Editing Fernando Valenzuela

{{Short description|Mexican baseball player (1960–2024)}}
{{for|the Spanish marquis and grandee|Fernando de Valenzuela, 1st Marquis of Villasierra}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Valenzuela|Anguamea|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| image_size         = 220px
| image              = Fernando Valenzuela in wind up for pitch (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Valenzuela in 1986
| position           = [[Pitcher]]
| bats               = Left
| throws             = Left
| birth_date         = {{birth date |1960|11|1}}
| birth_place        = [[Etchohuaquila]], [[Sonora]], Mexico
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2024|10|22|1960|11|1}}
| death_place        = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| debutleague        = MLB
| debutdate          = September 15
| debutyear          = 1980
| debutteam          = Los Angeles Dodgers
| finalleague        = MLB
| finaldate          = July 14
| finalyear          = 1997
| finalteam          = St. Louis Cardinals
| statleague         = MLB
| stat1label         = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value         = 173–153
| stat2label         = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value         = 3.54
| stat3label         = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value         = 2,074
| teams              = 
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1980}}–{{mlby|1990}})
* [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] ({{mlby|1991}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1993}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1994}})
* [[San Diego Padres]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|1997}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1997}})
| highlights         = 
* 6× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1981]]–[[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986]])
* <!--Per discussion at WP:BASEBALL, do not add 1988. See Wikipedia talk:WikiProject_Baseball/Archive 40#Inclusion of players as World Series Champions -->[[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1981}})<!--Per discussion at WP:BASEBALL, do not add 1988. See Wikipedia talk:WikiProject_Baseball/Archive 40#Inclusion of players as World Series Champions -->
* [[NL Cy Young Award]] (1981)
* [[NL Rookie of the Year]] (1981)
* [[Gold Glove Award]] (1986)
* 2× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1981, 1983)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|NL wins leader]] (1986)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|MLB strikeout leader]] (1981)
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on June 29, 1990
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers#Retired numbers|Los Angeles Dodgers No. 34]] retired
| hofcolor           = green
| hoflink            = Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame
| hoftype            = Mexican Professional
| hofdate            = 2014
}}

'''Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea''' ({{IPA|es-419|feɾˈnando βalenˈswela}}; November 1, 1960 – October 22, 2024), nicknamed "'''El Toro'''", was a Mexican professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]]. Valenzuela played 17 [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) seasons, from 1980 to 1997 (except for a one-year sabbatical in Mexico in 1992). He played for six MLB teams, most prominently with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], who signed him in 1979 and gave him his MLB debut in 1980. Valenzuela batted and threw left-handed, with an unorthodox windup. He was one of a small number of pitchers who regularly threw a [[screwball]] in the modern era.

Valenzuela enjoyed his breakout year in 1981, when "Fernandomania" rapidly catapulted him from relative obscurity to stardom. He won his first eight [[games started|starts]], five of them [[shutout (baseball)|shutouts]], and finished with a win–loss record of 13–7 and had a 2.48 [[earned run average]] (ERA) in a season that was shortened by [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|a player's strike]]. He became the first, and as of 2024, only player to win both the [[Cy Young Award|Cy Young]] and [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] awards in the same season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-15-valenzuela-photo.html |title=Fernando Valenzuela|work= Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910014523/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-15-valenzuela-photo.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Dodgers won the [[1981 World Series|World Series]] that year.

Valenzuela peaked from 1981 to 1986, when he was named a [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in each season. He won an NL-leading 21 games in 1986, when he was a runner-up to [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]] of the [[Houston Astros]] for the Cy Young Award.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/page2/s/1986/011011neyer.html Great Scott's power burned brightest in '86] ESPN.</ref> Valenzuela was also one of the better hitting pitchers of his era. He had ten career [[home run]]s and was occasionally used by Los Angeles Dodgers [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Tommy Lasorda]] as a [[pinch-hitter]].<ref name=br>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valenfe01.shtml |title=Fernando Valenzuela Statistics and History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref> In 1986, he signed the then-largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history ($5.5 million/3 years).<ref name=":0" /> However, nagging shoulder problems diminished the remainder of his Dodgers career.<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/03/29/valenzuela-put-on-waivers-by-dodgers/ Valenzuela put on waivers by Dodgers] Baltimore Sun.</ref> He was on the Dodgers' [[1988 World Series]] championship team, but sat out the postseason with a shoulder injury. Valenzuela threw a [[no-hitter]] in 1990 before the Dodgers released him prior to the 1991 season. He spent the rest of his major league career with the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]], [[Baltimore Orioles]], [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[San Diego Padres]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]], before pitching a couple of seasons in Mexico in his 40s.

Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers organization after retiring, serving as a broadcaster from 2003 to 2024, the year of his death.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/fernando-valenzuela-dead-63-dodgers-legend-8722688|title=Fernando Valenzuela, Dodgers Legend and Broadcaster, Dies at 63|first1=Victoria|last1=Edel|first2=Sean|last2=Neumann|publisher=People|date=October 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/dodgers-legend-fernando-valenzuela-dies-at-63/|title=Legendary Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela dies at 63|first=Dean|last=Fioresi|publisher=KCAL|date=October 23, 2024|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> The Dodgers [[retired number|retired]] his {{abbr|No.|Number}} 34 in 2023. His career highlights include a record of 173–153, with an ERA of 3.54. His 41.5 career [[wins above replacement]] (according to [[Baseball Reference]]) is the highest of any Mexican-born MLB player.

