Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” and won the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, has passed away at 63.
The team announced that he died Tuesday night at a hospital in Los Angeles, but they did not share the cause of death or other details.
His death comes just as the Dodgers are getting ready to start the World Series at home against the New York Yankees on Friday night. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that Valenzuela will be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.
Valenzuela had stepped down from his role as a color commentator on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcasts in September without giving a reason. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month.
His job kept him frequently at Dodger Stadium, where he enjoyed socializing in the press box dining room before games and remained a favorite among fans who approached him for photos and autographs.
“God bless Fernando Valenzuela!” actor and Dodgers fan Danny Trejo wrote on X.
Valenzuela was one of the strongest players of his time and a beloved figure in the 1980s, even though he was never elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he is represented in Cooperstown, which displays several items, including a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990.
“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes,” said Stan Kasten, team president and CEO, in a statement.
“He energized the fan base during the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has stayed in our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon.”
Valenzuela’s journey from being the youngest of 12 children in Mexico to his achievements on the mound made him very popular and significant in Los Angeles’ Latino community, helping to bring new fans to Major League Baseball. This admiration for him lasted long after he retired.
“63 is way too young…. A piece of my childhood is gone,” actor and “Access Hollywood” co-host Mario Lopez posted on X. “Growing up as a Mexican kid, one of the main reasons I’m a Dodgers fan is because of Fernando. … Not only a great player, but a great man to the community. What a legend.”
In 1981, Valenzuela became the Dodgers’ opening day starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured just a day before his scheduled start.
He shut out the Houston Astros 2-0 and began the season with an impressive 8-0 record, including five shutouts and an ERA of 0.50. He became the first player to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season.
His amazing performances created the excitement known as “Fernandomania” among Dodgers fans. The ABBA song “Fernando” played as he warmed up on the mound.
He finished his first season with a 13-7 record and a 2.48 ERA, although it was cut short by a players’ strike.
Valenzuela was selected as an All-Star every year from 1981 to 1986, during which he achieved 97 wins, 84 complete games, 1,258 strikeouts, and a 2.97 ERA. He had a 5-1 record with a 2.00 ERA in eight postseason starts. He also earned two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove.
Valenzuela’s no-hitter on June 29, 1990, was a significant moment in his career, where he led the Dodgers to a 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. He struck out seven batters and walked three.
“If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!” Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully exclaimed during his game call.
Fans nicknamed Valenzuela “El Toro” because of his unique and memorable pitching style, which included looking up at the sky at the top of each windup. He often used a screwball, making him one of the few pitchers of his time to throw that pitch regularly. His teammate Bobby Castillo taught him this pitch after the Dodgers thought Valenzuela, who wasn’t known for his speed, needed an extra option.
In the early days of his Dodgers career, Valenzuela spoke little English and had trouble talking with his catchers. Rookie Mike Scioscia learned Spanish to become Valenzuela’s personal catcher before later becoming the team’s regular catcher.
Valenzuela was also a decent hitter, hitting 10 home runs in his career. Unfortunately, shoulder issues began to affect his pitching, and he missed the 1988 postseason when the Dodgers won the World Series.
The team let Valenzuela go just before the 1991 season. He went on to pitch for the former California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals.
He retired in 1997 with a record of 141-116 and a 3.31 ERA in 11 seasons with the Dodgers. In total, he had a record of 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA over 17 seasons.
Valenzuela’s journey from his small hometown of Etchohuaquila in the Mexican state of Sonora to fame in the U.S. was remarkable. As the youngest child in a big family, he often joined his older brothers when they played baseball.
He signed his first professional contract at 16 and quickly began dominating older players in the Mexican Central League.
In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico to watch a shortstop when Valenzuela entered the game as a reliever. He quickly caught Brito’s attention, and at just 18 years old, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. He was sent to the California League that same year.
In 1980, Valenzuela was called up to the Dodgers in September and soon made his big league debut as a reliever.
He remains the only pitcher in MLB history to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. The left-handed pitcher was the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in 1981, the same year the Dodgers won the World Series.
He is the all-time major league leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) among Mexican-born players. During his career, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and visited the White House.
In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers as the Spanish-language radio color commentator for National League games. Twelve years later, he switched to the color commentator role on the team’s Spanish-language TV broadcasts.
“He consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events across his home country,” Manfred said in a statement. “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.”
In 1978, legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito was in Mexico to watch a shortstop when Valenzuela entered the game as a reliever. He quickly caught Brito’s attention, and at just 18 years old, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers in 1979. He was sent to the California League that same year.
In 1980, Valenzuela was called up to the Dodgers in September and soon made his big league debut as a reliever.
He remains the only pitcher in MLB history to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. The left-handed pitcher was the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in 1981, the same year the Dodgers won the World Series.
He is the all-time major league leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) among Mexican-born players. During his career, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and visited the White House.
In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers as the Spanish-language radio color commentator for National League games. Twelve years later, he switched to the color commentator role on the team’s Spanish-language TV broadcasts.
“He consistently supported the game’s growth through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events across his home country,” Manfred said in a statement. “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.”
