Los Angeles Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela received an emotional homage at Dodgers Stadium to commemorate the outstanding pitcher’s legacy which motivated a whole generation of players. Valenzuela blew the MLB away when he was signed in 1981.
This Friday, the city of Los Angeles celebrated Fernando Valenzuela, considered one of the best players in the history of the Dodgers and undoubtedly the best Mexican pitcher of all time. El Toro’ arrived in the Major Leagues in 1981 and immediately became an idol for Mexican-American fans in California, but also in Mexico, where everything came to a standstill when he took the mound.
Proposal goes terribly wrong! Man smashed to ground by security as he got down on one knee
Fernando Valenzuela is one of the legendary Dodgers
Proposal goes terribly wrong! Man smashed to ground by security as he got down on one knee
Fernando retired in 1997, and 26 years the Dodgers pay tribute to the size of his contribution to the Angelino team, retiring the number 34 on the roster. In fact, Valenzuela will become the first player to have his number retired by the Dodgers without having been elected to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame.
But that’s not all, the Los Angeles City Council joined the celebration and its city council decreed this August 11, 2023, as ‘Fernando Valenzuela Day’ in Los Angeles.
The highlight of the day will be prior to the Dodgers-Rockies game at Dodger Stadium when the legendary number 34 will retire and become the first Mexican player to receive this distinction in the Major Leagues.
After his arrival, Valenzuela spent 11 seasons as the Dodgers’ starter, pitching 331 games, with 141 wins and a 3.31 ERA. In his debut season, he was also instrumental in winning the World Series against the NY Yankees, with a win in Game 3 by pitching the entire route.
In that year, he also won the Rookie of the Year award and the National League Cy Young Award and became an idol for Mexican-American fans in Los Angeles. In addition, he was part of the 1988 champion team, also with the Dodgers, although he did not pitch in the postseason due to an injury.
Later, after the 1990 season, he had brief stints with the then-California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and San Diego Padres.
As of tonight, Fernando Valenzuela will be the twelfth Dodgers player to receive this recognition which include:
- Pee Wee Reese (1),
- Tommy Lasorda (2),
- Duke Snider (4),
- Gil Hodges (14),
- Jim Gilliam (19),
- Don Sutton (20),
- Walter Alston (24),
- Sandy Koufax (32),
- Roy Campanella (39),
- Jackie Robinson (42) and
- Don Drysdale (53)
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