== Early life ==
Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960, in [[Etchohuaquila]], a small town within the municipality of [[Navojoa]], Sonora, Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/58170/tbt-fernandomania|title=#TBT: Fernandomania!|work=[[ESPN]]|first=David|last=Schoenfield|date=May 14, 2015|access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.septimaentrada.com/mlb/perfil-fernando-valenzuela-historia-datos-estadisticas|title=Conoce a Fernando 'el Toro' Valenzuela, la leyenda mexicana de Dodgers|work=Séptima Entrada|date=June 29, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref> He was the youngest of 12 children.<ref name="findarticles1">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Kevin |year=2002 |title=Fernando Valenzuela &#124; St. of Pop Culture |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419201244 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717044637/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419201244 |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |access-date=July 25, 2009 |publisher=Findarticles.com}}</ref> His parents, Avelino and María, were poor farmers who worked the land with the help of their children<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Wulf |first=Steve |date=March 23, 1981 |title=No Hideaway for Fernando |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/03/23/no-hideaway-for-fernando-forget-low-or-slender-profiles-when-youre-discussing-fernando-valenzuela-a-rookie-to-treasure |access-date=October 24, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> and were of [[Mayo people|Mayo]] indigenous ancestry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.infocajeme.com/deportes/2014/01/todos-los-caminos-llevan-a-cooperstown/|title=Todos los caminos llevan a Cooperstown|work=Info Cajeme|first=Jaime Ariel|last=Álvarez|date=January 29, 2014|access-date=December 29, 2020|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.letraslibres.com/mexico/revista/los-mayos|title=Los mayos|work=[[Letras Libres]]|first=Gabriel|last=Zaid|date=November 1, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020|language=es}}</ref>

== Playing career ==

===Early career in Mexico===
In 1977, Valenzuela began his professional baseball career, signing with the [[Mayos de Navojoa]] of the [[Mexican Pacific League]]. A year later, he was sent to the [[Guanajuato Tuzos]] of the [[Mexican Central League]], posting a 5–6 [[win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]] with a 2.23 [[earned run average]] (ERA). The following year, the Mexican Central League was absorbed into the expanded [[Mexican League]], automatically elevating then 18-year-old Valenzuela to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A level]]. Pitching for the [[Leones de Yucatán]] that year, Valenzuela went 10–12 with a 2.49 ERA and 141 [[strikeout]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fernando Valenzuela: 2016 CALIFORNIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE|publisher=California Sports Hall of Fame|url=http://californiasportshalloffame.org/inductees/fernando-valenzuela/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

A number of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams [[scout (sport)|scouted]] Valenzuela during this time. [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] owner [[Walter O'Malley]], conscious of the large Latino population in Los Angeles, had wanted a Mexican ace pitcher for some time.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Scott |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernandomania Wasn't a Fairy Tale. It Was Better Than That. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/style/fernando-valenzuela-fernandomania.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Even so, the Dodgers found Valenzuela by accident. They sent scout [[Mike Brito]] to a game in Mexico to evaluate a shortstop named Ali Uscanga. Valenzuela threw three balls to Uscanga to fall behind in the count and then threw three straight strikes for the strikeout. Brito said later that at that point, he "forgot all about the shortstop".<ref name=Gonzalez>{{cite web|last1=Gonzalez|first1=Alden|title=Valenzuela inducted into Caribbean Hall of Fame|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/41377532/fernando-valenzuela-inducted-into-caribbean-hall-of-fame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001040/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/41377532/fernando-valenzuela-inducted-into-caribbean-hall-of-fame|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|work=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=April 15, 2015|date=February 3, 2013}}</ref> The Dodgers bought out Valenzuela's Liga contract on July 6, 1979, for $120,000 (about $521,158 in 2024), of which $20,000 went to Valenzuela and $100,000 went to the team.<ref name="findarticles1" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Weisman |first=Jon |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Brothers in Arms excerpt: Fernando Valenzuela |url=https://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2024/10/22/brothers-in-arms-excerpt-fernando-valenzuela/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Dodger Thoughts |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[New York Yankees]] subsequently offered $150,000, but the Leones honored their original deal, and Valenzuela became a Dodger.<ref name=":10" />

=== Move to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization ===
After acquiring Valenzuela in the summer of 1979, the Dodgers assigned him to the [[Lodi Dodgers]] of the [[High-A]] California League, where he posted a 1–2 record and a 1.13 [[earned run average]] (ERA) in limited action.<ref name=BRMinors>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valenz002fer Fernando Valenzuela Minor League Statistics & History]. [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Retrieved May 17, 2015.</ref> Brito worried that Valenzuela did not throw with enough velocity and felt that he needed to develop an [[off-speed pitch]], so the Dodgers had their pitcher [[Bobby Castillo]] teach him to throw the [[screwball]] before the 1980 season.<ref name=Crowe>Crowe, Jerry. [https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-mar-27-la-sp-crowe-20110328-story.html A screwball chain of events led the Dodgers to Fernando Valenzuela]. [[Los Angeles Times]]. March 27, 2011.</ref> In 1980 Valenzuela was promoted to the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[San Antonio Dodgers]], where he led the [[Texas League]] with 162 strikeouts and finished the season with a 13–9 win-loss record and a 3.10 ERA.<ref name=TL1980>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=04918113 1980 Texas League pitching leaders]. [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Retrieved May 17, 2015.</ref>

Valenzuela was called up to the major leagues in September 1980, serving as a reliever in the last month of the season.<ref name=toribio_04162021/> In his first game on September 15 against [[Atlanta Braves|Atlanta]], his [[catcher]] was [[Mike Scioscia]], who spoke some Spanish; Valenzuela spoke little English.<ref name=":10" /> Valenzuela's excellent performances as a reliever (17{{fraction|2|3}} scoreless [[inning]]s of [[relief pitcher|relief]] in 10 games) helped the Dodgers tie the [[Houston Astros]] for the [[NL West]] division lead. He earned two wins and a [[save (baseball)|save]]. However, the Dodgers then lost a one-game tiebreaker—and thus, the division championship—to the Astros.<ref name=toribio_04162021>{{Cite web|first=Juan|last=Toribio|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/fernando-valenzuela-dominant-as-reliever-in-debut-season|title=Even pre-mania, Fernando was 'amazing'|date=April 16, 2021|website=MLB.com}}</ref>

=== "Fernandomania" ===
[[File:Fernando Valenzuela in bullpen.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Valenzuela  pitching for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in 1981]]
Following his successful stint as a reliever in 1980, Valenzuela transitioned to a full-time starter role in his 1981 rookie season. He was unexpectedly named the Dodgers' [[Opening Day]] starter as a rookie after [[Jerry Reuss]] was injured 24 hours before his scheduled start, and [[Burt Hooton]] was not ready to fill in.<ref name="brown" /> At first, Valenzuela did not think manager [[Tommy Lasorda]] was serious.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Guzman |first=Ed |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, who sparked Fernandomania, dies |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-10-22/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-fernandomania-obit |url-access=limited |access-date=October 22, 2024 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> However, he filled in and [[Shutout (baseball)|shut out]] the [[Houston Astros]] 2–0.<ref name=brown>{{cite news|last=Brown |first=Daniel |title=Jeremy Lin: Fernando Valenzuela understands Lin-Sanity first hand |date=February 16, 2012 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19982777 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427035002/http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19982777 |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was the first rookie to start Opening Day for the Dodgers.<ref name=":7" />

