Fernando Valenzuela the kid from Mexico who brought Fernandomania to Los Angeles has passed away at the age of 63. The Dodgers announced his passing Tuesday night. Valenzuela was discovered by Mike Brito, a Dodger scout. He was from Navajoa Mexico. Valenzuela was called up late in the 1980 season and pitched in 10 games. He was 2-0 with a save. In 1981, he made the team out of spring training. When Jerry Reuss was unable to make his opening day start, Valenzuela stepped in and threw a shutout against the Astros.
That was just the beginning of an amazing year. His next outing he beat the Giants 7-1. Four days later he got his 3rd win, a 2-0 blanking of the Padres. On April 22nd, he shut out the Astros again, this time 1-0. Word of the young lefty was getting around. He showed unusual poise for such a young player. He beat former Dodger Don Sutton in that 1-0 game. His next outing was against the Giants and this time he shut them out 5-0. His fourth shutout in 5 decisions.
Now when he pitched at Dodger Stadium, you could expect huge crowds. Fernandomania was officially on its way. On May 3rd, he beat Montreal in 10 innings, 6-1. His 6th win in a row. On May the 8th, he shut out the Mets and Mike Scott 1-0. On May 14th at Dodger Stadium, he beat Montreal 3-2 on a walk off win from a homer by Pedro Guererro in the 9th with no out. 53,906 folks watched his 8th win in a row. Best start by a Dodger rookie pitcher in their history.
On May 18th, the Phillies turned the tables, and he lost by a 4-0 score. His next decision on May 28th was also a loss, this time to Atlanta and Gaylord Perry, 9-4. He got back in the win column, beating the Braves 5-2 on June 1st. He would lose his next two decisions, 11-5 to the Cubs, and 2-1 to the Cardinals and then baseball shut down for the next 59 days with the player’s strike. Valenzuela was 9-4 at the time.
Play resumed on August 10th. Fernando did not have his first decision of the second half until August 22nd when he got his 10th win, a 3-2 decision over the Cardinals in St. Louis. On the 27th, he shut out the Cubs, 6-0 at Dodger Stadium. It was his 6th shut out of the year and his 11th win. On September 6th, he shut out the Cardinals, 5-0 at Dodger Stadium in front of 46,780. Fans were still a little POed at the players. He got his 13th win of the year, and his 8th shut out against the Braves in Atlanta on September 17th. It was his last win of the year. He lost his next three decisions to the Giants, Astros and Padres. He finished the year 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA. He would become the only pitcher ever to win the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year in the same season. In the Dodgers run to the championship that year, he was 3-1. His only loss was to the Expos in the NLCS. I was at that game; he lost 3-0 to Ray Burris.
For the next six seasons he was the Ace of the Dodger staff. He won 21 games in 1986. And he threw a no hitter in June of 1990 at Dodger Stadium. He was an All Star six times and won 2 silver slugger awards. He had shoulder issues which affected him starting in 1987. He was simply not the same pitcher after that. He did earn a second ring as a member of the 1988 team. After leaving the Dodgers in 1990, he pitched for the Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres and Cardinals.
After retiring, he pitched on and off in the Mexican League. He joined the Dodgers Spanish language broadcast team in 2003. The Dodgers stepped away from tradition and retired his #34 last August 2023. Only he and Jim Gilliam have been honored that way. He will be missed by Dodger fans everywhere.  His career record as a Dodger was 141-116. He struck out 1759 batters and had 107 complete games and 29 of them were shutouts. As Vin once said, “If you have a sombrero, toss it to the sky.” RIP Fernando Valenzuela. 
Sad day for Dodger fans. Win the series for El Toro!
Yes, what a sad day for the entire Dodgers family. Puts a damper on the joy of reaching the WS.
Lets win one for Fernando, Tommy and Vin. Three of the all time greats.Manfred said he will be honoroed during the upcoming WS at DS.
RIP Fernando.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for recognizing Fernando’s passing. He was a huge part of my adodgers fandom. We are the same age, so it hits even harder
Been a fan since they were in Brooklyn. Sang the anthem at Dodger Stadium in 81, I shook Fernando’s hand on my way out to center field to sing.
What a great memory for you. I worked for a company that had season seats and I was able to go to about five of his starts during Fernandomania. It’s hard for people who weren’t around then to understand just what a phenomenon in LA he was. A very sad day today.
Yes, it is. He actually pitched in the only playoff game I have ever attended. Lost to Montreal 3-0 that same year.
I was fortunate to be in attendance on June 29, 1990 when Fernando pitched his no hitter against the Cardinals. What a memory.
As was I and my entire family for that one. That was the last game I saw Fernando pitch live.
What a night, eh?
I saw him pitch just once in Anaheim.
Very sad day, indeed.
He will always be one of the most popular players to ever wear a Dodger uniform.
