Fernando Valenzuela passed away on Tuesday evening, a little more than a week shy of his 64th birthday. Major League Baseball will honor his memory with the World Series beginning at Dodger Stadium this weekend.
“On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” team president and CEO 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.”
Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement of his own. “Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation. With his distinctive pitching style, the Dodger left-hander’s rookie season generated so much excitement in the U.S. and his native Mexico that it became commonly referred to as ‘Fernandomania.’ His 1981 season ranks among the most decorated pitching years of all-time as Fernando was the National League Rookie of the Year, the NL Cy Young Award winner, a Silver Slugger, and a World Series Champion.”
As both Kasten and Manfred referenced, Valenzuela was best known for his electric rookie season. The Mexican-born hurler signed with the Dodgers in 1979. While he was just 18 at the time, it didn’t take long before he pitched his way to Dodger Stadium. Valenzuela made all of 30 appearances in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut as a September call-up in 1980. Pitching out of the bullpen, the 19-year-old fired 17 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run to close the season. It was a preview of the phenomenon to come.
The Dodgers tabbed Valenzuela as their Opening Day starter in 1981 after Jerry Reuss suffered an injury. Valenzuela tossed a five-hit shutout against the Astros in his first career start. He followed up with a 10-strikeout complete game in a 7-1 victory over the Giants. He’d rattle off three straight shutouts thereafter, recording two more double-digit strikeout performances in the process. He closed out April with a 5-0 record and one run allowed in 45 innings.
Valenzuela’s shutout streak was snapped when he “merely” threw a one-run complete game win over the Expos during his first appearance of May. He blanked the Mets with 11 strikeouts in his next appearance, then tossed another complete game win (this time with two earned runs) against Montreal. Valenzuela completed and won each of his first eight big league starts while running a cumulative 0.50 earned run average — all at age 20.
That sheer dominance, which came on the back of a wiffle ball-style screwball, was only a part of Valenzuela’s immense popularity. A young Mexican pitcher performing at an historic level in Southern California made him an icon among Latin American fans, in particular. Valenzuela’s rookie year quickly became the stuff of legend, and the “Fernandomania” moniker that it took on remains a key chapter in MLB history more than four decades later. It was a captivating performance the likes of which will probably never be seen again with teams keeping a much closer eye on young pitchers’ workloads.
Of course, Valenzuela’s career stretched well beyond those magical two months. His rookie year was interrupted by the player’s strike that stopped play between the middle of June and the second week of August. The Dodgers, who were 36-21 at the time of the work stoppage, were declared the first-half winners of the NL West title. They knocked off the second-half NL West champion Astros in a hastily implemented Division Series — the Wild Card wouldn’t be introduced until more than a decade later — before toppling Montreal in the NLCS.
That set up a World Series showdown with the Yankees. Los Angeles defeated New York in what had been the most recent Fall Classic matchup between the behemoths. Valenzuela got the win with a four-run complete game in Game 3, the first of four straight victories for the Dodgers after they dropped the first two in the Bronx.
It was an ideal ending to one of the greatest rookie seasons the game has ever seen. Valenzuela turned in a 2.48 ERA across an NL-leading 192 1/3 innings. His eight shutouts and 180 strikeouts both led all major league pitchers. He topped future Hall of Famer Tim Raines for Rookie of the Year and edged out two more legends — Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton — to win the Cy Young. He finished fifth in MVP balloting and picked up a Silver Slugger for good measure. Valenzuela tossed 40 2/3 innings of 2.21 ERA ball over his five postseason starts.
The rookie season was so exceptional that it necessarily represented the peak of his career. Yet that in no way diminishes what he achieved throughout the 1980s. The southpaw remained a force atop the L.A. rotation for most of the decade. Valenzuela made the All-Star team in each of his first six full seasons. He topped 250 innings every year between 1982-87.
He fired 285 innings of 2.87 ERA ball in his second year, tying for third in Cy Young balloting in the process. He’d earn two more top-five finishes in the middle of the decade — including a runner-up placement behind Mike Scott during an ’86 season in which he struck out 242 hitters and led the Senior Circuit with 21 wins. The Dodgers made the postseason in 1983 and ’85, losing in the NLCS both times. They returned to the World Series in 1988 and defeated the A’s in five games. Valenzuela missed that series due to injury but collected a second ring after throwing 142 1/3 regular season innings.
