“A true legend” – MLB fans pay tribute to Fernando Valenzuela as former Dodgers great passes away at 63

Fernando Valenzuela was a 6-time All-Star and won the World Series and the National League Cy Young Award in his debut season in 1981.

“A true legend” – MLB fans pay tribute to Fernando Valenzuela as former Dodgers great passes away at 63

Fernando Valenzuela (Image via LA Times)

On Tuesday night, the world of baseball lost one of its finest stars as former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela passed away. The Mexican international left for his heavenly abode at the age of 63.

In his 17 years in the MLB, Valenzuela established himself as one of the greats through his impressive pitching. After a stunning start to his MLB career in 1981, he earned himself the nickname of “Fernandomania” as fans packed out the stadiums to watch him pitch.

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In the same year, he would help the Dodgers win the World Series and became the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and National League Cy Young Award in the same season.

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The 6-time All-Star leads the criteria for most wins (173) and most strikeouts (2,074) for any Mexican-born pitcher in MLB. After retiring as a player, he would spend 22 years with the Dodgers as their Spanish language broadcaster before seeing his number 34 jersey being sent to the rafters in 2023.

In a statement released by the MLB, Commissioner Rob Manfred mourned the passing of Valenzuela and labeled him as one of the most “impactful” players of his generation.

Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation. With his distinctive pitching style, the Dodgers 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.’

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, as per MLB.com
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Fans react to the death of Fernando Valenzuela

As soon as the news regarding the passing of Fernando Valenzuela broke out, fans were quick to pay their respect to him. Several fans on social media mourned his passing while remembering his legendary career.

Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela (Image via LA Times)

MLB insider Jeff Passan was among those who paid his tribute to Valenzuela. Taking to his X account, Passan recounted the first eight starts of the pitcher where he went 8-0 with an ERA of 0.50.

For those too young to understand what Fernando Valenzuela meant to Mexico, to Los Angeles, to baseball, here are numbers from the first eight starts of his career in 1981. He was 20. He threw a devastating screwball. And for a month, he was the biggest sports star in the world.

Jeff Passan wrote on X.

Meanwhile, one fan called him “a true legend“. Check out that and some more reactions from fans as they mourned the passing of Fernando Valenzuela:

As the Los Angeles Dodgers prepare to take on the New York Yankees in a rematch of the 1981 World Series, it is likely going to be an emotional week for everyone connected with the Los Angeles-based franchise.

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The first game of the 2024 World Series will take place on Friday, October 25 with the first pitch at 5:08 p.m. PT, 8:08 p.m. ET.