RIP Fernando.
Dodgers announced they will go with Flaherty Game 1 and Yoshi Game 2. Good decision IMHO.
Should enalbe them to go 2 games each for Yoshi, JF and Walker. Only one bullpen game needed.
Plus they are saying Vesia and Bazoooka trending in the right direction. What a lift that would be for our pen.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You obviously have no clue how important Fernando is to the Dodgers. What a stupid post on the day of his passing. Idiot
Well, then I think the Dodgers are idiots too because they have other news but Fernandos passing on their official website up too.
Same with other Dodgers blogs or your tube channells (Dodger blue, Locked on Dodgers etc.etc.). All idiots according to you .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@dodgerram
Just at the airport in Cologne after a great day and night out watching The Stranglers, a punk band from the UK that’s been going for 50years this year.
First time in Germany and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the Germans are the most like us Brits in Europe. We like the same things, eating, drinking, socialising and having fun without taking ourselves too seriously. We even look alike.
Not sure where you live, but gotta say I’ll be back soon with Berlin top of my list of places to visit.
These 1am start times are playing havoc with my sleep and work. Thankfully it’s the same every October. Long may it continue.
I was lucky enough to see Fernando pitch in 88. Crowd was going mad.
Very sad day, especially as so young.
Hey Watford, I spent 3 years in Deutschland. I was stationed at Wildflecken in the Black Forest region. Daughter was born in Wurzburg. Never made it to Berlin, it was still a closed city then. But been to Munich, also was there when the Israeli athletes were killed, Frankfurt and I really loved Nuremburg and Berchtesgaden. Thought Austria was one of the most beautiful places on earth. Spectacular mountains.
Glad you enjoyed your trip to Cologne. However there are nicer cities in Germany. Bear listed a few of them. We live about 10 miles outside of Augsburg, 30 miles West of Munich.
“Always the Sun” was one of my favorit songs back then. Remember driving with my girlfriend beside me in my first car listening among other songs to this one. Happy times!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
It would be appreciated if you did not call other posters idiots. You might not like what they post, but this is a site dedicated to Dodger baseball, and I can assure you that Dodgerram knows exactly what Fernando meant to the franchise.
Wow, slow your roll dude. We all mourn his passing and will never forget his contributions to the game etc. but to call someone an idiot is way out of line.
I am totally stunned and very saddened.
Rest In Peace El Toro. You will never be forgotten.
Although he did not have Hall of Fame numbers, I always felt that someday he might make it in as a person who had a lasting impact on the game. Fernandomania was a once in a lifetime phenomenon. He was the catalyst who brought so many Hispanic fans to the game and the Dodgers. I still think at some point, he will be in the Hall as either a broadcaster, or cultural icon.
I can see him getting into the HOF as a broadcaster and ambassador of the game. He had a huge impact on baseball.
I agree. He more than many in the HOF personified MLB. Great pitcher, great announcer, great ambassador, better human being. He will be missed by not only Dodger fans, but by baseball fans.
I watched the obituary on MLB Network. A lot of clips from 1981.
I was in the stands in 1980 when Fernando first pitched as a Dodger. What a legend! He was the driving force behind bringing the Latino community into Dodger Stadium. We will miss you El Toro!
I always thought that Lasorda should have pitched Fernando in that final game against Houston. He pitched Goltz instead and they lost the west in 1980.
What is wrong with this K Lin person? Dude get a grip.
Nobody is glossing over Fernando’s death. But ALSO, the World Series will NOT be postponed because of it.
To use a military term Bobby, 2 and a wake up. It’s about on us.
Everyone old enough has Fernando memories. In perusing his stats this morning a few extraordinary things leap from the stat sheet. His finishing stats are good but not remarkable – 3.54 ER, 104 ERA+, .531 winning %. 17 years, 6 time All Star but none after the age of 25.
But, before age 25? Holy smokes. 11 complete games and 8 shutouts as a 20 year old. Another 18 complete games as a 21 year old. 113 complete games and 31 shutouts in his career. By comparison, in the same number of years, 17, first ballot Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw has 25 complete games and 15 shutouts. Fernando had more complete games and half the shutouts by age 21 than Kershaw has in his career.
Those of us who witnessed this phenomenon will obviously never forget Fernando Mania. RIP 34.
Well said. Those complete games and screwballs at such a young age took a terrible toll on his arm. His last All Star season was at 25.
My oldest son was 5 in Fernando’s first season. We saw him pitch multiple times. His younger brother started going to games a couple of years later and he too saw Fernando pitch many times. My oldest son grew up idolizing Ozzie Smith and therefore a Cardinals fan. Our Little League team was always the Cardinals, and Andy wore #2. But he always looked forward to when Fernando was pitching. I always made sure that I got tickets for when the Cardinals were in town and Fernando was pitching.