Valenzuela remained with the Dodgers for another few seasons, but his production waned. The Dodgers moved on after he allowed an NL-most 104 earned runs in 1990. It wasn’t a good year overall, though Valenzuela had his final highlight in a Dodger uniform when he no-hit the Cardinals that June. He bounced around between the Mexican League and MLB for another few seasons, most notably spending three years with the Padres. He made one final trip to the postseason with San Diego in 1996 and finished his MLB playing career the following season. Valenzuela made a brief return to the mound in his home country in the mid-2000s.
All told, he pitched in parts of 17 MLB seasons. Valenzuela suited up for six teams, though he’ll obviously be remembered most for his time in Dodger blue. He finished his career with a 3.54 ERA in nearly 3000 innings. He won 173 games, struck out more than 2000 hitters, and tossed 113 complete games (31 of which were shutouts). His rate stats, while still impressive, are diminished somewhat by his late-career struggles. During his 1981-86 peak, he turned in a 2.97 ERA with 1258 strikeouts and 84 complete games in exactly 200 regular season starts. He was also a solid hitter for a pitcher, running a career .200 average with 10 home runs while winning a pair of Silver Sluggers.
Valenzuela’s peak might have been Hall of Fame worthy, but he didn’t maintain it long enough to garner serious consideration from the BBWAA. He fell off the ballot in his second year of eligibility in 2004. Valenzuela was inducted into the Dodgers’ Ring of Honor. The franchise officially retired his #34 last year. He remained a key figure in the organization as a Spanish-language broadcaster through this season.
The news will cast a shadow over the upcoming World Series, though the Dodgers’ presence provides an opportunity for the organization to honor Valenzuela’s legacy on the biggest stage. MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, friends, former teammates and the countless fans whose lives he impacted.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
MadmanTX 2
I remember Fernandomania. My condolences to his family, the Dodgers organization and their fans. Gone too soon.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Fernando was the most influential Dodger on the fan base since the team relocated to Los Angeles. He brought a joy to baseball that might not have been matched since. He was 5-1 in the post-season eight starts one relief appearance and a 1.98 earned run average. I hope the team wears a patch with his name or initials during the World Series. Sorry to see anyone pass at all, but especially so young.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
During the 7 years from 1981 to 1987, Fernando had 96 complete games and 27 shutouts. That is 14 complete games a year for seven straight years on the average. He had between 250 innings and 285 every year from 1982 to 1987. You can’t compare coddled guys from the present who go 5 or 6 innings to that.
knuckleheads
The sharing of Valenzuela’s numbers will suffice…
deweybelongsinthehall
Coming a few seasons after Mark “the bird” Fydrych, he was exactly what MLB needed then. One word describes that first season. Incredible! Sorry to hear about the passing, Prayers to all
Unclemike1525
He was truly special. Didn’t even know he was ill. All I can say is what cruel timing right before the Dodgers-Yankees meet again in the WS. RIP to a legend.
Lindor's Bodyguard
Coddled. God I love reading aggressively ignorant posts. Thank you for the entertainment.
Johnny Angel
MLB you are preaching on deaf ears my friend. Does anyone throw a screwball anymore? Left-handed?
Johnny Angel
Pampered is a better word
Johnny Angel
Yes you are a knucklehead.
FemboySportsFan!
@johnny
two people in MLB right now throw a “screwball” and that’s Brent Honeywell, and Devin Williams (technically)
paddyo furnichuh
Honeywell has a screwball in his repertoire.
Johnny Angel
Fem appreciate the heads up. Apparently that so called screwball Honeywell is throwing is missing the screw part. Williams is technically missing the same part and neither are southpaws.
Johnny Angel
Padd see above…..!!!!!!
FemboySportsFan!
@john
We may never see the screwball again, or maybe we will!
Matt Waldron came out of nowhere as a knuckler, maybe someone else can come out as a screwballer.
Johnny Angel
Sadly I must agree.
rct
@Johnny Angel: Mike Marshall himself taught Honeywell’s father the screwball, who in turn taught it to his son. I don’t know where you’re getting the ‘missing the screw’ part from, but Honeywell indirectly learned the pitch from one of the best screwballers ever.
