Then I realized Ive been waiting for this and now its happened. Name one other player in L.A. history that was so omnipresent, so community galvanizing, soL.A.! This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. "That's when people became aware of Fernando. Fernandos time with the Dodgers has resonated right through the years up until today.. Valenzuela, at the time the No. Jarrn has often remarked on their loyalty. Raymond, looks like Dodgers have a problem with respect for former players who gave good years to team. Valenzuela has served as a player, coach and general manager for Team Mexico in several international competitions, including the World Baseball Classic. Seek out and celebrate your heroes, and explore online and in-person exhibits commemorating the history and impact of the game. As a 20-year-old, Valenzuela caught the attention of fans when he pitched for the National League (NL) Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of the 1981 season and shut out the Houston Astros. 34 this year. 34 will be unveiled on the stadium wall above left field. Until 1986, Fernando had a Hall of Fame career, with six consecutive All-Star Games and finishing second for the Cy Young in 1986. Even if it meant breaking their own rules, the Dodgers realized their choice was really no choice at all. As you know I walk through the stands every night. For 30 years, Valenzuelas number has been functionally retired. Dodgers to Retire Fernando Valenzuela'S Number 34 - Mlb Leading up to the celebration Sunday of Valenzuelas landmark rookie season, there were renewed pleas for the franchise to make an exception to its arbitrary policy of retiring only the numbers of Hall of Famers. A trip to Cooperstown has something for baseball fans and everyone else. Despite Fernando Valenzuela's impressive record as a pitcher in the major leagues and other contributions to baseball since he joined the Dodgers in 1980, his nomination to the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE!We are sure that the Baseball Writers' Association of America would agree with thousands, if not millions of baseball fans, in the United States and around the world Sure! The announcement was made at the Dodgers FanFest celebration on a stage in right field at Dodger Stadium. Ive seen great pitchers and cities who love players. The announcement was made earlier today during the Dodgers 2023 FanFest, presented by Budweiser. He truly lit up the imaginations of baseball fans everywhere. Dodgers: Season Ticket Holders Can Buy Their Own World Series Ring. In case you were wondering and he was Plaschke is rhymed with Great Gatsby.. But the numbers dont even begin to tell the story of the connection he forged, and the doors he opened, and the city he bonded. I asked about this years ago in regards to Don Newcombes 36. Valenzuela played 11 of his 17 years in the major leagues with Los Angeles. The Sonora, Mexico native has been inducted to numerous Hall of Fames, including the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fernando-Valenzuela, National Baseball Hall of Fame - Fernandomania made it all the way to Cooperstown, California Sports Hall of Fame - Biography of Fernando Valenzuela, Fernando Valenzuela - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Im probably going to be thinking, This happened to me?!. And with that, Fernandomania was born. Fernando Valenzuela was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Longtime Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrn has often talked of how OMalley wanted to find a Mexican Sandy Koufax to attract Los Angeles growing Mexican and Mexican American populations. (Lou Sauritch/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Within a few short weeks, Fernandomania was sweeping the nation. Fernando Valenzuela, 80.6% (65.8%): Created tons of Dodgers fans, and with so many big names elected last year, was the first choice among players on a lot of ballots. Bill Plaschke has been an L.A. Times columnist since 1996. What followed over his next seven starts is one of the most astonishing eight-game stretches in major league baseball. Ive said it before, and I say it in measured tones, but the 1981 season and Fernandomania bordered on a religious experience, recalled longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. Report: Gavin Stone will debut Wednesday for Dodgers. 34 in 2019. The quiet truth will, at last, become loudly evident. All Valenzuela did the afternoon of April 9, 1981, was baffle the Astros with a complete-game, five-hit shutout as the Dodgers won 2-0 in a . "People in Mexico, Central America and South America became fans of the Dodgers. Cinco de Mayo has taken on a new meaning in the United States, where it serves as an opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture and contributions. In a long-awaited move that will rock Chavez Ravine at its Fernandomania roots, the Dodgers announced Saturday that they are retiring Valenzuela's No. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? 'Believe in the power of cheese': How a group of rookies helped give the Brewers the best vibes in baseball, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Covered Oakland Raiders for CSNBayArea.com and Sacramento Bee for eight years, Member of Pro Football Writers Association, Previously worked at Los Angeles Times, Las Vegas Review-Journal and Sports Illustrated. Valenzuela was a member of two World Series championship teams, won the 1981 Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, was selected to six All-Star teams and even won two Silver Slugger Awards (1981, 1983) during his 11 years with the Dodgers from 1980-90. Valenzuela began his professional baseball career at the age of 17 with the Guanajuato Tuzos, going 5-6 with a 2.23 ERA. We Latins are big sports fans. Ive never seen anything like it, broadcaster Jaime Jarrn told Sports Illustrated. 34 is being retired.. Right now, I dont see anyone wearing that number, so that would be nice, no? Valenzuela played 17 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, from 1980 to 1991 and 1993 to 1997. Especially after he followed up that Opening Day start with seven more wins and four more shutouts. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). When the team unveiled a statue of Sandy Koufax last summer, the questions only intensified. The Dodgers had a club policy of only retiring the jersey numbers of Hall of Fame players and managers, but team president Stan Kasten said Valenzuela's career and connection to fans made it . 