I will forever have great family memories watching Fernando at Dodger Stadium.
I was in Northern California (Redding) starting a teaching career and a family during Fernando Mania. It was virtually impossible to get to the city. Never got to see him in person. My loss I guess. Had my share of those.
Fernando was so very special. He was HOF in a dodger career.He Orel and Kershaw have been my favorite pitchers.So dominant. He will be missed at Dodger games .I will alway great fun memories of Fernandos
I was very surprised and shocked to read of Fernando’s passing this morning. I had to read it twice. I had no idea he was so ill.
He certainly brought a lot of excitement and memorable moments to Dodger fans. He helped galvanize the Latino community to the Dodgers. It’s something that continues to this day.
The last couple of years he was pitching for the Dodgers I felt that Tommy Lasorda really took advantage of Fernando. Tommy left him in many games where Fernando was gassed and should have been removed from the game. This is what might have caused his shoulder issues and shorten Fernando’s Dodger career.
RIP Fernando.
Yeah, and he was throwing screwballs from the age of 4 in Mexico. Who knows how many innings were on that arm.
No such thing as “load management” in those days.
Got that right.
Uh according to his history, he was taught that pitch after he signed with the Dodgers by Bobby Castillo. Mike Brito suggested that he learn the pitch.
Yeah, whatever. Poetic license buddy.
If you say so.
I do.
Throwing screwballs since the age of 4.
He threw them against the fence
He threw them against the door
The older kids were amazed at his prowess
When he faced Timmons later on
He made him look like a ……
Poetry. Maybe they didn’t have it where you lived.
Oh, they had it, I just don’t read it. Only poetry I find is in music.
I once applied for
a poetic licence but
the fee was big and
I was a bore
Actually, his arm problems began in 1987. He wasn’t as overused as Drysdale. Valenzuela pitched 200 or more innings six years in a row. Drysdale did it 12 years in a row and had 4 straight years, 62-65 where he threw 300 plus innings a year. But if you add the 273, he pitched in 66, over a 5-year period he averaged 300 innings a year. He followed that with 282 in 67. And that means he averaged 300 innings for 6 straight years. Different era. Pitchers were handled differently. Fernando was the Ace of a four-man rotation. In 82 all of those guys except Hooton pitched over 200 innings. 83, they used 5 guys, so only Welch, Ruess and Valenzuela were over 200 innings. 84, they were a bad team but had a 4-man rotation. Only Fernando was over 200. In 85 they used 5 with Orel, Ruess and Valenzuela carrying the load with over 200 each. 86, 4-man staff with Welch, Fernando and Orel over 200. They finished under .500. 87 4-man staff, they finished under .500 and Orel, Welch and Valenzuela all pitched 250 innings or more. It was Fernando’s last good year with LA.
Longenhagen was on Effectively Wild in place of Ben Lindbergh.
Spoke about the Fall League. A lot on Painter, a fun bit on Xavier Isaac, a bit on team strategy (WRT who is sent.)
Spoke about Hope:
His bulking up, how he has retained his speed. Needs work on contact tool and in defense (this was known)
Contact tool. My interpretation of this has been the same since I first learned how to hit. To make contact, with a barrel, requires two things: 1. pitch recognition and 2. timing. 1. requires incredible eyesight. If you don’t have 20/15 or better yet 20/10, at this level you are at a disadvantage. The tight spin and incredible pitch velocity doesn’t give a lot of time to figure it out. And 2 cannot be achieved without 1. So my question about Hope is – what’s his eyesight?
Curse you HIPPA!
Hmm. Hadn’t considered that.
Interesting story from my childhood about Fernando. I was lucky enough to see him pitch once or twice during his last year as a Dodger. I was 10 years old. During that year 1990, back in those days my Uncle and I used to go to around 15-20 games per year. At one point he had season tickets he shared with his friend (who was a Tigers fan for some reason) which were right behind the Dodgers dugout. Excellent seats.
My Uncle’s legacy of seeing important Dodger games is unparalleled. My Uncle’s very first game as a 10-year old Dodger fan was Koufax’s no-hitter against the Mets in 1962. He ended up seeing 4 no-hitters in person at Dodger Stadium…Koufax in 62 vs, the Mets, Koufax’s perfect game in 65, Bill Singer’s no-no in 71 and Kevin Gross in 1992. Yes he was a 13-year old paper boy that saved his money to go see a game in the left field pavillions on September 9, 1965. You all know what happened that night. He also sat in the left field pavillions during game 5 of the 1981 World Series against the Yanks, the game that Ron Cey got beaned in the head by Goose Gossage, I remember him telling me you could hear the crack of the ball hitting his batting helmet, him going down and everyone thinking he was dead. He told me DS went silent.