Johnny Angel
Well I think Honeywells dismissal MLB record shows his brutal inability to master it.
Fever Pitch Guy
MLB – Well said. He’s one of my all-time favorite players, wish there was internet back then so I could have watched a lot more of his games.
Rest in peace Mr. Valenzuela, thoughts and prayers to your loved ones.
Unclemike1525
Even Tarzan just died. Sometimes it doesn’t pay to get out of bed I guess. Or in his case hop out of the tree.
GarryHarris
Sandy Koufax filled the stadiums too.
This one belongs to the Reds
I was still playing in the minors when Fernando mania happened. We used to watch Sportscenter late at night to see the highlights. We used to laugh at his windup where he never seemed to look at the plate, yet had good control. This guy was a special pitcher in his heyday.
So damn young. Guess the man upstairs needed another starter. RIP Fernando. You gave a lot of us a lot of joy watching you pitch.
TheMan 3
my heart goes out to his family, 63 is too young to be lost in life
Condolences abound for yet another great player from my generation
Pete'sView
I was at Chavez Ravine for Fernando’s first Major League start. Inspiring even though I wasn’t and still am not a Dodgers fan. May he RIP.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
RIP Fernando, never forgotten and will never forget
Misfit0620
To say Fernando was a Dodger legend would be an understatement and wouldn’t do what he meant to my team my city my dad any justice. I was 3 in 88 so I missed his prime but his importance to the love of baseball and The Dodgers I have can never be denied. Rest Easy Toro
rockingryan
So sad. Rest In plush. Fernando was so good that I’d be willing to be that even as of yesterday he could of give the Dodgers a solid 5 innings. He was that good!
Rsox
R.I.P. Fernando
sorengo99
He was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, goddamnit.
yanks2009
As a Yankee fan, He was an awesome pitcher and Hitter and amazing person.
RIP Fernando Valenzuela!!
Holy Cow
What does that have to do with you being a Yankee fan?
MacGromit
@Yanks
Proclaiming you’re a Yankee fan gives you the utmost credibility. Come’on everyone knows that.
Holy Cow
With many Yankee fans, yes. But I never understood why people had to self identify with whatever team they were rooting for when making a comment about another team. It’s stupid. Kind of like when people say “we” when they talk about their team.
whyhayzee
Or put their team in their name?
Holy Cow
Nobody puts their name for their message board handle.
yanks2009
Are you an Idiot?? Even though I’m not a Dodgers fan I’m showing my respect to an amazing person because I saw him pitch and hit.
Do you have a problem with that?
Falsehope
Fernando made me a Dodgers fan for life. RIP Fernie you will be missed.
angryaggie
Great ambassador for Latino fans and MLB in general. RIP to Fernandomanio!
ElysianPark
I was afraid of this coming. The last several times we have seen him in person at the stadium he looked very ill–shockingly gaunt. It was reported his weight loss was intentional, due to diabetes control. We didn’t buy that.
God bless his soul. Condolences to his family.
This hits extra hard on the eve of the World Series….he had a HUGE role in the 1981 WS between these same teams.
Friday is going to be very emotional at the stadium. We will be there. This is so very sad.
Luis_Fazenda
My friends south of border say that his liver was failing and they desperately were hoping to find a donor match. Time ran out.
RIP.
Fever Pitch Guy
Luis – Yes very sad, it reminds me of Lasorda’s famous quote “He knows only three words in English: Food. Beer. And Lite Beer”.
Marc (Phillies Phan)
I am beyond shocked. I am so sorry to hear this.
Omarj
RIP El Toro
VegasSDfan
What a great pitcher. Fun fact, he won 23 games for the Padres, he was fun to watch even later in his career.
Rest in peace
i like al conin
Not mentioned in the article is his no-hitter, the 2nd of the day after Dave Stewart. Amazing!
differentbears
And both were aired on ESPN, back to back.
Brew88
Got to meet him when I was at UCLA back in the 80s! Great dude. Amazing ambassador.
metsin4
Best Mexican born player ever! Great loss for a country, community and mankind. RIP
FemboySportsFan!
