The Los Angeles Dodgers will pay tribute to Fernando Valenzuela by adding a No. 34 patch to their uniforms during the World Series and the 2025 season.
The circular patch will be placed on jersey sleeves, featuring the late pitcher’s No. 34 in Dodger blue with a white outline, set against a black background with a blue outline. “FERNANDO” will be written in white capital letters above the number.
A moment of silence will be held before the Series opener on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers ordered a 52-by-52-feet (15.9-by-15.9 meter) mural of Valenzuela on Wednesday, and by the next day, it had been painted on a wall in left field for fans entering the ballpark.
The mural shows Valenzuela’s unique windup with his eyes looking up, his celebratory hug with catcher Mike Scioscia after his no-hitter in 1990, and him dressed in a suit while serving as the team’s Spanish-language color commentator.
“We wanted to remember Fernando at his best,” said Stan Kasten, team president and CEO. “These are all memories of him at his best. He was such a presence for such a long period of time on and off the field.”
Valenzuela, who was the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award winner, passed away at the age of 63 on Tuesday, just one day before the 43rd anniversary of his 147-pitch complete game that helped the Dodgers beat the Yankees in World Series Game 3. After losing the first two games at Yankee Stadium, the Dodgers won four in a row to secure their first title since 1965.
A six-time All-Star, Valenzuela had a record of 173-153 over 17 seasons, including 141-116 with the Dodgers from 1980-90. His vibrant personality sparked “Fernandomania” among fans, and he worked as a broadcaster for the team from 2003 until 2024.
