Legendary Dodgers pitcher who inspired 'Fernandomania' has died

Fernando Valenzuela, a cultural hero and baseball legend who inspired “Fernandomania” in 1981, has died, the Dodgers announced Tuesday.

He was 63.

A 6-time All-Star, the Mexican phenom pitched for 17 seasons, but he is best known for his rookie year when he rose from relative obscurity to stardom by winning his first eight starts, seven of them complete games and five of them shutouts, in route to winning both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year.

Nicknamed “El Toro,” he struck out 68 and allowed four earned runs in 72 innings for a 0.50 ERA during the magical run. And he finished 1981 with a record of 13–7 and had a 2.48 ERA before the season was shortened by a player’s strike.

But Valenzuela’s impact went far beyond the diamond, especially for Latinos and Mexican Americans in Los Angeles. His rise was viewed by many as a symbol of hope and the American dream for many.

Armed with a devastating screwball and an unusual and flamboyant pitching motion in which he looked skyward before every pitch, Valenzuela won 173 games and amassed more than 2,000 strikeouts in his career.

“Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “With his distinctive pitching style, the Dodgers left-hander’s rookie season generated so much excitement in the U.S. and his native Mexico that it became commonly referred to as ‘Fernandomania.’ His 1981 season ranks among the most decorated pitching years of all-time.”

Dominant southpaw — Former Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Fernando Valenzuela was a six-time All Star over the course of his 17-year MLB career. (Associated Press)Associated Press

After retirement, he called games on the Dodgers’ Spanish radio broadcasts and served as a global ambassador for the sport through the World Baseball Classic and MLB events in Mexico.

“As a member of the Dodger broadcasting team for more than 20 years, Fernando helped to reach a new generation of fans and cultivate their love of the game. Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired,” Manfred’s statement said.

“We will honor Fernando’s memory during the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Fernando’s family, the Dodgers, his friends across the game, and all the loyal baseball fans of Mexico.”

Valenzuela’s No. 34 was unofficially retired for years before the Dodgers made it official in 2023. Fans in Los Angeles continue to wear the jersey to Dodger Stadium to this day.

“On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” said Stan Kasten, president & CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes. He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Linda and his family.”

Valenzuela concluded his Dodgers tenure in 1990, a year that included a no-hitter vs. the Cardinals, before spending 1991 to 1997 with the Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres and Cardinals.

According to Baseball Reference, Valenzuela’s 41.5 WAR leads all Mexican-born players. He is a member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame, Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame and the California Sports Hall of Fame.

Several artifacts from his career are housed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

“I’m someone who is very reserved,” Valenzuela said in 2021, according to MLB.com. “I always think twice about what I want to do or say, and I think it’s the only way to achieve certain things in life. I have always tried to see first what I have to do in certain situations and with certain things, and then act. That helped me a lot in my career.”