Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican southpaw who became an icon in Los Angeles during his rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and remained a vibrant part of the franchise's fabric for the next four decades, died Tuesday, the Dodgers confirmed. He was 63.
Valenzuela recently stepped away from his job as the Dodgers' longtime Spanish broadcaster in order to "focus on his health."
"Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Tuesday night. "With his distinctive pitching style, the Dodger 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.
"We will honor Fernando's memory during the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Fernando's family, the Dodgers, his friends across the game and all the loyal baseball fans of Mexico."
The phenomenon known as "Fernandomania" took place in the summer of 1981, a season in which he won the National League Cy Young award and the Rookie of the Year award while helping the Dodgers win the World Series.
From the San Gabriel Valley to the South Bay, he was a household name before he turned 21, a player credited with surges in attendance from the Latino community in Los Angeles. He spent 11 of his 17 big-league seasons as a Dodger, making six All-Star teams and on three occasions finishing in the top five in Cy Young voting.
In retirement, Valenzuela joined the Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín as part of the team's Spanish-language broadcast.
In 2023, the Dodgers recognized Valenzuela's indelible place within franchise lore by altering a club policy in his honor: Valenzuela became the first Dodger to see his number retired without reaching the Hall of Fame. Before the ceremony in August 2023, as his No. 34 took its place at Dodger Stadium in between Sandy Koufax's No. 32 and Roy Campanella's No. 39, Valenzuela pronounced himself shocked.
"It never crossed my mind that this would ever happen," Valenzuela said. "Like being in the World Series my rookie year, I never thought that would
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