I would agree with you, (not to discredit Fernando) but Adrian Gonzales is the best Mexican born player in MLB history in my opinion.
El_Papi_Sucio
Adrian was born in San Diego. He only spent his formative years in Tijuana, MX, before his family relocated to San Diego.
FemboySportsFan!
he is still Mexican/Hispanic, this parents are Mexican…which means he’s Mexican…albeit he’s considered Mexican-american, he is still Mexican.
El_Papi_Sucio
Not Mexican born, as you stated previously. Fernando remains the best Mexican born ball player in history.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Fernando was selected to more All Star teams than Adrian. Similar career WAR though. To me, Fernando was an icon that impacted baseball history whereas Adrian was just another great player.
DevoPettis
Glad to have seen during Fernandomania. Took on all no. 1 starters and an iron horse. Example
9/6/85 vs Dwight Gooden dodgers lost in 13 but
Gooden 9 IP 5 hits 0 runs
Valenzuela 11 IP 6 hits 0 runs!
Brew88
@Devo great stats. Typical of both guys back in the day. I think it was 86 when Valenzuela had 20 complete games to lead the league.
YankeesBleacherCreature
RIP Fernando. Long live Fernandomania!
Domingo111
He was the Paul skenes of 1981
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Fernando won the World Series with a Cy Young and a Silver Slugger. Skenes played only part of a season and whiffed on the postseason and hitting. In a year, Skenes may be the best pitcher in baseball, but he has not come close to Fernando’s 1981 magic. No slam on Skenes, many legit hall of famers have not created that magic either.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I don’t think you can compare the two. Fernando created the buzz without the internet and social media and it was must-watch TV/radio. Skenes, in his own right, reminds me of Stephen Strasburg’s debut and is an undeniable talent.
knuckleheads
to a kid what Skene’s accomplishment will be something he remembers as simply amazing…
Domingo111
Yeah, the accomplishments aren’t quite comparable but I think the hype is kinda similar. With skenes great performance, 100 mph fastball and famous Instagram model girlfriend his “glamour” is a little similar.
Of course as others have said Fernando was able to do it without social media, you can only imagine how the hype would have been if he had social media at that time.
Longtimecoming
Without social media. Without internet. Without cell phones. Hell cable TV wasn’t even a given in the average household in 1981 (not mine)!
MLB game of the week and print newspaper the next day.
Fever Pitch Guy
Domingo – There is no comparison between Fernando and Skenes, none. Just because Skenes is a hyped pitching prospect who had a good partial-season start to his career, doesn’t mean they are similar.
Skenes doesn’t have the unusual windup. He’s not the pride of an entire country. He doesn’t have a fraction of the endurance. He hasn’t led his team to a World Series.
You know who DOES have all those things checked off and therefore compares to Fernando?
Someone who also passed away recently, El Tiante.
CardsFan57
Valenzuela was on every talk show and every morning show for months. He was mentioned in the news every single night. Everyone knew who he was whether or not they watched baseball. The mania was more on the level of Taylor and Kelce.
Gwynning
Good post LTC! Don’t forget “TWIB” on Saturday!
Longtimecoming
Is that the one with Joe Garogiola?
Fever Pitch Guy
Long – No, TWIB is the only candy with the cookie crunch.
Gwynning
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Week_in_Baseball
I think Joe hosted it sometimes? Can’t recall but that sounds right!
Longtimecoming
Mel Allen – went to google and Wikipedia.
GarryHarris
Mel Allen hosted This Week in Baseball.
sergefunction
I’d actually reverse that, Paul Skenes was the Fernando of 2024, but you betcha.
Both super easy for which to root, no matter where you live.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Valenzuela had 11 complete games and 8 shutouts on 1981 and won the WS. Skenes had zero shutouts and zero complete games in 2024 on a last place team.
Skenes may become a Hall of Famer, but his rookie season pales next to Fernando.
FemboySportsFan!
Valenzuela also had a career 104 ERA+ which is only two points higher than James shields
MLB Top 100 Commenter
ERA+ is only one measure. Using ERA+, Kershaw (156) is way better than Clemens (143), Randy Johnson (135), Scherzer (133), Greg Maddux (132), Koufax (131), Verlander (129), Tom Seaver (127) and Don Sutton (108).
