Editing Fernando Valenzuela (section)

== Illness and death ==
On October 1, 2024, it was announced that Valenzuela had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=October 1, 2024 |title=Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela reportedly hospitalized |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/dodgers-legend-fernando-valenzuela-reportedly-hospitalized/3525023/ |access-date=October 23, 2024 |work=[[KNBC]] |agency=[[City News Service]]}}</ref> The Dodgers announced the following day that he would "not be in the broadcast booth for the remainder of this year to focus on his health."<ref>{{cite news |first=Jack |last=Harris |title=Dodgers provide update on Fernando Valenzuela amid absence from broadcasts |date=October 2, 2024 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-10-02/dodgers-report |access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

=== Death and funeral ===
Valenzuela died in a Los Angeles hospital on October 22, 2024, at the age of 63, three days before the [[2024 World Series]] began between the Dodgers and the [[2024 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]].<ref name=":2" /> His funeral took place on November 6, 2024, at the [[Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels]], where he was eulogized by his son Fernando Jr. and [[Mike Scioscia]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-06 |title=Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela remembered for having 'the heart of a lion' at his funeral |url=https://apnews.com/article/fernando-valenzuela-funeral-dodgers-2a789dadeb4dcc2b75154243a8128209 |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cisneros |first=Mike |date=2024-11-07 |title=Fernando Valenzuela celebrated at cathedral funeral Mass |url=https://angelusnews.com/local/la-catholics/fernando-valenzuela-dodgers-funeral/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Angelus News |language=en-US}}</ref> He was cremated, and his ashes were interred at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dreier |first=Natalie |date=2024-11-14 |title=Fernando Valenzuela's cause of death released |url=https://www.boston25news.com/news/trending/fernando-valenzuelas-cause-death-released/QM5B6VHSJ5C2PIZMIWPT63CPSE/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Boston 25 News |language=en}}</ref>

Shortly after his death, Valenzuela's illness was reported to have been [[liver cancer]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Dodgers icon Fernando Valenzuela is gone. But 'Fernandomania' will live forever |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2024/10/23/fernando-valenzuela-remembrance-los-angeles-dodgers/75803450007/ |access-date=October 23, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today}}</ref> However, his official death certificate concluded that he died of [[septic shock]] due to malfunctioning organs, which it attributed to a combination of nonalcoholic and alcoholic [[cirrhosis]]. The death certificate added that Valenzuela also might have been suffering from [[Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Associated Press |date=2024-11-13 |title=Valenzuela died of septic shock, examiner says |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42358998/me-dodgers-great-fernando-valenzuela-died-septic-shock |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vives |first=Ruben |date=2024-11-13 |title=Dodgers icon Fernando Valenzuela cause of death revealed |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-11-12/dodgers-icon-fernando-valenzuela-cause-of-death-revealed |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-13 |title=Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela's cause of death revealed |url=https://abc7.com/post/cause-death-revealed-legendary-dodgers-pitcher-fernando-valenzuela/15542990/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en}}</ref>

=== Memorials ===
Before Game 1 of the World Series, fans left flowers and memorabilia at the Dodger Stadium sign outside the stadium. In Game 1, the Dodgers commemorated Valenzuela's life and career with a ceremony featuring Valenzuela's wife and children and a moment of silence.<ref name="valenzuelaworldseriestribute">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/world-series-game-1-a-history-making-heartfelt-win-for-the-los-angeles-dodgers/|title=World Series Game 1 a history-making, heartfelt win|first=Marissa|last=Wenzke|publisher=KCAL|date=October 26, 2024|accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="game1tribute">{{cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/video/fernando-valenzuela-honored-before-the-game|title=Fernando Valenzuela is honored before Game 1|work=MLB.com|date=October 25, 2024|accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name="valenzuelawstribute">{{cite news |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |date=October 25, 2024 |title=Dodgers honor Fernando Valenzuela in poignant ceremony before Game 1 of World Series |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/dodgers/2024/10/25/fernando-valenzuela-dodgers-world-series-ceremony/75852487007/ |access-date=November 1, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> Valenzuela's teammates [[Orel Hershiser]] and [[Steve Yeager]] were supposed to throw out the opening pitch, but did not do so out of respect for Valenzuela. Instead, Hershiser placed a baseball on the pitcher's mound, which was painted with Valenzuela's No. 34. Hershiser and Yeager also wore Valenzuela's jersey for the ceremony.<ref name="game1tribute" /> Flags flew at half-staff and a mariachi band performed at the game.<ref name="valenzuelaworldseriestribute" /><ref name="game1tribute" /><ref name="valenzuelawstribute" />

The Dodgers further announced that they would wear a uniform patch honoring Valenzuela during the [[2024 World Series]] and [[2025 Los Angeles Dodgers season|2025 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dodgers to honor Valenzuela with uniform patch in WS, 2025 season |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-patch-in-world-series-2025-season |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Coincidentally, the Dodgers' World Series celebrations took place on November 1, 2024, on what would have been Valenzuela's 64th birthday.<ref name=valenzuelavictoryparadetribute>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/dodgers-parade-fernando-valenzuela/3550003/|title=Dodgers and fans honor Fernando Valenzuela on day of World Series celebrations|first=Jonathan|last=Lloyd|publisher=NBC Los Angeles|date=November 1, 2024|accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-dodgers-parade-96a6a89a5d2988440ef9220b0391b1b1|title=Ohtani and the LA Dodgers celebrate World Series victory with parade and stadium celebration|publisher=Associated Press|date=November 1, 2024|accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers-world-series-parade-perfectly-timed-tribute-fernando-valenzuela|title=Dodgers' World Series Parade Is Perfectly-Timed Tribute to Fernando Valenzuela|first=Tim|last=Capurso|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=October 31, 2024|accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref> A number of people attending the victory parade and Dodger Stadium celebration held signs commemorating his birthday,<ref name=valenzuelavictoryparadetribute /> and fans sang "Happy Birthday" all along the parade route.<ref name=birthdaytribute>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/the-top-five-best-moments-from-the-dodgers-2024-world-series-parade-and-celebration-at-dodger-stadium/3550451/|title=The top five best moments from the Dodgers 2024 World Series parade and celebration at Dodger Stadium|first=Michael|last=Duarte|publisher=NBC Los Angeles|date=November 1, 2024|accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/dodgers-parade-day-is-here-and-fans-are-ready-to-celebrate/|title=LA Dodgers' World Series parade lights up downtown as fans celebrate championship win|first1=Julie|last1=Sharp|first2=Marissa|last2=Wenzke|publisher=KCAL|date=November 1, 2024|accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref>

Artist Robert Vargas completed a large mural of Valenzuela in [[Boyle Heights, Los Angeles|Boyle Heights]] shortly after Valenzuela's death.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lecaro |first=Lina |date=2024-10-30 |title=Robert Vargas Talks L.A. Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela Mural as it Nears Completion |url=https://lamag.com/arts-and-entertainment/robert-vargas-shares-thoughts-on-completing-his-l-a-dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-mural |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=LAmag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2024 |title=Massive Boyle Heights mural honoring Fernando Valenzuela finally finished |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/massive-boyle-heights-mural-honoring-fernando-valenzuela-finally-finished/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=CBS News - Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref>