Remembering Fernando Valenzuela
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Fernando Valenzuela: A Legacy of Fernandomania and Baseball Unity

Early Life and Rise to Fame:

• Born in 1960 in Etchohuaquila, Mexico, Valenzuela rose from humble beginnings as the youngest of 12 children in a farming family of Mayo indigenous ancestry. ([Wikipedia])

• His professional baseball journey began at 17 in the Mexican Pacific League. By 18, his talent caught the eye of Dodgers scout Mike Brito, leading to a $120,000 signing in 1979. ([Wikipedia])

• After a brief stint as a reliever in 1980, Valenzuela was unexpectedly thrust into the starting role for the 1981 season opener due to injuries in the Dodgers pitching staff. He seized the opportunity, shutting out the Houston Astros and kicking off a historic winning streak. ([Sanchez, MLB.com])

Fernandomania:

• Valenzuela's rookie year (1981) was marked by "Fernandomania," a cultural phenomenon sparked by his unprecedented eight-game win streak to start the season, which included seven complete games and five shutouts. ([Sanchez, MLB.com])

• This performance, coupled with his captivating windup and screwball mastery, drew massive crowds to Dodger Stadium, particularly from the Latino community. ([Sanchez, MLB.com])

• Fernandomania extended far beyond Los Angeles, attracting fans across the US and Latin America and turning Valenzuela into a global sports icon. ([Verducci, Sports Illustrated])

• Valenzuela's iconic status was cemented by his appearances on magazine covers, a visit to the White House, and a song dedicated to him by Mexican-American songwriting duo Lalo and Mark Guerrero. ([Sanchez, MLB.com])

Lasting Impact:

• Valenzuela's legacy extends beyond his athletic achievements. He bridged a divide between the Dodgers and the Latino community in Los Angeles, which stemmed from the controversial displacement of residents to make way for Dodger Stadium. ([Guzman, Los Angeles Times])

• Jaime Jarrín, the Dodgers' long-time Spanish-language broadcaster, noted, "no other player in major league history created more new fans... Fernando turned so many people from Mexico, Central America and South America into fans.” ([Verducci, Sports Illustrated])

• His impact was so profound that the Dodgers broke their tradition of only retiring numbers of Hall of Famers to honour Valenzuela's No. 34 in 2023. ([Sault Ste. Marie News])

Later Career and Death:

• Despite a brilliant start, shoulder injuries plagued Valenzuela's later career, though he achieved milestones like pitching a no-hitter in 1990. ([Sanchez, MLB.com])

• After playing for various teams, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers as a beloved broadcaster, a role he held until his death in 2024. ([Wikipedia])

• He remained involved in baseball, purchasing the Mexican League team Tigres de Quintana Roo and serving on Team Mexico’s World Baseball Classic coaching staff. ([Wikipedia])

Quotes:

• "What Fernandomania did for the Dodgers was build generation after generation of Mexican-American fans... Valenzuela was a hero like Hank Greenberg was for the Jews. He made everybody feel bigger and welcome. They went to the stadium to see him.” - John Thorn, MLB official historian ([Sanchez, MLB.com])

• “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.” - Fernando Valenzuela ([Sanchez, MLB.com])

• "I’ve seen great pitchers and cities who love players. But I have never seen anything like this. And I don’t think I will ever see it again.” - Vin Scully on Fernandomania ([Verducci, Sports Illustrated])