CardsFan57
This post tells me just how much you undervalue the consistant excellence from Kershaw.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Cards
I consider Kershaw to be a first ballot Hall of Famer (I hope unanimous) and one of the ten best pitchers over the last forty years. One of my favorite players. But better than Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens (who gets an asterisk), or Greg Maddux, no not that.
CardsFan57
Koufax is the only pitcher on your list whose career ERA and FIP are both under 3 like Kershaw’s. Isn’t run prevention the number one goal of pitching?
LordD99
From a pure pitching dominance perspective, it’s a fair comparison, although accomplished in different ways. From a cultural perspective, no comparison. Valenzuela was a national phenomena, a sports icon. Nothing against Skenes, but the world is different today. Non-baseball fans were captured by Valenzuela. I’m not even sure casual baseball fans are aware of Skenes yet, let alone non fans.
Tigers3232
Well said Lord. The cultural perspective was a huge thing that separates the 2 amazing rookie runs.
I’d say another factor unfortunately is it also can be partially attributed to baseballs decline in popularity in the sports world and also just a victim to exponentially more entertainment options to compete with.
But most importantly condolences to Valenzuela’s family and RIP to the baseball legend. I was only 2 in 81 so I don’t remember his rookie season. I remember him from the entire time I was a baseball fan as a child and he will always be a name I find synonymous with the Dodgers.
CardsFan57
One of the driving forces behind the phenomenon was Valenzuela being the first prominant Mexican MLB player. Mexicans in both the US and Mexico were ecstatic about it.
sergefunction
First saw Fernando pitch when he was 19 at Dodger Stadium, and enjoyed many more of his starts over the years.
Thought he was fully done after seeing a really disastrous 1993 start at Detroit (who else remembers Fernando as an Oriole?). But he roared back with a very nice 1996 Padres season at age 35.
Such sad news. Taken far too soon.
PianoLegs
Fernando was a joy to watch. He was an amazing ambassador for Mexico, the Dodgers, baseball and whacky lefties. One of my all-time favorites.
C Yards Jeff
We’re all here with a purpose in mind. I’m an old geezer still trying to figure mine out. FV born to play baseball. There was a joy to his game whether on the mound, in the field an at the plate. Fun to watch. RIP. Condolences to family.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Rest in Paradise Fernando!
Salad Daze 22-27
This one hurts, I was 4 years old during Fernando Mania, The first Dodger I have memories of.
As if the world series didn’t have enough storylines,
Butter Biscuits
My first dodgers memories are also of him and why I’m a baseball fan
Salad Daze 22-27
“If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky”-Vin Scully’s final call of Fernando’s No Hitter.
claude raymond
I’m a die hard Giants fan. Obviously anti dodgers. And this sucks. He was amazing Dodger. Dodgers fans from back then must be overwhelmed with this. For me, it’s part of my youth. Love him. Hate him for his dominance vs SF. This just flat sucks. What if Lincecum or MadBum had died? It would be devastating. He winds and looks to the skies. And pitches. RIP Nando
Senioreditor
A VERY sad day for Dodger fans.
all in the suit that you wear
RIP
BlueSkies_LA
Vaya con dios, Fernando. You will live on in the hearts and minds of baseball fans forever.
twentyfivemanroster
This is very sad. One of the few pitchers, along with Gooden and Hershiser, I tried to watch pitch that wasn’t part of my favorite team. RIP El Toro!
HiredGun23
I became ambidextrous just to try and emulate his pitching style. His presence on the mound will never be forgotten. RIP Fernando V…
Non Roster Invitee
Spoke to him when he was on the Angels(!).What a thrill. He said they never scored a run for me.
RIP Fernando.
fox471 Dave
When we reach a certain age, we become accustomed to the passing of friends, family and favorite players. This one, however, hit me hard. I did not know he was ill. He appeared gaunt but I figured he was managing his weight. Geez! This is a tough one. RIP, Fernando.
Osuarez24
HOF, even if voters believe he didn’t do it long enough. His first 6 years with the Didgers would easily translate to 12 years in today’s game. Let’s not be late, he deserves his place in the HOF. Never forgotten el Toro was one of tge game’s best ever! RIP Fernando
This one belongs to the Reds
Well, it is the Hall of FAME, so I agree with you. Some people forget that. Kind of in the same vein as Sandy Koufax. Dominant for a good period.
pepenas34
Descansa en paz Toro.