Valenzuela enjoyed one of the hottest starts to a career in MLB history. He began the season 8–0 with seven [[complete game]]s, five [[shutout (baseball)|shutouts]] and an ERA of 0.50.<ref name="jaffe_08142023">{{cite web|first=Jay|last=Jaffe|title=The Dodgers Finally Call Fernando Valenzuela's Number|date=August 14, 2023|work=FanGraphs|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-dodgers-finally-call-fernando-valenzuelas-number/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> In addition to his dominance on the mound, Valenzuela's unusual and flamboyant pitching motion—including a glance skyward at the apex of each wind-up—drew attention of its own.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/alex_belth/08/04/five.phenoms/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830113816/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/alex_belth/08/04/five.phenoms/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2006|title=SI.com – Writers – Alex Belth: The five true pitching phenoms – Tuesday August 8, 2006 11:33AM|publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com|date= August 4, 2006|access-date=July 25, 2009}}</ref> His most prominent and effective pitch was the screwball,<ref name=":11">{{cite news|first=Bruce|last=Schoenfeld|title=The Mystery of the Vanishing Screwball|date=July 10, 2014|work=The New York Times Magazine|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/magazine/the-mystery-of-the-vanishing-screwball.html|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> which had not been a popular pitch for decades.<ref>{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Gutierrez|title=Remembering Fernando Valenzuela and Fernandomania|date=October 23, 2024|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/story/_/id/38168721/fernandomania-los-angeles-dodgers-fernando-valenzuela|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

An instant media icon, Valenzuela drew large crowds from Los Angeles' Latino community every time he pitched, and his rookie 1981 Topps and Fleer [[baseball card]]s were in high demand. The craze surrounding Valenzuela came to be known as "Fernandomania".<ref name="wilson" /> The Dodgers' Spanish radio broadcast ratings on [[KTNQ]] jumped from 3.4 to 8.6.<ref name=":2"/> His starts drew large crowds in every city.<ref name="jaffe_08142023" /> During his warm-up routine at Dodger Stadium, the PA system would play [[ABBA]]'s 1976 hit song "[[Fernando (song)|Fernando]]". He became the first player to win the [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] and the [[Cy Young Award]] in the same season, and finished fifth in NL MVP voting. He was also the first rookie to lead the NL in strikeouts. The Dodgers won the [[1981 World Series|World Series that season]].<ref name="brown" />

[[File:President Ronald Reagan shaking hands with Fernando Valenzuela and Antonio DeMarco with Leonore Annenberg in the background (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|upright|In 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] invited Valenzuela to the [[White House]] for a state luncheon with Mexican president [[José López Portillo]].<ref name=":8" />]]
Valenzuela was less dominant after the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|1981 player strike]] wiped out the middle third of the season, but the left-hander still finished with a 13–7 record and a 2.48 ERA. He led the majors in shutouts (8) and strikeouts (180), and led the NL in complete games (11) and innings pitched (192.1). He was also second in the NL in wins (13). He demonstrated his unusually good batting (for a pitcher) by batting .250 and striking out just nine times in 64 at-bats.<ref name="br" /> He became the first Dodgers pitcher to win the NL [[Silver Slugger Award]].<ref name="almanac">{{cite web |title=MLB STATS FOR FERNANDO VALENZUELA |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=valenfe01 |access-date=October 23, 2024 |work=Baseball Almanac}}</ref>

In [[1981 National League Division Series#Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros|the NL West Division Series]] against the [[Houston Astros]], Valenzuela became the youngest pitcher to start the first game of any postseason series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Oct15/0,4670,BBNNLCS,00.html|work=Fox News|agency=AP|title=Phillies lead Dodgers 5–4 after 6|date=May 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119095220/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Oct15/0,4670,BBNNLCS,00.html|archive-date=November 19, 2010}}</ref> He also threw a 147-pitch{{Efn|Various outlets have reported differing pitch counts, although it is generally accepted that Valenzuela threw over 145 pitches.<ref name=":9"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duarte |first=Michael |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela's remarkable rookie season with the Dodgers in 1981 will live on forever |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/fernando-valenzuelas-remarkable-rookie-season-with-the-dodgers-in-1981-will-live-on-forever/3542160/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="turbow_10262017" /><ref name=":14" /> A display at Dodger Stadium records Valenzuela's pitch count at 147.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Los Angeles Dodgers (Spanish) |date=2021-04-09 |title=A 40 años de la Fernandomanía. |url=https://x.com/LosDodgers/status/1380590918789701638 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Twitter}}</ref> However, a Spanish-language article on the Dodgers website says Valenzuela threw 146 pitches,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Alonso |first1=Nathalie |last2=Venn |first2=David |date=2021-04-09 |title=Hace 40 años, empezó la Fernandomanía |url=https://www.mlb.com/es/dodgers/news/un-dia-como-hoy-nacio-la-fernandomania |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=MLB.com |language=es}}</ref> and an English-language article on the same website says 147 pitches.<ref name=":17" />}} complete game in a game 3 win over the [[New York Yankees]] in the World Series.<ref name=":9"/> In total, he went 3–1 in the postseason with a 2.21 ERA in {{frac|40|2|3}} innings,<ref>{{cite news|title=Corey Seager can make history for Dodgers this postseason|date=February 25, 2015|work=Fox Sports|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/corey-seager-can-make-history-for-dodgers-this-postseason|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> and he helped the Dodgers win their first World Series since [[1965 World Series|1965]].<ref name="odowd_04112021">{{cite news|first1=Peter|last1=O'Dowd|first2=Serena|last2=McMahon|title='Fernandomania' 40 years later: How Fernando Valenzuela captivated baseball fans for decades|date=April 11, 2021|work=WBUR|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/04/16/fernando-valenzuela-baseball|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

