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 seven 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…
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!!
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.
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!
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
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…
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.
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.
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
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.