Valenzuela, All-Star Who Inspired ‘Fernandomania’ for Dodgers, Enjoyed Stint in San Diego, Dies at 63

Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Dodgers who ignited “Fernandomania” in Los Angeles years before also playing for the Padres, has died. He was 63.

The Dodgers said he died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital, but did not provide the cause or other details.

His death comes as L.A. prepares to open the World Series on Friday at home against the New York Yankees. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

Valenzuela had left his color commentator job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month.

Fernando Valenzuela captivated the baseball world in 1981. His unforgettable year included winning the NL Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award & a World Series title.

We honor the memory of the Dodgers icon, who passed away Tuesday at age 63, with a look back at “Fernandomania.” pic.twitter.com/oAGgmddlFB— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 23, 2024

His job made him once again a regular at Dodger Stadium, where he held court in the press box dining room before games and remained popular with fans who sought him out for photos and autographs and in the game, here and abroad.

“Rest in peace the greatest legend of Mexican baseball,” Liga Mexicana de Beisbol posted on X.

Valenzuela was one of the most dominant players of his era and a wildly popular figure in the 1980s, although he was never elected to the Hall of Fame. However, he is part of Cooperstown, which features several artifacts of his, 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,” Stan Kasten, team president and CEO, said in a statement. “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.”

Descanse en paz la más grande leyenda del beisbol mexicano ????????

Nos unimos a la pena que embarga a la familia Valenzuela Burgos, por la lamentable pérdida de un grande, Fernando “Toro” Valenzuela ????

Siempre con nosotros #BeisbolizaTuVida ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/LDXdgaF7sD— Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (@LigaMexBeis) October 23, 2024

Valenzuela’s rise from humble beginnings as the youngest of 12 children in Mexico and his feats on the mound made him hugely popular and influential in Los Angeles’ Latino community while helping attract new fans to Major League Baseball. Their fondness for him continued for years after his retirement.

“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.”

His uncommon modesty was on display in a series of interviews with MLB.com in 2021 marking the 40th anniversary of Fernandomania, when he was asked how he wanted to be remembered.

“It would be really great if they remembered me as someone who always tried his best to always give them a good show, so that they could have fun with this beautiful game,” he said.

The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. pic.twitter.com/MXeBlDzDWJ— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 23, 2024

In 1981, Valenzuela became the Dodgers’ opening day starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured 24 hours before his scheduled start. He shut out the Houston Astros 2-0 and began the season 8-0 with five shutouts and an ERA of 0.50 on the way to becoming the first – and only – player to win a Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

His performances created the delirium known as “Fernandomania” among Dodgers fans. The ABBA hit “Fernando” would play as he warmed up on the mound.

He was 13-7 and had a 2.48 ERA in his first season, which was shortened by a players’ strike.

Valenzuela was an All-Star selection every year from 1981-86, when he recorded 97 victories, 84 complete games, 1,258 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. He was 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA in eight postseason starts. He earned two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove.

Valenzuela’s no-hitter on June 29, 1990, a 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, was an emotional career highlight. He struck out seven and walked three.

“If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!” Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully exclaimed to close out the game.

Nicknamed “El Toro” – the Bull – by fans, Valenzuela had an unorthodox and memorable pitching motion that included looking skyward at the apex of each windup. His repertoire included a screwball – making him one of the few pitchers of his era who threw that pitch regularly. It was taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo after the Dodgers felt Valenzuela, who wasn’t known as a hard thrower, needed another pitch.

Early in his career, Valenzuela spoke little English and had trouble communicating with his catchers. Rookie Mike Scioscia learned Spanish and became Valenzuela’s personal catcher before becoming the team’s full-time catcher.

Valenzuela was a better-than-average hitter, with 10 career home runs.

Eventually, his pitching was compromised by nagging shoulder problems that kept him out of the 1988 postseason, when the Dodgers won the World Series.

The team released Valenzuela just before the 1991 season. In addition to the Padres, also pitched for the former California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.

He retired in 1997, going 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 seasons with the Dodgers. Overall, he was 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 seasons.

Valenzuela’s rise from his tiny hometown of Etchohuaquila in the Mexican state of Sonora to stardom in the U.S. was improbable. He was the youngest child in a large family who tagged along when his older brothers played baseball.

He signed his first pro contract at age 16, and soon began overpowering 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 immediately commanded Brito’s attention, and the following year, at age 18, Valenzuela signed with the Dodgers. He was sent to the California League that same year.

In 1980, Valenzuela was called up in September and soon made his big league debut as a reliever.

The left-hander 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) by a Mexican-born player.

During his career, he made 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 NL games. Twelve years later, he switched to the color commentator job on the team’s Spanish-language TV feed.

He was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. Five years later, the Mexican League retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey.

The Dodgers followed in 2023 after keeping his number out of circulation since he last pitched for the team in 1991. The team has a rule that requires a player to be in the Hall of Fame before having the Dodgers retire his number, but they made an exception for Valenzuela.

The Dodgers also named Valenzuela part of the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in 2019 and inducted him into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2023.

He became a U.S. citizen in 2015.

Valenzuela served on the coaching staff for Mexico during the World Baseball Classic in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017. He was a part-owner of the Mexican League team Tigres de Quintana Roo, with son Fernando Jr. serving as team president and son Ricky serving as general manager.

Fernando Jr. played in the Padres and White Sox organizations as a first baseman.

In addition to his sons, he is survived by his wife, Linda, a schoolteacher from Mexico whom he married in 1981, and daughters Linda and Maria as well as seven grandchildren.