Valenzuela achieved this success knowing little English at the time. Scioscia gave some of the credit to Lasorda, who had learned Spanish during his time in the Caribbean [[Winter league baseball|winter leagues]], and "gave him all instructions in Spanish."<ref name=martinez_09192012>{{cite news|first=Hiram|last=Martinez|title=An edge: Spanish-speaking managers|date=September 19, 2012|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/OneNation-MLB120919/major-league-managers-speak-spanish-bring-competitive-edge-game|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Scioscia also "learned Spanish just so he could communicate with Fernando", according to Lasorda.<ref name="oats_03141985" /> In 1981, the manager strictly [[Platoon system|platooned]] Scioscia and [[Steve Yeager]] at catcher, with Yeager seeing limited playing time with the Dodgers facing only 14 left-handers during the season.<ref name=turbow_10262017>{{cite news|first=Jason|last=Turbow|title=The day Fernando Valenzuela threw 146 pitches in a complete-game victory to rescue the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series|date=October 26, 2017|work=The Athletic|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/138584/2017/10/26/the-day-fernando-valenzuela-threw-146-pitches-in-a-complete-game-victory-to-rescue-the-dodgers-in-the-1981-world-series/|url-access=subscription|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>  In game 3 of the World Series, Valenzuela was struggling when Lasorda substituted Scioscia, with whom the pitcher was more familiar, in place of Yeager, after Yankees left-hander [[Dave Righetti]] had exited the game.<ref name=turbow_10262017/><ref name=oats_03141985>{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Oats|title=Take It From the Grapevine: When Mike Scioscia Talks Now in Any Language, the Dodgers Listen : Time to Catch a Rising Star|date=March 14, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-14-sp-26694-story.html|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Lasorda credited Scioscia with steadying Valenzuela.<ref name=oats_03141985/>

=== "El Toro" ===
[[File:Fernando Valenzuela pitching, 1986.jpg|left|thumb|Valenzuela was named to six consecutive [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star Games]].]]
Following his debut, Valenzuela, nicknamed {{lang|es|El Toro}} (the Bull) by fans, settled down and established himself as a workhorse starter and one of the league's best pitchers.<ref name=wilson>{{cite web|first=Vic|last=Wilson|title=Fernandomania|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/fernandomania/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> From 1981 to 1986, Valenzuela was named an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] six straight times<ref name=cromwell/> and recorded an ERA of 3.14 or below in five of these years. He also recorded top-five [[Cy Young Award]] finishes in 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1986.<ref name="br" />

Valenzuela repeatedly commanded record-setting salaries. Prior to the [[1983 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1983 season]], Valenzuela became the first player to be awarded a $1,000,000 salary in [[Major League Baseball transactions#Free agency and salary arbitration|arbitration]] (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1|1982|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}), with his drawing power cited as part of the pitch.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Valenzuela Granted $1 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/20/sports/valenzuela-granted-1-million.html |access-date=October 13, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 20, 1983}}</ref> Before the [[1986 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1986 season]], he signed a contract worth $5.5&nbsp;million over three years (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|5.5|1986|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}), then the wealthiest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. His annual average salary of $1,833,333 and 1988 salary of $2.05&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|2.05|1988|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) also both set records for a pitcher.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Chass |first1=Murray |title=Valenzuela Gets $5.5 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/sports/valenzuela-gets-5.5-million.html |access-date=October 13, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 16, 1986}}</ref>

In 1986, Valenzuela finished 21–11 with a 3.14 ERA and led the league in wins, complete games and innings pitched. He lost a narrow vote for the 1986 NL Cy Young Award to the Astros' [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]].<ref name=Awards86>{{cite web|title=1986 Awards voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1986.shtml|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> He also won the [[Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold Glove Award Winners {{!}} History |url=https://www.mlb.com/awards/gold-glove |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> In the [[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986 All-Star Game]], Valenzuela made history by striking out five consecutive [[American League]] batters, tying a record set by fellow left-handed screwballer [[Carl Hubbell]] in the 1934 contest.<ref name=Hubbell>{{cite news|last1=Friend|first1=Tom|title=Hubbell: My record didn't mean much: Valenzuela's All-Star strikeout effort doesn't mean much, either, he believes|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-17-sp-21369-story.html|access-date=April 16, 2015|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 17, 1986}}</ref>

Valenzuela's performance declined in [[1987 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1987]] with a 14–14 win–loss record and 3.98 ERA.<ref name=walker_05191989/> In [[1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1988]], a year in which the Dodgers won [[1988 World Series|the World Series]], he was placed on the [[disabled list]] for the first time in his career due to left shoulder problems.<ref name=walker_05191989>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Walker|title=Fernandomania turned to pain worry|date=May 19, 1989|newspaper=Daily Press|page=B-4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press/157721020/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref> He had pitched 255 games without missing a start.<ref name=cromwell/> Valenzuela was out for two months,<ref name=LNS/> before making a cameo appearance with a three-inning start and a four-inning relief stint.<ref name=riggs_03071989>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Riggs|title=Valenzuela Happy Despite Poor Show|date=March 7, 1989|newspaper=Indian River Press Journal|page=B1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/indian-river-press-journal/157720866/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref> He finished the season 5–8 with a 4.24 ERA,<ref name=walker_05191989/> before being left off the playoff roster and getting needed rest.<ref name=":2"/><ref name=riggs_03071989/> Although the Dodgers awarded him a second [[World Series ring]], he refused to wear it, explaining that "I didn't do anything."<ref name=":7" />

