Fernando Valenzuela, a six-time All-Star and a legend of the Los Angeles Dodgers, passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 63, as confirmed by Major League Baseball. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Valenzuela, a native of Mexico, was a sensation in the world of baseball. His unique pitching style and impressive rookie season with the Dodgers sparked a wave of excitement in the United States and his home country, a phenomenon that came to be known as ‘Fernandomania’. His 1981 season is considered one of the most successful in the history of pitching. That year, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year, won the NL Cy Young Award, and was a Silver Slugger and a World Series champion.
Valenzuela began his professional career in Mexico before signing with the Dodgers in 1979. He made his MLB debut the following year at the age of 19. His influence on the Dodgers and the sport of baseball was profound. Stan Kasten, the team’s president and CEO, referred to him as one of the most influential Dodgers in history and a franchise hero.
Valenzuela’s breakout year was 1981, when he won the National League Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and made his first All-Star team. His dominant performance and unique pitching style, which involved looking skyward during his windup, captivated Los Angeles and sparked ‘Fernandomania’.
Valenzuela, affectionately known as “El Toro” by fans, had a distinctive and memorable pitching style. He was one of the few pitchers of his era to regularly throw a screwball, a skill taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo. In the 1981 season, he played a crucial role in the Dodgers’ World Series victory over the Yankees.
Valenzuela’s career in the major leagues spanned 17 years, 11 of which were with the Dodgers. He won 173 games, struck out 2,074, and held a 3.54 ERA. The left-handed pitcher led the NL in complete games three times during his career.
In his later years, Valenzuela served as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers for 22 years. He retired from the position in September and was hospitalized earlier in October.