Fernando Valenzuela dies at the age of 63. The Dodgers star transformed the baseball fan base

Fernando Valenzuela has died at the age of 63. Valenzuela made a name for himself as one of the most popular Dodgers of all time, attracting Mexican and Mexican-American fans who celebrated the pitcher as a transformative figure in Major League Baseball.

“We deeply mourn the loss of Fernando,” said Stan Kasten, president and general manager of the LA Dodgers, who called Valenzuela “one of the most influential Dodgers of all time.”

Valenzuela, who worked as a Spanish-language Dodgers broadcaster for more than two decades, announced earlier this month that he would no longer work in the booth for the remainder of the season to focus on his health.

When they announced Valenzuela's retirement, the Dodgers did not make clear the nature of his health issues, the team said at the time: “He and his family truly appreciate the love and support from fans as he plans to return for the 2025 season.” “And they have requested privacy during this time.”

Valenzuela made a name for himself as a pitcher, making his debut on the mound for the Dodgers at the age of 19. He was a celebrated member of the 1981 Fernandomania season. That year, Valenzuela won the National League Rookie of the Year award and the Cy Young Award.

Last August, Valenzuela's No. 34 jersey was retired by the Dodgers in front of a packed stadium.

As part of the celebration, the pitcher threw the first pitch to Mike Scioscia, his longtime catcher, with a vicious screwball dubbed “El Toro.”

Jaime Jarrin, another legendary Dodgers broadcaster, explained Valenzuela's importance when his player retired.

“After baseball, he immediately became a hero for Latinos,” Jarrín told LAist. “The most important thing is that he created so many new baseball followers… people from Mexico, from Central America, from South America who didn't care about baseball at all.”

Go deeper: 'Fernandomania's return: The Dodgers are (finally) retiring Fernando Valenzuela's number

Broadcasting career

Famed baseball scout Mike Brito watches as Fernando Valenzuela #34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after his 1981 World Series victory against the NY Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

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Jayne Kamin-Oncea

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Getty Images

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Since 2003, Valenzuela has been a popular host for the team. Valenzuela has scheduled games for the past 21 years.

This part of his career began after Valenzuela played for eleven years, including as a pitcher for the 1981 team that defeated the New York Yankees. The two teams, which are among the most famous in the MLB, will meet this Friday for the first time since then.

His background

Valenzuela was born in Etchohuaquila, Sonora, Mexico, the youngest of twelve children.

Within a year of his major league debut in 1980, Fernandomania began after he made an unprecedented start to his career, playing complete games in his first eight career starts. Five of those games were shutouts and his ERA was an astonishingly low 0.50.

According to the Dodgers, Valenzuela is survived by his wife, Linda, and four children, Fernando Jr., Ricardo, Linda and Maria Fernanda, as well as seven grandchildren.