He improved slightly in [[1989 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1989]] and went 10–13.<ref name=LNS/> However, commentators noted "an obvious loss of velocity" following his 1988 shoulder injury.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Newhan |first=Ross |date=April 9, 1990 |title=Baseball '90 Preview: One Pitch from Stardom |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-09-ss-992-story.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In the off-season, he signed a one-year, $2 million contract for 1990.<ref name=":12" /> In [[1990 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1990]], he posted a 13–13 record and his then-career worst 4.59 ERA.<ref name=":9" /> He had one last great moment on June 29, 1990, when he threw a 6–0 [[no-hitter]] against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] just hours after the [[Oakland Athletics]]' [[Dave Stewart (baseball)|Dave Stewart]] had thrown one against the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref name="cromwell" /> According to Lasorda, Valenzuela predicted to some of his teammates, "That's great, now maybe we'll see another no-hitter".<ref name="plaschke_06301990" /> (Scioscia recalled that Valenzuela's words were "You saw [a no-hitter] on TV, now you're going to see one in person."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Kevin |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Scioscia reminisces on Fernando's no-no |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-scioscia-caught-fernando-s-1990-no-hitter-c239574080 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Ladson |first=Bill |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Scioscia on Fernando: 'A down-to-earth kid from Mexico' who became a star |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-scioscia-remembers-the-late-fernando-valenzuela |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>) It was the first time in the modern baseball era that two no-hitters were thrown on the same day.<ref name="plaschke_06301990">{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Plaschke|title=The Night of Two No-Hitters : Fernando Pitches One for the First Time as He Stymies Cardinals, 6–0|date=June 30, 1990|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-30-sp-434-story.html|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

=== Post-Dodgers career ===
[[File:Fernando Valenzuela 1991.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Valenzuela pitching for the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] in 1991]]
After struggling in [[spring training]] at 1–2 and a 7.88 ERA in 16 innings in 1991, Valenzuela was released by the Dodgers. At the time of his release, several Dodgers leaders, including Lasorda, [[Fred Claire]], and [[Peter O'Malley]], praised Valenzuela for creating exciting memories over several seasons and indicated that it was a difficult decision to release him.<ref name=LNS>{{cite news|title=Fernando Valenzuela released by Dodgers|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19910329&id=TZwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=2051,4318064&hl=en|access-date=April 15, 2015|work=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]|agency=AP|date=March 29, 1991}}</ref> However, others described his cut as a cost-cutting move,<ref name="wilson" /> as the Dodgers were facing a deadline to guarantee Valenzuela's $2.55 million contract.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela, Pitcher Whose Screwballs Eluded Batters, Dies at 63 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/sports/fernando-valenzuela-dead.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Dylan |date=March 30, 2011 |title=Fernando Valenzuela was a game-changer for the Dodgers, baseball, and Los Angeles |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-mar-30-la-sp-0331-fernandomania-20110331-story.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

With respect to the major leagues, 1991 and 1992 were essentially lost seasons for Valenzuela. Being cut late in 1991 spring training, when most rosters were already fixed, made it hard for Valenzuela to find a new team that year.<ref name="wilson" /><ref name=":7" /> He signed with the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] later that summer, but played in only two games and posted a 12.15 ERA.<ref name=cromwell/> He spent most of the season on the disabled list due to a heart problem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Jack |date=August 6, 2021 |title=Fernando Valenzuela has fond memories of his brief stint with the Angels 30 years ago |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2021-08-06/fernando-valenzuela-angels-two-starts-1991-season-dodgers |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1992, he was out of the majors entirely and played for [[Charros de Jalisco]] of the Mexican League, going 10–9 with a 3.86 overall ERA, including an improved 2.70 in the second half. He completed 13 games in 22 starts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Valenzuela awaits chance|date=August 21, 1992|newspaper=The Windsor Star|page=B2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star/157719512/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref>

Valenzuela returned to the majors in 1993 with the [[Baltimore Orioles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Beth |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Former Orioles pitcher and Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela dies at 63 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/10/22/orioles-dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-dies/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> He was relatively healthy, making 31 starts, but gave up more walks than strikeouts for only the second time in his career (the other time being his injury-plagued 1988 season). His ERA was an unimpressive 4.94. He returned to the Mexican League for the start of 1994, but got another opportunity in the majors with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], who needed injury replacements for their starting rotation. He pitched well, starting 7 games and recording a 3.00 ERA until a [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|players' strike]] wiped out the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lugardo |first=Destiny |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela's last start as a Phillie was a memorable one – Phillies Nation |url=https://www.philliesnation.com/2024/10/philadelphia-phillies-fernando-valenzuela-veterans-stadium-1994-strike-los-angeles-dodgers-fernandomania/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> When the Phillies announced that Valenzuela would start the July 4, 1994, Dodgers-Phillies game in Los Angeles, the Dodgers sold nearly 20,000 tickets within a week and recorded a sellout. Valenzuela gave up two runs in six innings; both runs were partially caused by a muffed fly ball "that was charitably scored a double." The Dodgers won 3–1.<ref name=":4" />

Valenzuela moved back to Southern California to play for the [[San Diego Padres]], with whom he enjoyed his last successful season in [[1996 San Diego Padres season|1996]], going 13–8 with a 3.62 ERA.<ref name="cromwell">{{cite web|first=Carter|last=Cromwell|title=June 29, 1990: Fernando Valenzuela predicts, then throws no-hitter for Dodgers|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-29-1990-fernando-valenzuela-predicts-then-throws-no-hitter-for-dodgers/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Valenzuela started MLB's first-ever game in Mexico,<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title='Fernandomania' and beyond: Remembering Fernando Valenzuela's best moments |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/fernando-valenzuelas-best-career-moments |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> helping the Padres beat the [[New York Mets]] at the [[Estadio Mobil Super|Estadio Monterrey]] on August 16, 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doutrich |first=Paul E. |title=August 16, 1996: Valenzuela, Padres enjoy a baseball fiesta in Mexico – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-16-1996-san-diego-padres-15-new-york-mets-10-at-estadio-beisbol-de-monterrey-monterrey-mexico/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On June 13, 1997, the Padres traded Valenzuela, [[Scott Livingstone]], and [[Phil Plantier]] to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[Rich Batchelor]], [[Danny Jackson]], and [[Mark Sweeney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-14-sp-3324-story.html|title=Padres Trade Valenzuela to Cardinals|agency=Associated Press|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 14, 1997|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> He made five starts for the Cardinals, ending his MLB career with a record of 173–153 and a 3.54 ERA.<ref name="br" />

The Dodgers invited Valenzuela to spring training in 1999, but he declined the offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-22-sp-710-story.html|title=Valenzuela Has Dodger Invite|author=Bill Shaikin|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 22, 1999}}</ref> In his mid-40s, he played a couple of seasons in the [[Mexican Pacific League]] for [[Águilas de Mexicali]].<ref name=BRMinors/>

