply noticed the Mexican Sandy Koufax.”

For a little bit of a time in 1981, Valenzuela lived as much as that billing. He rode his Opening Day begin into the most effective stretches ever for a beginning pitcher to open a season, tossing an entire sport in every of his subsequent seven begins. 4 of these video games have been shutouts as Valenzuela went 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA over his first eight begins.

Following his Opening Day begin, every Valenzuela’s subsequent three begins have been on the street. He lastly returned to the mound at Dodger Stadium for his fifth begin of the season on April 27 for a sport towards the San Francisco Giants. Followers eagerly anticipated Valenzuela’s begin as they gained affection for not simply how he carried out, but in addition his fashion on the mound. The lefty had an uncommon windup, kicking his proper leg excessive as he briefly regarded away from the plate earlier than firing towards dwelling.

Valenzuela additionally added the scarcely-used screwball to his repertoire early in his first full season on the mound, sharing that he had realized it whereas he was within the minor leagues.

So, when Valenzuela made his first begin at Dodger Stadium, it wasn’t a shock that there was loads of buzz surrounding his begin.

“It was a World Collection ambiance that gripped Dodger Stadium,” the AP recap of the sport shared. “Followers have been arriving as early as three hours earlier than the sport to witness the most recent efficiency of the exceptional Fernando Valenzuela.”

A Dodgers fan took the sphere and kissed Fernando Valenzuela (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Los Angeles Instances)

Valenzuela pitched one of many 5 shutouts within the first eight begins of his profession that day, giving up seven hits and 4 walks whereas placing out seven Giants hitters.

‘Fernandomania’ heads to New York

As “Fernandomania” reached its apex in Might 1981, the Dodgers have been set to go to the East Coast for a sequence towards the New York Mets. The Dodgers truly despatched Valenzuela to New York early for his begin, which gave him and his agent the chance to satisfy with the New York media. In the course of the press convention, Valenzuela’s agent started discussing a brand new deal for his shopper.

As soon as the day of his begin at Shea Stadium got here, Valenzuela was met with a lot fanfare. Followers wore t-shirts that learn “Fernando eternally” whereas there have been radio broadcasts of the sport that have been aired in 17 stations in Mexico. It was additionally the most important crowd of the season at Shea Stadium, in accordance with a New York Instances story on the sport.

On the mound, Valenzuela continued his win streak, but it surely wasn’t the prettiest complete-game shutout. He allowed seven hits and 5 walks on 142 pitches. Nevertheless, he struck out 11 Mets hitters as he bought out of two bases loaded jams.

”We had him on the ropes,” then-Mets supervisor Joe Torre instructed reporters on the time, ”however we let him escape. It is arduous to consider he is solely 20 years previous. After he bought off the hook within the first few innings, his poise carried him by way of. He could not shut out anyone for the remainder of his life, however he certain as hell is an efficient pitcher.”

Fernando Valenzuela made a begin at Shea Stadium on the top of “Fernandomania” in 1981. (Picture by Give attention to Sport/Getty Photographs)

Valenzuela makes historical past on the 1981 All-Star Recreation

Valenzuela finally cooled off a bit in late Might as his win streak ended. However his numbers remained sturdy by way of the season’s stoppage due to a labor strike in June 1981. He had a 9-4 report with a 2.45 ERA when the season was paused.

When the season resumed in August, Valenzuela was named to the NL All-Star staff. He additionally began the sport in Cleveland, turning into the second rookie to ever begin an All-Star Recreation. He struck out two hitters and solely pitched the primary inning, shutting out the American League.

Fernando Valenzuela took the mound and began for the Nationwide League within the 1981 All-Star Recreation, turning into the second rookie to take action. (Picture by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Photographs)

Valenzuela saves Dodgers’ season in 1981 NLDS

Valenzuela stepped up in a pair of main methods throughout the Nationwide League rounds of the 1981 playoffs. First, whereas dealing with elimination towards the Astros within the NLDS, Valenzuela took the mound and saved Houston off the board for eight innings. He finally gave up his first run within the ninth inning, however he remained within the sport to pitch one other full sport because the Dodgers gained, 2-1. Valenzuela allowed simply 4 hits and a stroll in that sport.

