Dodgers legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela dies at 63

[quantumleap]

For you fellow Dodgers fans, this is a pitcher we will never forget.

RIP Fernando.

MSN

Fernando Valenzuela, the impetus behind "Fernandomania" while winning National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors in 1981 as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, has died at age 63.

The Dodgers announced the news, saying Valenzuela died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital. They did not provide the cause or other details.

Valenzuela's death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

After pitching in the majors for 17 seasons, Valenzuela served as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers since 2003. He had stepped away from his broadcasting duties before the start of the playoffs to "focus on his health," the team said.

Called up late in the 1980 season as a reliever, Valenzuela, who was born in Navojoa, Mexico, took the baseball world by storm in the strike-shortened 1981 season. After Jerry Reuss was injured on the day before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda gave the ball to the 20-year-old Valenzuela, who had never started a major league game in his career.

He responded with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros, beginning the season with an 8-0 record, including five shutouts, and an 0.50 ERA.

 

[kingrevolver]

Great documentary on him. The man had his moment.

R.I.P

 

[sunshine11]

To young to go. Says Illness. RIP

 

[Franz555]

For you fellow Dodgers fans, this is a pitcher we will never forget.

RIP Fernando.

MSN

Fernando Valenzuela, the impetus behind "Fernandomania" while winning National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors in 1981 as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, has died at age 63.

The Dodgers announced the news, saying Valenzuela died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital. They did not provide the cause or other details.

Valenzuela's death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

After pitching in the majors for 17 seasons, Valenzuela served as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers since 2003. He had stepped away from his broadcasting duties before the start of the playoffs to "focus on his health," the team said.

Called up late in the 1980 season as a reliever, Valenzuela, who was born in Navojoa, Mexico, took the baseball world by storm in the strike-shortened 1981 season. After Jerry Reuss was injured on the day before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda gave the ball to the 20-year-old Valenzuela, who had never started a major league game in his career.

He responded with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros, beginning the season with an 8-0 record, including five shutouts, and an 0.50 ERA.

Some great stuff here Quantum

RIP

 

[djefferis]

Saw it this morning- sad. RIP Sir.

The guy absolutely made the public watch baseball again at a time where interest was first beginning to fade as labor unrest/skyrocketing salaries and owner greed were looming issues.

Before McGwire/Sosa and more recently Ohtani brought back casual fans - Fernandomania brought those eyeballs to the game. And how could you not absolutely live his story - young, poor kid who looked nothing like an athlete absolutely dominating the sport.

We need more stories like his in sports.

 

[BMR Genie]

A 63yrs old is still a very young age to die.

RIP.

 

[harpo]

R.I.P.

 

[jjgold]

That guy took over baseball for a while at least with LA in WS he will get lots of attention and trubutes

 

[BigJay]

I just saw this story. Very sad

Dodgers legendary pitcher Valenzuela dies at 63

Fernando Valenzuela, the impetus behind "Fernandomania" while starring for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1980s, has died at the age of 63.

www.espn.com

 

[Tanko]

For you fellow Dodgers fans, this is a pitcher we will never forget.

RIP Fernando.

MSN

Fernando Valenzuela, the impetus behind "Fernandomania" while winning National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors in 1981 as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, has died at age 63.

The Dodgers announced the news, saying Valenzuela died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital. They did not provide the cause or other details.

Valenzuela's death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

After pitching in the majors for 17 seasons, Valenzuela served as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers since 2003. He had stepped away from his broadcasting duties before the start of the playoffs to "focus on his health," the team said.

Called up late in the 1980 season as a reliever, Valenzuela, who was born in Navojoa, Mexico, took the baseball world by storm in the strike-shortened 1981 season. After Jerry Reuss was injured on the day before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda gave the ball to the 20-year-old Valenzuela, who had never started a major league game in his career.

He responded with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros, beginning the season with an 8-0 record, including five shutouts, and an 0.50 ERA.

He was a character to remember. Its great when players like him come along and will always be remembered. Makes the game great.

He passed away way too young.
RIP

 

[BigJay]

Such a jolly guy

A rarity in sports

 

[broncos]

One of the greats. His screwball was amazing! RIP.

 

[quantumleap]

I always remember when he went into his windup, he would look upward like he was looking at the brim of his cap. I think it was just a habit with him.

I really remember his rookie year in 1981 when he did so well early on. Broadcasters and pundits said once batters were able to see him pitch a few times they would catch on to him and he wouldn't do as well. That's the first time I had heard that concept.

 

[djefferis]

I really remember his rookie year in 1981 when he did so well early on. Broadcasters and pundits said once batters were able to see him pitch a few times they would catch on to him and he wouldn't do as well.

Probably why they were in the broadcast booth and in the media box and not on the bench or coaching somewhere.

Only took what a decade or so for guys to figure out how to hit the man - and then was it that they figured him out or just Lasorda over using him until he just burned out ?