== Player profile ==

=== Pitching ===
Valenzuela relied on deception, command, and a large arsenal of off-speed pitches to keep opposing batters off balance. During his rookie year, [[Sandy Koufax]] noted that "it's very unusual for someone that young to have such control over so many pitches."<ref name=":10" /> He was never a power pitcher; at his peak he threw roughly 87–88&nbsp;mph, which fell to 83–84&nbsp;mph or below during his final Dodgers years and 79-84&nbsp;mph in 1994.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Privman |first=Jay |date=July 4, 1994 |title=Valenzuela Makes Return To Acclaim, and Defeat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/04/sports/baseball-valenzuela-makes-return-to-acclaim-and-defeat.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> However, Valenzuela's longtime catcher [[Mike Scioscia]] recalled that at his peak, Valenzuela "had impeccable command" and could "move a ball 3 or 4 inches more off the corner at will." He praised Valenzuela's ability to disguise his pitches, noting that "everything looked like a fastball out of his hand."<ref name=":13" />

He was best known for his [[screwball]],<ref name=":11" /> which looked like a fastball and broke late.<ref name=":15" /> He was able to throw screwballs at varying velocities,<ref name=":10" /> and he could also cause them to break vertically or laterally.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last1=Sanchez |first1=Jesse |last2=Alonso |first2=Nathalie |last3=Venn |first3=David |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Remembering Fernandomania 40 years later |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/remembering-fernandomania-40-years-later |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Rick Monday]] recalled that Valenzuela's screwball was so deceptive that it could generate swinging strikes even if Valenzuela was having trouble targeting it that day.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Tony |date=June 25, 2010 |title=Valenzuela pitched best game in 1981 World Series |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/columns/story?id=5325436 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> However, he also threw an effective [[curveball]], and was also known to throw a [[changeup]], a [[Sinker (pitch)|sinker]], and a [[Slider (pitch)|slider]].<ref name=":10" /> In his later years he added a [[Cut fastball|cutter]] to mitigate his diminishing effectiveness.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":12" />

A workhorse starter, Valenzuela was able to remain effective late in games, despite high pitch counts, which Scioscia credited to his slow heartbeat and ability to "slow the game down."<ref name=":15" /> In Game 3 of the [[1981 World Series]], with the Dodgers down 2–0 to the [[New York Yankees]], Valenzuela struggled through difficult circumstances: he was pitching on short rest,<ref name=":17" /> he could not locate his signature screwball,<ref name=":16" /> and he surrendered nine hits and seven walks.<ref name="turbow_10262017" /> He needed 72 pitches to get through the first three innings,<ref name="turbow_10262017" /> and Valenzuela later recalled that [[Tommy Lasorda]] considered pulling him in the third inning.<ref name=":16" /> Nonetheless, he convinced Lasorda to leave him in the game. He shut down the Yankees offense for the next six innings to earn a complete game victory.<ref name=":16" /> He threw over 145 pitches that game,<ref name=":9" /> although the exact number is disputed.

Valenzuela was known for his unusual windup, which involved a skyward glance on every pitch, as well as his high leg kick.<ref name=":17" /> He said that he developed the former habit spontaneously during his time in the Dodgers' minor league system.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 20, 2008 |title=Fernando Valenzuela interview |url=http://www.oyemag.com/index.php/fernando-valenzuela/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131222359/http://oyemag.com/index.php/fernando-valenzuela/ |archive-date=January 31, 2009 |access-date=December 21, 2008 |work=Open Your Eyes Magazine |language=es}}</ref>

=== Hitting ===
Valenzuela was considered an atypically good hitter for a pitcher. He won the [[List of Silver Slugger Award winners at pitcher|Silver Slugger award for pitchers]] in 1981 and 1983.<ref name="almanac" /> Of his 41.5 career wins above replacement (WAR), 4.1 were attributed to his bat, including 1.2 WAR in 1990 (in just 78 plate appearances) and 0.6 WAR in both 1981 and 1986 (71 and 116 plate appearances, respectively). By way of comparison, [[Mike Hampton]] (the all-time leader in pitching Silver Sluggers) never tallied more than 1.2 batting WAR in a single season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Hampton |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamptmi01.shtml |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Valenzuela's best year at the plate was 1990—his last year with the Dodgers—when he had a .304 [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]] with five [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], a home run, and 11 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs) in 69 [[at-bat]]s. That gave him a 101 [[OPS+]], meaning Valenzuela ranked just above average among all NL hitters that year, including non-pitchers. He batted .200 for his career (187 hits in 936 at-bats, roughly equivalent to two seasons as a position player) with 10 home runs, 26 doubles, and 84 RBIs.<ref name="br" /> Valenzuela was even used on occasion as a [[pinch-hitter]], batting .368 (7-for-19) as such. Twice while with the Dodgers, Valenzuela was called upon to play the [[outfield]] and first base in marathon [[extra-inning]] games in which he did not pitch.<ref>{{cite web|first=Philippe |last=Cousineau|title=Pitchers in the Field: The Use of Pitchers at Other Positions in the Major Leagues, 1969–2009|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/pitchers-in-the-field-the-use-of-pitchers-at-other-positions-in-the-major-leagues-1969-2009/|access-date=October 23, 2014}}</ref>

== Retirement ==
[[File:Fernando Valenzuela 2007.jpg|thumb|upright|Valenzuela in 2007]]
Valenzuela was angry at the Dodgers over his 1991 release for beyond a decade. Although he lived close to [[Dodger Stadium]], he boycotted games and team-sponsored activities.<ref name=wilson/> In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers organization as the Spanish-language radio color commentator for NL West games, joining [[Jaime Jarrín]] and [[Pepe Yñiguez]] in the Spanish-language booth. In 2015, he made the jump to television, becoming the Spanish-language color commentator for the Dodgers' cable affiliate [[SportsNet LA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2015/1/30/7954641/dodgers-broadcast-2015-jaime-jarrin-jorge-jarrin|title=Jaime Jarrín & Jorge Jarrin new Dodgers Spanish radio team|work=truebluela.com|date=January 30, 2015|access-date=January 30, 2015|first=Eric|last=Stephen}}</ref> He stepped down from broadcasting in the last week of the 2024 regular season.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Plaschke |first=Bill |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela was the man who connected L.A. to the Dodgers |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-10-22/life-fernando-valenzuela-appreciation-latino-fans |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Valenzuela served on [[Mexico national baseball team|Team Mexico]]'s [[World Baseball Classic]] coaching staff in [[2006 World Baseball Classic|2006]], [[2009 World Baseball Classic|2009]], [[2013 World Baseball Classic|2013]], and [[2017 World Baseball Classic|2017]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela, Mexican-born pitcher whose feats for Dodgers fueled 'Fernandomania,' dies at 63 |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/sports/fernando-valenzuela-mexican-born-pitcher-whose-feats-for-dodgers-fueled-fernandomania-dies-at-63 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS) |language=en}}</ref>