Fernando Valenzuela walked off the mound all smiles after pitching one other full sport in Recreation 4 of the NLDS. (Picture by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Photographs)

Valenzuela sends Dodgers to the World Collection

The second notable outing from Valenzuela en path to the 1981 World Collection got here in Recreation 5 of the NLCS. After permitting three runs in six innings in a Recreation 2 loss to the Montreal Expos, Valenzuela regained his dominance when he took the mound because the Dodgers had a 3-1 lead within the sequence. He settled in after permitting a run within the first inning, giving up only one run on three hits, a stroll and 6 strikeouts over 8.2 innings. Valenzuela was eliminated after the Expos bought runners on within the backside of the ninth, however the Dodgers held on to win, 2-1, to advance to the World Collection.

Fernando Valenzuela gained NL Cy Younger in 1981. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Los Angeles Instances)

Valenzuela tosses practically 150 pitches in World Collection win

In the one World Collection begin he ever made, Valenzuela did what he did for a lot of his rookie season, throwing an entire sport. Nevertheless, because the Dodgers trailed 2-0 within the sequence, the New York Yankees had Valenzuela on the ropes in Recreation 3. The Yankees took a 4-3 lead off Valenzuela within the third inning after Rick Cerone hit a two-run homer.

Valenzuela was capable of get out of a jam within the fourth inning and was capable of settle down after that. Regardless that he allowed 9 hits and 7 walks within the sport, Valenzuela did not permit any extra runs for the rest of Recreation 3. He recorded six strikeouts as he wound up tossing 149 pitches within the Dodgers’ 5-4 win. Los Angeles would go on to beat the Yankees within the World Collection.

[Related: A look back at 11 previous Yankees-Dodgers World Series matchups]

Fernando Valenzuela pitched in Recreation 3 of the 1981 World Collection, serving to the Dodgers get again on observe earlier than beating the Yankees within the Fall Basic. (Picture by Give attention to Sport through Getty Photographs)

Valenzuela tosses a no-hitter in 1990

After making six straight All-Star video games to open his profession, Valenzuela’s profession started to tail off within the late Eighties. He had a memorable efficiency within the 1990 season, although. He pitched the primary and solely no-hitter of his profession towards the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, permitting simply three walks to go along with seven strikeouts within the Dodgers’ 6-0 win. It was truly the second no-hitter thrown within the majors that day, with Dave Stewert of the Oakland Athletics carrying out the identical feat towards the Toronto Blue Jays earlier that day. 

Valenzuela pitches in MLB’s first sport ever in Mexico

It was solely becoming for Valenzuela to play a job in MLB’s first journey to Mexico for a regular-season sport. Pitching for the San Diego Padres on the time, Valenzuela took the mound towards the Mets at Estadio Monterrey on Aug. 16, 1996. Earlier than his begin, Valenzuela truly tossed the sport’s first pitch. As soon as the sport began, Valenzuela felt at dwelling in his native nation. He gave up simply three runs in six innings as a part of a Padres 15-10 win. 

The Dodgers honor Valenzuela on a pair of events

Following his retirement from taking part in baseball after the 1997 season, Valenzuela rejoined the Dodgers group in 2003. He started his multi-decade stretch as one of many staff’s broadcasters for his or her Spanish broadcasts, first calling video games on radio earlier than shifting to tv in 2015.

Forward of Recreation 2 within the 2017 World Collection, Valenzuela threw out the primary pitch with some assist from long-time Dodgers announcer Vin Scully.

Valenzuela was honored by the group twice lately earlier than his passing. First, he was tabbed to throw the primary pitch on the 2022 All-Star Recreation, which was held at Dodger Stadium.

The extra memorable honor for Valenzuela got here in 2023. After retaining his No. 34 out of circulation for many years, the Dodgers opted to retire Valenzuela’s in August of that season. The staff broke with its customary coverage of solely retiring the jersey numbers of Corridor of Famers, with Valenzeuala turning into the eleventh participant whose jersey quantity was retired by the Dodgers.

Fernando Valenzuela’s No. 34 was retired by the Dodgers in 2023. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Instances through Getty Photographs)

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