RIP Fernando Valenzuela

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela. IF you we're living under a rock during the 80's or in a Coma that's about the only way you missed what was named at the time as “Fernandomania” which did indeed sweep through baseball in 1981 when the 20-year old rookie sensation began the season 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA. 

The left handed big man capped off his incredible year by winning both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards while helping lead Los Angeles to a World Series title. Man he was fun to watch and while in the Minors my dad once told me that he was so good he was once now allowed to pitch in one game because the other team didn't want to face him.

And they let him hit which was a mistake as he could also swing the bat pretty darn well... All in all Valenzuela pitched 17 Major League seasons, was a 6-time All-Star, and has the most wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) of any Mexican-born pitcher. Spending the last 22 years as a Spanish language broadcaster for the Dodgers, who retired his No. 34 in 2023.

The entire Dodger community loved him from day 1 and will miss him I'm sure. Especially what makes this even more sad is the timing as the Dodgers just beat the New York Mets to go to the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees. Maybe Fernando will bless the Dodgers from Heaven and guide them to a World series win over the Yankees. Rest in Peace he was only 63.