34 is retired, and its magic lives on. Valenzuelas number 34 will take its place among those previously displayed on the left field club levelPee Wee Reese (#1), Tommy Lasorda (#2), Duke Snider (#4), Gil Hodges (#14). Fernando Valenzuela, in full Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea, byname El Toro (the Bull), (born November 1, 1960, Etchohuaquila, Mexico), Mexican professional baseball player whose career spanned 17 seasons in the major leagues of the United States. Valenzuela was discovered in 1977 by Los Angeles scout Corito Varona while playing in the Mexican League. When asked about how he felt about the Dodgers not retiring his number 34, Fernando gave the humble answer that you might come to expect from him. But also for the fans the support theyve given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them. Despite Fernando Valenzuela's impressive record as a pitcher in the major leagues and other contributions to baseball since he joined the Dodgers in 1980, his nomination to the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE!We are sure that the Baseball Writers' Association of America would agree with thousands, if not millions of baseball fans, in the United States and around the world that the induction of Mr. Valenzuela to the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame IS LONG OVERDUE!According to Rule 5, chapter 2 of the MLB, "for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Baseball Writers' Association of America considers the players who played at least ten major league seasons and have been retired for at least five seasons." What took so long? Therefore, he should be nominated based on those requirements mentioned above and the following accomplishments:A career record of 173 wins and 153 losesNamed NL Rookie of the Year (1981)First rookie player to win the Cy Young Award (1981)Lead the Dodgers to the World Series (1981)MLB Strikeout Leader (1981)6 times All-Star (1981-1986)2 times Silver Slugger Award (1981-1983)Gold Globe Award (1986)NL wins leader (1986)Pitch a no-hitter (1990)Let's not forget that his popularity generated the phenomenon known as "FERNANDOMANIA." Nick Frasso pitched four more scoreless innings for Double-A Tulsa. (David Fields / Associated Press) Talk about a blown save. The citywide call by our fans to honor him is truly remarkable. The workload eventually caught up to him. And now, finally, officially, gloriously, it will live forever with Fernando Valenzuela. A pitch for Valenzuela in Hall of Fame - PressReader Baseball folks from outside of Southern California have never quite understood the Valenzuela Effect, witness the fact that he received only 6.2% of votes when he was first eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003, and just 3.8% of votes the following year when he was dropped from the ballot. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. But anyway they are now retiring his number. Jarrn said his favorite memory of the 1981 season was of the time he accompanied Valenzuela to a luncheon at the White House that was staged in honor of then-Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo. So, of course #34 should be retired. Check out the backs of the uniform jerseys worn by fans. Syndergaard gets first win in 6-3 victory over the Cardinals, Dodgers get first three-game home sweep over Cardinals since 2019, Doncon reaches base 6 times, Frasso scoreless again. February 4th, 2023. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. If Selig hadnt supported the home run surge of the late 1990s by looking the other way when players started injecting themselves with steroids, who knows whether baseball would have ever recovered from its last work stoppage? The small-town Mexican kid with the funny delivery and vicious screwball overcame the odds again. Dodgers: Fernando Valenzuela Speaks Out On His Number Not Being Retired Why So Many Venezuelans Are Desperate To Leave 34 had been unofficially retired since his playing career with the Dodgers ended after the 1990 season. Astros embrace, enjoy their moment He was the Mexican who made it and was destroying all of the competition. The Dodgers Spanish-language voice since 1959, Jarrn is without question worthy of his place in the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame. The announcement was made earlier today during the Dodgers' 2023 . As a 20-year-old, Valenzuela caught the attention of fans when he pitched for the National League (NL) Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of the 1981 season and shut out the Houston Astros. Therefore, I ASK the Baseball Writers' Association of America to nominate Fernando Valenzuela before the Eras Committee to induct him into the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.FERNANDO VALENZUELA AL SALON DE LA FAMA DEL BEISBOL YA!A pesar del impresionante historial de Fernando Valenzuela como lanzador en las Grandes Ligas de Beisbol y otras contribuciones a este deporte desde que se unio a los Dodgers en 1980, su nominacion al Salon de la Fama de las Grandes Ligas NO HA SUCEDIDO!Estamos seguros que la Asociacion de Escritores de Beisbol de America estaria de acuerdo con milies, o quiza millones, de fanaticos del beisbol en Estados Unidos y en todo el mundo en que la inclusion del pelotero Valenzuela al Salon de la Fama de las Grandes Ligas de Beisbol YA DEBIO DE HABERSE LOGRADO!De acuerdo con la Rega 5, capitulo 2, de la MLB, "para la elecciona al Salon de la Fama del Beisbol Nacional, la Asociacion de Escritores de Beisbol de America considera a los jugadores que jugaron por lo menos diez tempordas en las Grandes Ligas y tengan por lo menos cinco temporadas de jubilados". Valenzuela batted and threw left-handed. Fernandomania? Dodgers honored Fernando Valenzuela, but they still havent retired his number 34, officially, Notes: Gavin Stone, Clayton Kershaw, gondola project. Funny enough, Dodgers fans have been calling for Fernando to have his jersey retired for years. In addition to inspiring the multiple generations of Latin American players, Valenzuela created multiple generations of Mexican fans. Which isn't to say Selig isn't deserving. More than three decades later, Valenzuela will finally be allowed to give the Dodgers the shirt off his back to hang in Chavez Ravine for eternity. (25 in 1963, 26 in '68) and the Majors with a 2.10 ERA in 1969. Within a few short weeks, Fernandomania was sweeping the nation. One could even surmise that Valenzuelas singular effect on the Dodger franchise has been greater than any baseball player on any team anywhere.