Fernando Valenzuela's cause of death announced – NBC Los Angeles

Los Angeles Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela's cause of death last month was septic shock, according to his death certificate.

Valenzuela, who helped the team win the 1981 World Series and sparked the nationwide phenomenon of “Fernandomania,” died Oct. 22 at age 63. TMZ Sports obtained the document on Tuesday and revealed the cause of death for the first time.

No cause of death was given at the time of his death.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office listed the immediate cause of death as septic shock.

The life-threatening condition occurs when organ failure occurs and blood pressure becomes dangerously low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 350,000 people die from the disease each year in the United States.

The medical examiner cited decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis as the underlying causes. Also listed as a significant condition contributing to Valenzuela's death was “probable” Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rapidly progressive brain disorder.

The document also shows that Valenzuela was cremated.

Valenzuela had resigned from his job with the Dodgers' Spanish-language television broadcast days before the team was headed to its eighth World Series championship. The Dodgers began their run to the team's eighth World Series championship. His presence was felt at an emotional victory parade and celebration at Dodger Stadium marking Valenzuela's 64th birthday.

He was honored at a funeral mass in downtown Los Angeles on November 6. On Vin Scully Drive at the entrance to Dodger Stadium, fans have added flowers, candles, photos and more to a memorial in front of a sign at the property's entrance since news of Valenzuela's death.

Valenzuela is among the Dodgers franchise's all-time leaders in several categories, ranking fourth in complete games (107), fifth in strikeouts (1,759) and sixth in wins (141). He is the only player in Major League history to win the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season, doing so in the Dodgers' 1981 World Series season.

Valenzuela's 17-year big league career ended in 1997 after stints in Anaheim, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego and St. Louis. He retired as the all-time leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) among Mexican-born major league players.

He won his first eight games of the 1981 season and pitched a shutout in five games. This success started the “Fernandomania” trend and continued into the postseason when Valenzuela and the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series. Valenzuela was also on the Dodger team that won the 1988 World Series over the Oakland As.

The Navajoa, Mexico native is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. His No. 34 was also retired by the Mexican Baseball League.

Last year, the city of LA issued a proclamation declaring August 11th “Fernando Valencia Day.” The six-time All-Star's No. 34 jersey was retired by the team that same year.

After leaving the Dodgers after the 1990 season, the left-handed high-leg kicker played for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.