Valenzuela purchased the [[Mexican League]] team [[Tigres de Quintana Roo]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/valenzuela-to-buy-into-quintana-roo-tigres-216758732|title=Valenzuela to buy into Quintana Roo Tigres|website=MiLB.com}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

=== Statistical profile and league-wide honors ===
Valenzuela's 41.45 career [[wins above replacement]] is the highest for a Mexican player in MLB history.<ref>{{cite news|first=Luke|last=Zahlmann|title=Famous players from Mexico ahead of MLB World Tour's stop in Mexico City|date=April 27, 2024|newspaper=The Denver Gazette|url=https://denvergazette.com/sports/rockies-among-group-of-famous-mexican-players-in-majors/article_cb027c94-04b3-11ef-849e-aba9fd62f5e6.html|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame]] on August 23, 2003, in a pregame ceremony at [[Dodger Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame Players – 1999–2005 |url=https://www.hhbmhof.com/players-98-05 |website=hhbmhof.com |publisher=Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame |access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref> In 2005, he was named one of three starting pitchers on MLB's [[Latino Legends Team]].<ref name="Legends">{{cite web|last1=Sanchez|first1=Jesse|title=Latino Legends team announced|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1260107/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416110617/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1260107/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 16, 2015|work=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=April 16, 2015|date=October 26, 2005}}</ref> In [[Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame#2013|2013]], he was enshrined into the [[Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Gonzalez" /> Valenzuela was inducted into the [[Baseball Reliquary]]'s [[Baseball Reliquary#Shrine of the Eternals|Shrine of the Eternals]] in 2006.<ref name="BRSOTE Inductees">[http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees "Shrine of the Eternals – Inductees"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919092503/http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees |date=September 19, 2020}}. Baseball Reliquary. Retrieved August 14, 2019.</ref>

On July 6, 2019, the Mexican Baseball League commemorated Valenzuela's legacy by retiring his jersey number 34 from the entire league.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 30, 2019 |title=Notification of the LMB about the planned award |url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/la-lmb-retirar225-el-n250mero-34-de-fernando-valenzuela/c-306712600 |access-date=October 12, 2019 |publisher=Milb.com}}</ref>

In the [[2003 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting]], Valenzuela's first year of eligibility, he received 6.3% of the vote. He dropped off the ballot [[2004 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|the following year]].<ref name=":2" /> As of August 2023, he has never been considered for induction by the [[Veterans Committee|Veterans' Committee]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Jorge |date=August 10, 2023 |title=The Dodgers have retired Fernando Valenzuela's number. Does he have a path to Cooperstown? |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2023-08-10/fernando-valenzuela-number-retirement-baseball-hall-of-fame |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Commentators have occasionally questioned whether Valenzuela's sharp mid-career decline was due to overuse (Valenzuela led the league in batters faced three times in his first seven seasons), and whether he could have accumulated the counting stats necessary for the Hall of Fame if modern best practices had been in place during the 1980s.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":17" /> Although some commentators suggested that Valenzuela's reliance on the screwball caused permanent damage to his shoulder,<ref name=":17" /> Dodgers orthopedist [[Frank Jobe]] firmly attributed his decline to overuse, explaining that "Fernando pitched a horrendous number of innings" during his years with the team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Janny |date=March 29, 1991 |title=Is Valenzuela Paying Price for the Screwball? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-29-sp-1013-story.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Impact on the Dodgers ===
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = LAret34.PNG
|Name   = Fernando Valenzuela
|Number = 34
|Team   = Los Angeles Dodgers
|Year   = 2023
|}}

Valenzuela was an iconic figure for the [[Mexican Americans|Mexican-American]] community in Los Angeles and his impact "transform[ed] what had been predominantly a white [Dodger] fan base."<ref name=":2" /> The Dodgers had previously courted controversy among Los Angeles' Latino community due to the location of [[Dodger Stadium]]. Starting in 1951, the city of Los Angeles had struggled to evict a predominantly Latino, working-class community in the Chavez Ravine neighborhood (see ''[[Battle of Chavez Ravine]]'').<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Shatkin |first=Elina |date=October 17, 2018 |title=The ugly, violent clearing of Chavez Ravine before it was home to the Dodgers |url=https://laist.com/news/la-history/dodger-stadium-chavez-ravine-battle |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=LAist |language=en}}</ref> The city promised the nearly 1,800 displaced families, which also included Italian-Americans and Chinese-Americans, that it would allow the families to return after building a public housing project on the site.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Acevedo |first=Nicole |date=March 26, 2024 |title=Los Angeles considers reparations for families forced off land where Dodger Stadium stands |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/dodgers-stadium-reparations-families-land-california-angeles-rcna145152 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> However, [[Norris Poulson]] was elected mayor in 1953 on a platform opposing public housing, and the housing plan was canceled.<ref name=":5" />

When the Brooklyn Dodgers announced that they were looking for a new city, Poulson sold the Chavez Ravine site to the team at a below-market price, allowing the Dodgers to build Dodger Stadium.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Molina |first=Natalia |date=October 19, 2022 |title=If You're Latinx, Loving the Dodgers Is Complicated {{!}} Essay |url=https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/latinx-loving-dodgers-is-complicated/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Zócalo Public Square |language=en-US}}</ref> Although the Dodgers were not directly responsible for evicting the residents of Chavez Ravine, they were the greatest beneficiary of the eviction, and thereby became a target of resentment for many Latinos in the area.<ref name=":2" />