Muchas gracias por los grandes recuerdos.
“If you got a sombrero, throw it to the sky”
5TUNT1N
His name was inside the glove my father handed down to me when I was a kid. Always made me root for him throughout his career. My love for baseball started with his name in my hand. Thanks for the memories Rip.
davemlaw
I remember his batting practices at Candlestick. The guy would hit moonshots into the 2nd deck! You would never guess how powerful he was just looking at him.
Fernando, you were one of a kind.
Mrbarky
In the 1981 World Series vs the Yankees threw a 156 pitch complete game that included 3 rain delays .The rain delays totaled over 3 hours.Fernando will be reunited with his pal Bobby Castillo a former Dodger who showed him how to throw the screwball.
LordD99
When starting pitchers were gods, two rookie pitchers —Fidrych in ‘76 and Valenzuela in ‘81–captivated the sports world and the nation on a level I don’t think could happen today. Both now gone. Condolences to family, friends and fans, the former two who lost a loved one, and the latter who lost a piece of their youth.
Non Roster Invitee
I recall a few years earlier an 18 year old phenom named David Clyde of the Texas Rangers also took the media and the baseball world by storm. Didn’t go as well as Fernando or The Bird but he is still alive.
ElysianPark
Very well said, LordD, about us fans. This one hits especially hard. Another chunk of childhood and carefree fan days has slipped away. God bless him. He gave us so many great memories.
Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee
The face of the Dodgers in the 80s. Thanks for the good times….
olmtiant
One of the most important Dodgers in their history. The mania around his was unmatched for the time… the impact he had on whole race wasn’t matched till Ichiro many years later… RIP my friend .. blessings to your family.. you were one of a kind and will be missed…
This one belongs to the Reds
Good comparison. I know how my Japanese friends view Ichiro…and now Shohei.
Yaz'sOldBattingGloves
Very sad news. I loved watching him pitch. The shear number of complete games he tossed. Thanks for the memories Fernando!!
Condolences to his family.
letitbelowenstein
Now I’m really beginning to feel time catching up to me. I rarely enjoyed watching anyone pitch more than Fernando. Sorry to hear of his passing. RIP, Fernando.
oscar gamble
I hadn’t realized that he pitched for six teams.
CardsFan57
RIP Fernando. You were something to watch.
dbrooks22
On a rehab assignment when with the Angels, he drew the biggest crowd ever at our minor league park. RIP Fernando.
RockinRobin
He was the type of player that has left indelible memories for me.
Condolences to his family and friends.
The McNasty1
If Valenzuela was so great how come he’s not in the HOF?
Foothills R
Because he is Mexican and sports writers are lily white.
RockinRobin
From 1981 – 1986 he was amazing. For example, he threw 26 SO
From 1987-1990 he was fading.
From 1991 – 1997 (in 1992 he played in Mexico) he was average and struggled.
He isn’t a HOFer.. But, as any kid who remembers 1981, he was amazing and exciting.
farscott
Here is where the BBWAA criteria is lacking. The impact Fernando Valenzuela had on the game should be enough to get him inducted. He not only had six great years; he changed the fan base of the Dodgers during those years. He truly had a significant amount of fame inside and outside of baseball.
I was in high school in 1981 outside of Cleveland, OH. In those days when radio and newspapers were the ways to follow the game (we got one televised game per week), Fernando Valenzuela was everywhere. If the name means anything, he belongs in the Hall of FAME.
RockinRobin
I think you make a great argument for the HOF..
BlueSkies_LA
The criteria aren’t lacking so much as the way they are currently interpreted is lacking. A player’s performance is only one criterion. Other criteria are his impact on the game and teams on which he played. By those standards Fernando should be in the HoF. In fairness his impact probably wasn’t as appreciated when he was eligible as is it now. It’s difficult to see history when it’s recent. At some point he becomes eligible for induction through the old-timers committee and I think he gets in then. In the meantime at least the Dodgers made an exception to their rule and retired his number while he was still alive.
