Fernando Valenzuela handed away on Tuesday night, slightly greater than per week shy of his sixty fourth birthday. Main League Baseball will honor his reminiscence with the World Collection starting at Dodger Stadium this weekend.
“On behalf of the Dodger group, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” crew president and CEO Stan Kasten stated in an announcement. “He is among the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes. He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained near our hearts ever since, not solely as a participant but in addition as a broadcaster. He has left us all too quickly. Our deepest condolences exit to his spouse Linda and his household.”
Commissioner Rob Manfred launched an announcement of his personal. “Fernando Valenzuela was one of the crucial impactful gamers of his era. Along with his distinctive pitching type, the Dodger left-hander’s rookie season generated a lot pleasure within the U.S. and his native Mexico that it turned generally known as ‘Fernandomania.’ His 1981 season ranks among the many most adorned pitching years of all-time as Fernando was the Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr, the NL Cy Younger Award winner, a Silver Slugger, and a World Collection Champion.”
As each Kasten and Manfred referenced, Valenzuela was greatest recognized for his electrical rookie season. The Mexican-born hurler signed with the Dodgers in 1979. Whereas he was simply 18 on the time, it didn’t take lengthy earlier than he pitched his option to Dodger Stadium. Valenzuela made all of 30 appearances within the minor leagues earlier than making his MLB debut as a September call-up in 1980. Pitching out of the bullpen, the 19-year-old fired 17 2/3 innings with out permitting an earned run to shut the season. It was a preview of the phenomenon to come back.
The Dodgers tabbed Valenzuela as their Opening Day starter in 1981 after Jerry Reuss suffered an harm. Valenzuela tossed a five-hit shutout in opposition to the Astros in his first profession begin. He adopted up with a 10-strikeout full recreation in a 7-1 victory over the Giants. He’d rattle off three straight shutouts thereafter, recording two extra double-digit strikeout performances within the course of. He closed out April with a 5-0 document and one run allowed in 45 innings.
Valenzuela’s shutout streak was snapped when he “merely” threw a one-run full recreation win over the Expos throughout his first look of Could. He blanked the Mets with 11 strikeouts in his subsequent look, then tossed one other full recreation win (this time with two earned runs) in opposition to Montreal. Valenzuela accomplished and gained every of his first eight huge league begins whereas operating a cumulative 0.50 earned run common — all at age 20.
That sheer dominance, which got here on the again of a wiffle ball-style screwball, was solely part of Valenzuela’s immense recognition. A younger Mexican pitcher acting at an historic degree in Southern California made him an icon amongst Latin American followers, particularly. Valenzuela’s rookie 12 months shortly turned the stuff of legend, and the “Fernandomania” moniker that it took on stays a key chapter in MLB historical past greater than 4 a long time later. It was a charming efficiency the likes of which can most likely by no means be seen once more with groups retaining a a lot nearer eye on younger pitchers’ workloads.
In fact, Valenzuela’s profession stretched properly past these magical two months. His rookie 12 months was interrupted by the participant’s strike that stopped play between the center of June and the second week of August. The Dodgers, who have been 36-21 on the time of the work stoppage, have been declared the first-half winners of the NL West title. They knocked off the second-half NL West champion Astros in a rapidly applied Division Collection — the Wild Card wouldn’t be launched till greater than a decade later — earlier than toppling Montreal within the NLCS.
That arrange a World Collection showdown with the Yankees. Los Angeles defeated New York in what had been the newest Fall Basic matchup between the behemoths. Valenzuela received the win with a four-run full recreation in Recreation 3, the primary of 4 straight victories for the Dodgers after they dropped the primary two within the Bronx.
It was a perfect ending to one of many biggest rookie seasons the sport has ever seen. Valenzuela turned in a 2.48 ERA throughout an NL-leading 192 1/3 innings. His eight shutouts and 180 strikeouts each led all main league pitchers. He topped future Corridor of Famer Tim Raines for Rookie of the Yr and edged out two extra legends — Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton — to win the Cy Younger. He completed fifth in MVP balloting and picked up a Silver Slugger for good measure. Valenzuela tossed 40 2/3 innings of two.21 ERA ball over his 5 postseason begins.
The rookie season was so distinctive that it essentially represented the height of his profession. But that by no means diminishes what he achieved all through the Nineteen Eighties. The southpaw remained a drive atop the L.A. rotation for many of the decade. Valenzuela made the All-Star crew in every of his first six full seasons. He topped 250 innings yearly between 1982-87.
He fired 285 innings of two.87 ERA ball in his second 12 months, tying for third in Cy Younger balloting within the course of. He’d earn two extra top-five finishes in the midst of the last decade — together with a runner-up placement behind Mike Scott throughout an ’86 season by which he struck out 242 hitters and led the Senior Circuit with 21 wins. The Dodgers made the postseason in 1983 and ’85, shedding within the NLCS each occasions. They returned to the World Collection in 1988 and defeated the A’s in seven video games. Valenzuela missed that collection as a result of harm however collected a second ring after throwing 142 1/3 common season innings.
Valenzuela remained with the Dodgers for one more few seasons, however his manufacturing waned. The Dodgers moved on after he allowed an NL-most 104 earned runs in 1990. It wasn’t an excellent 12 months general, although Valenzuela had his last spotlight in a Dodger uniform when he no-hit the Cardinals that June. He bounced round between the Mexican League and MLB for one more few seasons, most notably spending three years with the Padres. He made one last journey to the postseason with San Diego in 1996 and completed his MLB taking part in profession the next season. Valenzuela made a short return to the mound in his house nation within the mid-2000s.
All informed, he pitched in components of 17 MLB seasons. Valenzuela suited up for six groups, although he’ll clearly be remembered most for his time in Dodger blue. He completed his profession with a 3.54 ERA in practically 3000 innings. He gained 173 video games, struck out greater than 2000 hitters, and tossed 113 full video games (31 of which have been shutouts). His price stats, whereas nonetheless spectacular, are diminished considerably by his late-career struggles. Throughout his 1981-86 peak, he turned in a 2.97 ERA with 1258 strikeouts and 84 full video games in precisely 200 common season begins. He was additionally a strong hitter for a pitcher, operating a profession .200 common with 10 house runs whereas profitable a pair of Silver Sluggers.
Valenzuela’s peak may need been Corridor of Fame worthy, however he didn’t preserve it lengthy sufficient to garner severe consideration from the BBWAA. He fell off the poll in his second 12 months of eligibility in 2004. Valenzuela was inducted into the Dodgers’ Ring of Honor. The franchise formally retired his #34 final 12 months. He remained a key determine within the group as a Spanish-language broadcaster by means of this season.
The information will forged a shadow over the upcoming World Collection, although the Dodgers’ presence supplies a chance for the group to honor Valenzuela’s legacy on the most important stage. MLBTR sends our condolences to his household, mates, former teammates and the numerous followers whose lives he impacted.
Picture courtesy of USA Immediately Sports activities.
