Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, who inspired “Fernandomania,” has died at 63

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Fernando ValenzuelaThe Mexican-born Los Angeles Dodgers phenom who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the 1981 NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year has died. He was 63.

The team said he died Tuesday evening at a Los Angeles hospital, but did not provide the cause or further details.

His death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series at home against the New York Yankees on Friday night. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela will be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

Valenzuela was gone left his job as a color commentator on the Dodgers' Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation. He was reportedly hospitalized earlier this month. His job kept him a regular at Dodger Stadium, where he held court in the press box dining room before games and remained popular with fans who sought him out for photos and autographs.

“God bless Fernando Valenzuela!” Actor and Dodgers fan Danny Trejo Posted on X

Valenzuela was one of the most dominant players of his era and an extremely popular figure in the 1980s, although he was never elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he is part of Cooperstown, which features several artifacts, including an autographed ball from his 1990 no-hitter.

“He is one of the most influential Dodgers of all time and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes,” Stan Kasten, team president and CEO, said in a statement. “He thrilled the fan base with the 1981 Fernandomania season and has been very close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a presenter. He left us far too soon.”

Valenzuela's rise from humble beginnings as the youngest of twelve children in Mexico and his achievements on the mound made him extremely popular and influential in Los Angeles' Latino community while helping to attract new fans to Major League Baseball. Her affection for him continued years after his retirement.

“63 is way too young… A piece of my childhood is lost,” actor and co-host of “Access Hollywood.” Mario Lopez posted on X. “Growing up as a Mexican kid, Fernando is one of the main reasons I’m a Dodgers fan. … Not only a great player, but also a great man for the community. What a legend.”

In 1981, Valenzuela became the Dodgers' opening night starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured 24 hours before his scheduled start. He defeated the Houston Astros 2-0 and began the season 8-0 with five shutouts and a 0.50 ERA. He became the first player to win a Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

His performances sparked a delirium among Dodgers fans known as “Fernandomania.” The ABBA hit “Fernando” played while 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 players' strike.

Valenzuela was an All-Star selection every year from 1981 to 1986, when he recorded 97 wins, 84 complete games, 1,258 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. In eight postseason starts, he was 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA. He received two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove.

Valenzuela's no-hitter on June 29, 1990, a 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, was an emotional highlight of his career. He struck out seven and walked three.

“If you have a sombrero, throw it into the sky!” Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully exclaimed in his play call.

Valenzuela, nicknamed “El Toro” by fans, had an unorthodox and memorable pitching motion that included looking skyward at the apex of each windup. His repertoire also included a screwball – making him one of the few pitchers of his time to throw this pitch regularly. It was taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo after the Dodgers felt that Valenzuela, who was not known as a hard thrower, needed another pitch.

Early in his Dodgers career, Valenzuela barely spoke English and had trouble communicating with his catchers. Rookie Mike Scioscia learned Spanish and became Valenzuela's personal catcher before becoming the team's full-time catcher.

Valenzuela was an above-average hitter with ten home runs in his career.

Eventually, his pitching was affected by persistent shoulder problems, which kept him out of the 1988 postseason when the Dodgers won the World Series.

The team released Valenzuela just before the 1991 season. He was also a pitcher for the former California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.

He retired in 1997 and went 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 seasons with the Dodgers. Overall, he was 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 seasons.

Valenzuela's rise from his tiny hometown of Etchohuaquila in the Mexican state of Sonora to stardom in the United States was unlikely. He was the youngest child in a large family who tagged along when his older brothers played baseball.

He signed his first professional contract at 16 and soon began overpowering older players in the Mexican Central League.

In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico looking at shortstop when Valenzuela came into the game as a reliever. He immediately caught Brito's attention and at the age of 18, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. That same year he was sent to the California League.

In 1980, Valenzuela was called up to the Dodgers in September and soon made his big league debut as a reliever.

He remains the only pitcher in MLB history to win Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. The left-hander was the National League's starting pitcher in the 1981 All-Star Game, the same year the Dodgers won the World Series.

He is the all-time major league leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) by a Mexican-born player.

During his career, he made the cover of Sports Illustrated and visited the White House.

In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers as a Spanish-language radio color commentator for NL games. Twelve years later, he moved to color commentator on the team's Spanish-language TV feed.

“He has consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events in his home country,” Manfred said in a statement. “As a member of the Dodger broadcast team for more than 20 years, Fernando has helped reach a new generation of fans and foster their love of the game. Fernando will always be a beloved figure in Dodgers history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired.”

He was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. Five years later, the Mexican League retired Valenzuela's No. 34 jersey. The Dodgers followed suit in 2023 after retiring his number since he last pitched for the team in 1991. The team has a rule that requires a player to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame before the Dodgers will retire his number, but they made an exception for Valenzuela.

The Dodgers named Valenzuela to the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in 2019 and inducted him into the team's Ring of Honor in 2023.

He became a US citizen in 2015.

Valenzuela served on the coaching staff for Mexico during the 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classic. He was part owner of the Mexican league team Tigres de Quintana Roo, with son Fernando Jr. serving as team president and son Ricky serving as general manager. Fernando Jr. played as a first baseman in the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox organizations.

In addition to his sons, he is survived by his wife Linda, a teacher from Mexico, whom he married in 1981, and his daughters Linda and Maria, as well as seven grandchildren.

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