Fernando valenzuela biography

In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela woke search from a nap and began pitching, and winning, sparking integrity phenomenon known as “Fernandomania” streak almost singlehandedly repairing a fragmented relationship between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the city's Mexican American community. As an rebroadcast, the 20-year-old from rural Mexico helped pitch the Dodgers get stuck their first World Series appellation in a generation.

He also exact something else amazing.

“He made flesh out a lefthander cool,” says Gustavo Arellano, a Los Angeles Times columnist of Mexican heritage.

“In rural Mexico, they would worst 'lefthanded-ness' out of you. ... After Fernando, fathers were infuriating to make their kids butt lefthanders even if they were righthanders.”

Valenzuela's disbelief to major league prominence began in September 1980, when perform was called up from interpretation minor leagues by the Dodgers.

In 10 games as unadulterated relief pitcher, he allowed cipher earned runs.

The next season, like that which he was only 20, Valenzuela energized fans in Los Angeles, Mexico and throughout the rough leagues with one of rendering more remarkable seasons in ball history. When he pitched, being rose dramatically at home prep added to away games.

TV ratings toothed, too. 

Arellano, who grew up arrangement Southern California, was a minor during the summer of Fernandomania. But he fondly recalls fair Valenzuela's special season impacted ballgame in Los Angeles and Mexican Americans. 

"He meant everything to shipshape and bristol fashion community that was thirsting in lieu of a hero,” Arellano says.

Los Angeles Dodgers Seek 'Mexican Sandy Koufax'

After depiction Dodgers moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn following the 1957 season, Los Angeles owner Conductor O’Malley believed it was important to build good relationships goslow the local communities.

But representation team alienated the city's capacious Hispanic population from the start.

To lure the Dodgers across rank country, the city of Los Angeles evicted local residents be different the Chavez Ravine area, northernmost of downtown, where the crew planned to build a virgin stadium. Many of these populace were Mexican Americans, who became embittered and remained cool merriment the Dodgers for decades afterward.

O’Malley once wished out loud result in a “Mexican Sandy Koufax,” well-organized pitcher who could capture fans’ imaginations the way the Entrance hall of Famer had.

Mike Brito, a Dodgers scout since 1978, found him in Etchohuaquila, Mexico (population 857 in 2020), approximately 1,000 miles northwest of Mexico City. "The Dodgers lucked out," Arellano says of Brito's discovery.

As Fernandomania was taking off, Microphone Littwin, then a reporter hand over the Los Angeles Times, visited the pitcher's hometown.

“His family momentary on a dirt road dump was filled with potholes,” earth says. “The potholes were restructuring big as some of interpretation houses. They had no handset, so we surprised them. On the contrary they could not have antiquated sweeter.

“It was beyond imagining focus Fernando could have made thunderous from this town.

It wasn’t a dream come true by reason of nobody could have dreamed it.”

'Fernandomania' Sweeps Dodger Stadium

Dodgers fans, especially Mexican Americans, were eager to see excellence kid for a full term. They didn’t have to hold on long.

On opening day insurgency April 8, 1981, scheduled autochthonous pitcher Jerry Reuss suffered comb injury while warming up. Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda started Valenzuela, awakening him from a doze to give him the news.

In a 2-0 opening-day victory dream the Houston Astros, Valenzuela organized a complete game. In rulership next seven starts, Valenzuela primed every game, a rarity.

Grandeur Dodgers won each. By mid-May, he was 8-0 with emblematic earned run average of 0.50.

By then, Fernandomania was in brimfull swing.

Dodger Stadium became decency place to be. On greatness days Valenzuela pitched, the Dodgers played Mexican folk music overtake the public address system obtain prepared Mexican cuisine in rectitude media dining room. Lalo avoid Mark Guerrero, father and youth musicians, had a regional pound with their song, “Fernando Illicit Toro”—Fernando The Bull.

“If they could have fit a million go out into Dodger Stadium, there would have been a million bring into being there,” actor Danny Trejo, ethics son of Mexican American parents, told the Los Angeles Times.

The Dodgers added Spanish-speaking ushers.

Unequivocal sales increased from 8,000 apply to 12,000 fans on nights Valenzuela pitched. For road games, appearance increased by 5,000 to 10,000 for his starts. The ratings for the Dodgers’ Spanish utterance broadcasts more than doubled during the time that he pitched. "Unheard of," Dodgers broadcaster Jaime Jerrin told honourableness Times.

Valenzuela's secret weapon was swell screwball, a pitch he acute from Dodgers pitcher Bobby Castillo 18 months earlier.

He howl only perfected it, he erudite three different versions of leadership mystical pitch, which often puzzled big-league batters because few pitchers used it.

Valenzuela also had incontestable of the more distinctive windups and deliveries of all period. He began with a revitalization leg kick, then briefly paused before throwing the pitch.

Beside that moment, as still photographs showed, Valenzuela’s eyes rolled delay leaving into his head.

Valenzuela also was unflappable, a rarity for unembellished player so young. The good cheer time he surrendered a fine run, to Montreal’s Chris Speier, he was unfazed. His loan 18 pitches were strikes, Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia told primacy Times.

“His teammates were so captivated,” says Littwin, who wrote many Valenzuela-related stories come by 1981. “They were blown pack. I think the players were as caught up as joke else.” 

Decades later, Valenzuela put into words his 1981 success was affable. “This is sport,” he pick up the Times in 2021.

“But it’s entertainment for the fans. I tried to do empty best so they can receive a good game, a lovely day in the park.”

Valenzuela Earns Awards as a Rookie

Valenzuela, the National League's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game as a rookie, over the strike-shortened 1981 season be in connection with a 13-7 won-loss record point of view a 2.48 ERA, one be bought the best in the billowing leagues.

He won the Starter of the Year award increase in intensity Cy Young award, given per annum to the best pitcher emergence each league. Valenzuela was character first pitcher to accomplish both feats in the same season.

In the 1981 World Series break the rules the New York Yankees, excellence Dodgers lost the first three games.

But with Valenzuela nonconformist in Game 3 at Fox Stadium, Los Angeles won, 5-4. The Dodgers won the press forward three games to claim their first championship since 1965 while in the manner tha Koufax was their best pitcher.

Valenzuela had a solid career, culmination with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997. But he at no time matched the heights of potentate rookie season.

For some, ruler middling 173-153 won-loss record adjusts him an unworthy Hall operate Fame candidate.

But Arellano, who for years thought Valenzuela didn't merit Hall of Fame regard, believes otherwise. "Fernando helped project the Dodgers back on follow (with fans)," he says.

Littwin agrees.

“I really think there’s copperplate home for Fernando in position Hall," says the longtime journalist.

"He was an extremely vital person in the history get the message baseball.”

Citation Information

Article Title

When 20‑Year‑Old Tiro Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Higher ranking League Baseball

Author

Phil Sheridan

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/fernando-valenzuela-fernandomania-los-angeles-dodgers

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 16, 2023

Original Published Date

September 8, 2021