Dodgers Legend Fernando Valenzuela Dead at Age 63

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When my family moved to California, it was in the early ’60s. I was still pretty young when my dad took me to my first professional baseball game. I got to see Sandy Koufax pitch one of his final games before retiring.  

Koufax had a unique delivery, with his left hand low and a high kick. My dad had played baseball and wanted me to love the game like he did. I fell in love with the game and the Dodgers.  

Since then, I’ve been to dozens of games at Dodger Stadium. When I was sports cartooning for the Los Angeles Daily News, if I did a “nice” cartoon of the Dodgers, someone from media relations would call me and I’d be offered either merchandise or game tickets. After I got my fill of merch, I got tickets to games. I saw lots of games when Fernando was pitching.  

In the 1980s, Fernandomania was the rage in Los Angeles, and in Mexico. The Dodgers loved it because they had an outstanding player but also an outstanding human. Fernando was a “good man.” He could also hit. He was no Shohei Ohtani, but I recall Tommy Lasorda using Fernando as a pinch-hitter a couple of times. Fernando’s delivery was also “unique.” He would look up to the heavens as he delivered his pitch. “El Toro’s” curveball was a thing of beauty, and his “screwball” was ridiculous, leaving hitters swinging at air.

His no-hitter in 1990 was, of course, called by the immortal broadcaster Vin Scully. Vinny said:  

“If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”  

Fernando played ten seasons with the Dodgers, winning the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same year – a feat that had never been done before. It likely will never be repeated. ESPN reported: 

That season was the start of six straight All-Star appearances for the left-hander. Valenzuela finished third in Cy Young voting in 1982, fifth in 1985 and second in 1986 before a shoulder injury hindered him for the rest of his career. He won another World Series title with the Dodgers in 1988 (though he did not pitch in the postseason) as well as Silver Slugger awards in 1981 and 1983. 

“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes,” Stan Kasten, president and CEO of the Dodgers, said in a statement. “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.” 

The last game I saw a game at Dodger Stadium, Fernando was being honored. He looked really thin, and I thought – boy, I hope he isn’t sick. Years ago, I went to a game at Dodger Stadium – and I was handed a bubblehead of Fernando. It’s the photo I used for this article.  

Fernando didn’t look like a major leaguer. He was a bit “round,” but man, could that guy “sling the hash.” After he retired, he was in the broadcast booth and stayed active with the team. He was a special player and a special man. He loved baseball. He loved the Dodgers. He loved the fans. And – we all loved him back. 

I hope he was greeted by Vinny, with Vinny throwing a sombrero in the air. Fernando Valenzuela, dead at the age of 63.