So on June 29, 1990 my Uncle had tickets to the game that night against the Cardinals. But I was sick as a dog. I had a fever, vomiting, chills. I don’t think I’ve ever been as sick as I was that day. My Uncle called me…”hey Scotty, how you feeling, I’ve got tickets to go for tonight’s game. I’m pretty sure Fernando is pitching. You wanna go tonight”?
I thought of it. But I was just too ill to go. I told him thanks, but I couldn’t. My Uncle “that’s ok, we’ll go on another day, hopefully we don’t miss a no-hitter or something”.
And welp……I could have gone to Fernando’s no-hitter.
It’s almost not possible to put into words what a huge loss this is for the Dodgers organization, for Los Angeles, and most importantly, for Fernando’s family. His legacy is unmatched, and we will all miss him horribly.
“If you have a Sombrero….throw it to the sky”
You missed a great game.
Fernando was one of my all time favorites.
At the end of play on October 2, 1980, the Houston Astros led the Los Angeles Dodgers by three games, with three games left to play for each team.
The teams would face off at Dodger Stadium for what promised to be a dramatic series. All Houston had to do was win one game. They didn’t.
I wanted Fernando to start the one game playoff instead of Goltz.
I like to read other commentaries, and then the comments. MLBTR had a nice tribute to Fernando, some of the comments were excellent memories:
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The Athletic had a nice article on Dusty Baker’s relationship with Fernando (Fabian Ardaya). Paywall
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5865761/2024/10/23/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-death-dusty-baker/?source=thewindup_newsletter&campaign=11421975&userId=343446
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Mark’s tribute to Fernando on LADT was also excellent.
Gave it a go in here guys. 99% of you are great. Jeff isn’t.
Let’s see how many more end up leaving because of him. Guessing he is in his 20s. Major maturity issues.
Good luck to our Dodgers.
Peace!
Dang Rodger,
That’s too bad you don’t want to stick around.
I believe Jeff is in his 60’s or 70’s actually. He has a very unique perspective on the game that most of us do not have since his son was a Major leaguer. He’s been around a lot of the greats, he understands what it takes to reach the majors and play in the majors.
I think he actually has a very even keeled take on the game. a practical approach coming from years of experience.
Well, thank you for calling me great!
But I, for one, won’t leave because of him (Jeff), even though he is a Packers fan 🙂
Stick around Roger, this is the time of the year where you want to be discussing Dodgers!
Yeah, but how do you feel about Caleb Williams???
He is also a Trojan fan, which these days is a bit trying.
Obviously, you have never on the home page clicked on about us which has photos of Jeff and me. He is obviously not in his 20’s and as for his maturity, I would say he is more mature than about 90% of the posters on Mark’s site.
It’s your loss dude. Ciao.
At least you’re leaving with your self importance intact!
Ha
rodgerdodger are you talking about Jeff D. or just Jeff? Big difference.
Exactly my thoughts.
Really?
What difference does it really make?
He is talking about me.
Well he is wrong.
Saddened to hear of the passing of Fernando. Too many of my sports heroes are passing and it makes me aware of my own mortality. But I was shocked to see him pass at 63. I know he looked frail when I saw him this summer but I wasn’t unprepared for this.
I don’t live in LA and didn’t live there during the peak of Fernandomania. But I’m going to make an observation that might be far out. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Fernando was a 1980’s version of Jackie Robinson to Hispanic fans. He broke down barriers.
My recollection is that the Mexican community held a serious grudge and was angry over the building of Chavez Ravine and the displacement of Latinos in that location.
And Fernando brought them to the Dodgers. He was the catalyst for the huge Hispanic fan base that follows the Dodgers today. I see no other fan base with the number of Latinos that the Dodgers enjoy.
Thanks Fernando for that and for your amazing character, career as a player, broadcaster, family-man and role model for so many. RIP.
At the time Fernando came to the Dodgers, the Hispanic community in LA was not very pleased with the Dodgers. The O’Malley’s still owned the team, and they had a seriously bad taste in their mouths from the way the Dodgers ended up getting Chavez Ravine. The city claimed emanate domain and basically forced those people out of their homes. They were paid for the land, but probably not what it was worth. And some families were evicted by force. There is a lot of info about that on Wikipedia. The most used one is the eviction of Aurora Vargas who was carried out of her home. The area is still known as Chavez Ravine, but I prefer to just call it Dodger Stadium.
Need to put a statue of Fernando and his classic wind-up on the plaza at Dodger Stadium.
The statue of Fernando photo is from a stadium in Mexico.
YES!!
No one impacted the game as much as Jackie Robinson. Fernando in my mind had the second biggest impact. What he did for the Latino fan base all over baseball can’t be measured. Not only the fans but many more kids started playing baseball because of Fernando. Though his impact as a player was short lived, the impact as a man and the game of baseball is immeasurably. RIP