Jump 84
Thank you Fernando, condolences to your family. En paz descanse. Legends live on. Inspired many.
whyhayzee
A little bit like a lefty Louis Tiant. Sad day for baseball, he will be missed.
whyhayzee
Luis.
Frickety Frack.
phillies1993
Fernando’s run with the ’94 Phillies might be my only good memory of that season. He couldn’t strike anyone out anymore, but he knew how to pitch and managed a 3.00 ERA. He still had the star power, still was a gate attraction that late in his career.
Fooque2
Carlton or Seaver should have won the Cy Young award in 1981
olmtiant
It’s close but you can’t say they deserved it more decisively than FV… I’ll give you one far worse… 1990 Bob Welch over Roger Clemens… that is way more of a travesty than above..
Verlander2TheQuickening
One of the most fun to watch players of all time. RIP to a real one.
I know it was a different era, but I looked this up – almost 27% of his starts were complete games. 27%!! That is mind boggling to me.
dasit
different era for sure. the dodgers won game 3 of the 81 series 5-4. it was a must-win game because they had lost the first 2 games. here is valenzuela’s line
9 innings
9 hits
4 earned runs
7 walks
6 k’s
147 (!!!) pitches
this included giving up 2 singles to start the top of the 8th inning with a 1-run lead (he got out of it with help from an unlikely double play). imagine a manager sticking with his starter in that scenario
Acoss1331
As a kid,I would imitate his wind-up. Now he can play against the greats in the field of dreams.
RockinRobin
I can hear the closing credits music of This Week in Baseball with Fernando pitching. Looking up, then closing his momentarily before releasing the ball.
I don’t want to sound so dramatic, but Fernando in 1981 was just amazing and captivated all baseball fans.
And I hate the Dodgers 😉
avenger65
Hard to believe he’s gone. Too soon, Fernando. You’ll always be remembered by all baseball fans for what you brought to the game.
Niekro floater
I got to go to game he pitched that magical rookie year @Dodger stdm. Via con Dios. RIP Fernando
Thornton Mellon
Fernandomania is among my earliest fond memories of baseball (I was 6) along with the return from the strike and my older brother explaining the game to me. I remember going to an Orioles game on a humid summer night in 1993 (per BR: 6/30/93) and he pitched a complete game shutout against the Blue Jays that kind of came out of nowhere as he hadn’t been pitching well. I remember the “Kill the Blow Jays” t-shirt from that era. I can only imagine with his 1981 season was like to watch! RIP..
JoeBrady
Back in the early days of cable, not every bar carried all the games. My friends and I wanted to catch the Friday night featuring Gooden v Valenzuela at LA, in their prime.
We had to go to Manhattan to find a bar that carried it. That meant about a 50% higher bar tab, but it was a 1-0 game, just as it was envisioned.
RIP Fernando.
Gwynning
FernandoMania and Vin Scully are my 2 first memories of growing up with Southern Californian baseball. We were a North County house divided with my Pasadena parents loving the Dodgers but I naturally took to my hometown Pads. RIP Fernando. Go NL West!
dasit
deserves repeating. his first 8 big league starts at age 20:
8 wins
8 complete games
5 shutouts
0.50 ERA
if you weren’t there, it’s hard to describe
BlueSkies_LA
For anyone growing up in today’s data-driven game, it is impossible to even imagine such a feat. It can never be duplicated. So in a way, it is hard to describe for anyone who wasn’t there to see it. I hope Fernando finds his way into the HoF through the old-timer’s committee. A great shame it didn’t happen while he was still with us.
Clofreesz
One of the most fun players to watch growing up and one of the greatest Mexican players of all time. Keep on throwing those screwballs, Fernando!
Jordan 5
He changed the game when he came in. Obviously lasorda needed him up in the big blue heaven. Rip
Pads Fans
So young. So absolutely sad. Such a giant of a player and a great man. RIP Fernando.
greg1
I was a kid when Fernandomania was in full swing, and got caught up in it like so many others did. Sad to hear of his passing, especially at a relatively young age.
Thanks Nando, you’re one of the guys that made me want to play the sport. Rest in Peace my friend.
MootScorgoon
Vaya con dios, El Toro
The Saber-toothed Superfife
How sad.
jorge78
RIP Fernando…..