Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela, identified affectionately to followers throughout the baseball world as “El Toro,” has died at 63 years outdated.
The Etchohauquila, Sonora, Mexico native not too long ago stepped away from his function within the Dodgers’ broadcast sales space to give attention to his well being simply forward of the group’s run to the World Sequence. He had deliberate to return for the 2025 season.
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The person behind “Fernandomania,” which took Los Angeles by storm in the course of the Nineteen Eighties, spent 11 of his 17 seasons in Main League Baseball with the Boys in Blue, main the group to a World Sequence title in 1981.
He was well-known for his signature windup and excessive leg kick earlier than dazzling hitters with a nearly un-hittable screwball. Upon retirement, he ranked amongst the franchise’s high 10 all-time in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, video games began, full video games and shutouts.
The Dodgers honored Valenzuela in 2023 by retiring his No. 34, making him solely the eleventh Dodger to realize a spot above the left subject bleachers.
Late Tuesday night the group took to X to acknowledge Valenzuela’s dying.
“Fernandomania por siempre,” stated a photograph. “Fernandomania ceaselessly.”
Valenzuela’s rookie season in 1981 is considered the most effective ever as he secured each the Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months and Cy Younger Awards. Over the course of his profession he was named to 6 All-Star Video games, received two Silver Slugger Awards and one Gold Glove Award. He additionally tossed a no-hitter in 1990, which prompted one of many late Vin Scully’s most memorable calls: “If in case you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”
Upon retirement he was the all-time chief in wins and strikeouts amongst Mexican-born gamers.
“He created extra baseball followers, and Dodger followers, than another participant,” stated Jaime Jarrín, beloved former Dodgers broadcaster who known as video games from 1959-2022, forward of Valenzuela’s quantity retirement ceremony. “Due to this child, individuals fell in love with baseball. Particularly throughout the Mexican neighborhood.”
Following his time with the Boys in Blue, Valenzuela pitched for a number of different huge league groups, together with the then-California Angels, the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals. He continued to play till 2006 within the Mexican Baseball League.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred shared a press release following the information.
“Fernando Valenzuela was one of the vital impactful gamers of his era. Together with his distinctive pitching fashion, 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,'” the assertion learn, partly. “Following his memorable profession, Fernando was an excellent ambassador for baseball. He persistently supported the expansion of the sport by means of the World Baseball Basic and at MLB occasions throughout his dwelling nation. As a member of the Dodger broadcasting group for greater than 20 years, Fernando helped to achieve a brand new era of followers and domesticate their love of the sport. Fernando will at all times stay a beloved determine in Dodger historical past and a particular supply of delight for the tens of millions of Latino followers he impressed.”
Main League Baseball plans to honor Valenzuela in the course of the 2024 World Sequence, which opens at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
“On behalf of Main League Baseball, I lengthen my deepest condolences to Fernando’s household, the Dodgers, his associates throughout the sport, and all of the loyal baseball followers of Mexico,” Manfred’s assertion stated.