By BETH HARRIS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who impressed “Fernandomania” whereas profitable the NL Cy Younger Award and Rookie of the 12 months in 1981, has died. He was 63.
The staff mentioned he died Tuesday evening at a Los Angeles hospital, however didn’t present the trigger or different particulars.
His demise comes because the Dodgers put together to open the World Collection on Friday evening at dwelling towards the New York Yankees.
Valenzuela had left his coloration commentator job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language tv broadcast in September with out clarification. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month. His job stored him as an everyday at Dodger Stadium, the place he held court docket within the press field eating room earlier than video games and remained well-liked with followers who sought him out for photographs and autographs.
Valenzuela was some of the dominant gamers of his period and a wildly well-liked determine within the Eighties, though he was by no means elected to the Baseball Corridor of Fame. Nevertheless, he’s a part of Cooperstown, which options a number of artifacts together with a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990.
His rise from humble beginnings because the youngest of 12 youngsters in Mexico and his feats on the mound made him massively well-liked and influential in Los Angeles’ Latino neighborhood whereas serving to entice new followers to the game. Their fondness for him continued for years after his retirement.
In 1981, Valenzuela grew to become the Dodgers’ opening day starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured 24 hours earlier than his scheduled begin. He shut out the Houston Astros 2-0 and commenced the season 8-0 with 5 shutouts and an ERA of 0.50. He grew to become the primary participant to win a Cy Younger and Rookie of the 12 months in the identical season.
His performances created the delirium often known as “Fernandomania” amongst Dodgers followers. The ABBA hit “Fernando” would play as he warmed up on the mound.
He was 13-7 and had a 2.48 ERA in his first season, which was shortened by a gamers’ strike.
Valenzuela was an All-Star choice yearly from 1981-86, when he recorded 97 victories, 84 full video games, 1,258 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. He was 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA in eight postseason begins. He earned two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove.
Valenzuela’s no-hitter on June 29, 1990, a 6-0 victory towards the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, was an emotional profession spotlight. He struck out seven and walked three.
“If in case you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!” Corridor of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully exclaimed in his recreation name.
Nicknamed “El Toro” by the followers, Valenzuela had an unorthodox and memorable pitching movement that included trying skyward on the apex of every windup. His repertoire included a screwball — making him one of many few pitchers of his period who threw that pitch repeatedly. It was taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo after the Dodgers felt Valenzuela, who wasn’t often known as a tough thrower, wanted one other pitch.
Early in his Dodgers profession, Valenzuela spoke little English and had hassle speaking along with his catchers. Rookie Mike Scioscia realized Spanish and have become Valenzuela’s private catcher earlier than turning into the staff’s full-time catcher.
Valenzuela was a better-than-average hitter, with 10 profession dwelling runs.
Ultimately, his pitching was compromised by nagging shoulder issues that stored him out of the 1988 postseason, when the Dodgers received the World Collection.
The staff launched Valenzuela simply earlier than the 1991 season. He additionally pitched for the previous California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
He retired in 1997, going 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 seasons with the Dodgers. General, he was 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 seasons.
Valenzuela’s rise from his tiny hometown of Etchohuaquila within the Mexican state of Sonora to stardom within the U.S. was unbelievable. He was the youngest little one in a big household who tagged alongside when his older brothers performed baseball.
He signed his first professional contract at age 16, and shortly started overpowering older gamers within the Mexican Central League.
In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico to observe a shortstop when Valenzuela entered the sport as a reliever. He instantly commanded Brito’s consideration and at age 18, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. He was despatched to the California League that very same yr.
In 1980, Valenzuela was referred to as as much as the Dodgers in September and shortly made his massive league debut as a reliever.
He stays the one pitcher in MLB historical past to win the Cy Younger and Rookie of the 12 months awards in the identical season. The left-hander was the Nationwide League’s beginning pitcher within the All-Star Sport in 1981, the identical yr the Dodgers received the World Collection.
He’s the all-time main league chief in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) by a Mexican-born participant.
Throughout his profession, he made the quilt of Sports activities Illustrated and visited the White Home.
In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers because the Spanish-language radio coloration commentator for NL video games. Twelve years later, he switched to the colour commentator job on the staff’s Spanish-language TV feed.
He was inducted into the Mexican Skilled Baseball Corridor of Fame in 2014. 5 years later, the Mexican League retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey. The Dodgers adopted in 2023 after protecting his quantity out of circulation since he final pitched for the staff in 1991. The staff has a rule that requires a participant to be within the Baseball Corridor of Fame earlier than having the Dodgers retire his quantity, however they made an exception for Valenzuela.
The Dodgers named Valenzuela as a part of the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in 2019 and inducted him into the staff’s Ring of Honor in 2023.
He grew to become a U.S. citizen in 2015.
Valenzuela served on the teaching employees for Mexico in the course of the World Baseball Basic in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017. He was a part-owner of the Mexican League staff Tigres de Quintana Roo, with son Fernando Jr. serving as staff president and son Ricky serving as common supervisor. Fernando Jr. performed within the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox organizations as a primary baseman.
Along with his sons, he’s survived by his spouse, Linda, who was a schoolteacher from Mexico whom he married in 1981, and daughters Linda and Maria in addition to seven grandchildren.
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