Fernando Valenzuela, who sparked a fan phenomenon known as Fernandomania as a rookie and evolved into a legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, died Tuesday evening at age 63.
The Dodgers announced Valenzuela died in a Los Angeles hospital but gave no details. Valenzuela, who won one Cy Young Award and finished in the top five in voting three other times, had been a Spanish-language announcer on Dodgers games for more than two decades before leaving the booth earlier this month “to focus on his health.”
Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980-90, then had stints with the then-California Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997). He finished with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts in 2,930 innings over 453 games (424 starts).
“On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said in a statement. “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.”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, “Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation. … Following his memorable career, Fernando was an outstanding ambassador for baseball. He consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events across his home country. …
“Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired.”
A portly Mexican-born left-hander with a funky pitching delivery, Valenzuela became a celebrity on both sides of the United States-Mexico border in 1981. He drew the Opening Day start and fired a shutout against the Houston Astros.
By mid-May, Valenzuela was 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA, five shutouts and eight complete games through eight starts. He ended the year 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and eight shutouts in 25 starts, and he became the first — and still only — pitcher ever to win the Rookie of Year and Cy Young awards in the same season.
Valenzuela’s appearances drew huge crowds around the majors as fans flocked to see him.
Capping off a magical season, Valenzuela went 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five postseason starts, leading the Dodgers to a World Series championship.
He was an All-Star in each of his first six full major league seasons, and he threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, 1990.
Manfred announced that MLB would honor Valenzuela’s memory during the World Series, which starts Friday when the Dodgers host the New York Yankees — a rematch of the 1981 Series in which Valenzuela starred.