Valenzuela's rise is credited with helping heal the divide between Latinos and the Dodger franchise.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sternfield |first=Marc |date=October 23, 2024 |title=How Fernando Valenzuela changed Los Angeles forever |url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/how-fernando-valenzuela-changed-los-angeles-forever/ |access-date=October 23, 2024 |work=KTLA}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Waldstein |first=David |date=October 25, 2017 |title=With a Crowd of Diverse Faces, Dodger Stadium Stands Out |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/sports/baseball/los-angeles-dodgers-world-series.html?searchResultPosition=51 |access-date=October 25, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Jaime Jarrín]], the Dodgers' longtime Spanish-language broadcaster, estimated that before Fernandomania, no more than 10% of fans at Dodger home games were Latino, a figure that rose to 54% by 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leiva |first=Priscilla |date=October 22, 2020 |title=The Complicated Relationship Between Latinos and the Los Angeles Dodgers |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/complicated-relationship-between-latinos-and-los-angeles-dodgers-180976109/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref> In addition to Mexican-Americans, teammate [[Dusty Baker]] noted that other Latin Americans rallied behind Valenzuela.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Alonso |first=Nathalie |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Teammates still awed by Fernandomania |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/fernando-valenzuela-inspires-teammates |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Although the Dodgers consistently led the majors in attendance before Valenzuela's debut, his performances drew even larger crowds to Dodger Stadium. In 1981, the Dodgers' average attendance was 42,523, which rose to 48,430 when Valenzuela started at home.<ref name=":2" /> [[Vin Scully]] later said that "Fernandomania bordered on a religious experience."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fernandomania made it all the way to Cooperstown {{!}} Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/fernandomania-made-it-all-the-way-to-cooperstown |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=baseballhall.org}}</ref>

The Dodgers retired Valenzuela's [[Uniform number (Major League Baseball)|jersey number]] 34 on August 11, 2023, celebrating the event with a "Fernandomania" weekend on August 11–13.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flores |first1=Andrea |last2=Martinez |first2=Fidel |date=August 12, 2023 |title=Latino fans recall the importance of Fernando's Dodgers career |url=https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-12/fernando-valenzuela-number-retired-dodgers |access-date=October 23, 2024 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Along with [[Jim Gilliam]], Valenzuela is one of only two Dodgers to receive this honor despite not being in the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]]. Although Valenzuela's number was not officially retired for several decades after Valenzuela left the Dodgers, the team had consistently (though unofficially) kept the number out of circulation out of respect for Valenzuela.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dodgers to retire Fernando Valenzuela's No. 34 before Friday's game against Rockies |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/dodgers-to-retire-fernando-valenzuelas-no-34-before-fridays-game-against-rockies/ |access-date=August 11, 2023 |work=cbsnews.com}}</ref>

The Dodgers also invited Valenzuela to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Game 2 of the [[2017 World Series]] at Dodger Stadium, where he was introduced by retired announcer [[Vin Scully]] and joined by [[Steve Yeager]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Watch: Vin Scully brings Dodgers legends for 1st pitch |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/10/25/vin-scully-brings-out-fernando-valenzuela-steve-yeager-first-pitch-video |access-date=October 26, 2017 |work=SI.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Beloved Scully delights Dodgers fans at Game 2 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21158620/2017-world-series-vin-scully-fernando-valenzuela-part-houston-astros-los-angeles-dodgers-game-2-festivities |access-date=October 26, 2017 |work=ESPN.com}}</ref> Additionally, the team honored him by naming him to the inaugural [[Legends of Dodger Baseball]] class in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fernando Valenzuela officially becomes a 'Legend of Dodger Baseball' |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2019-07-20/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Jack |last=Harris |date=July 20, 2019}}</ref>

On October 26, 2010, [[ESPN]] broadcast a documentary commemorating Valenzuela's arrival with the Dodgers titled ''Fernando Nation'' as part of their ''[[30 for 30]]'' documentary series.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 30, 2010 |title='Fernando Nation' to air on ESPN '30 for 30' on October 26 |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-thoughts/post/_/id/8661/fernando-nation-to-air-on-espn-30-for-30-on-october-26 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
In 1981, Valenzuela married Linda Burgos, a schoolteacher from Mexico. Early in his career, Valenzuela and his family spent offseasons between the Mexican cities of [[Etchohuaquila]] and [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]].<ref name=Castro>{{cite magazine|last1=Castro|first1=Tony|title=Something screwy going on here|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1985/07/08/620892/something-screwy-going-on-here|access-date=April 15, 2015|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=July 8, 1985|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415115023/http://www.si.com/vault/1985/07/08/620892/something-screwy-going-on-here|archive-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> The couple had four children, Fernando Jr., Ricardo, Linda, and Maria Fernanda.<ref name=Broadcasters>[http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=la Broadcasters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127130130/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=la |date=November 27, 2017}}. [[MLB.com]]. Retrieved May 17, 2015.</ref><ref name=":9" /> Fernando Jr. played in the [[San Diego Padres]] and [[Chicago White Sox]] organizations as a [[first base]]man before switching to independent league baseball and Mexican minor league baseball.<ref name=JuniorBR>{{cite web|title=Fernando Valenzuela Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valenz001fer|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>

Valenzuela became a U.S. citizen on July 22, 2015, at a ceremony in downtown Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jill|last=Painter Lopez|title=Fernando Valenzuela Quietly Affirms His Status as a U.S. Citizen|date=August 30, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/sports/baseball/fernando-valenzuela-quietly-affirms-his-status-as-a-us-citizen.html|url-access=subscription|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Following his naturalization, [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] appointed him a special ambassador for citizenship and naturalization, "promoting the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of citizenship among eligible lawful permanent residents."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrasco |first=Yvonne |date=October 26, 2016 |title=Fernando Valenzuela named Presidential Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization |url=https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/fernando-valenzuela-named-presidential-ambassador-for-citizenship-and-naturalization-d584e8a69041 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Dodger Insider |language=en}}</ref>

Valenzuela participated in two [[Tournament of Roses Parade]]s—in 1983 aboard the float from the Government of Mexico and in 2008 aboard the Los Angeles Dodgers' float. In 1981, Valenzuela participated in the East Los Angeles Christmas Parade as Grand Marshal.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Jaime-Becerra|title=Essay: The Dodgers are retiring Fernando's No. 34. These songs honor his legacy|date=August 10, 2023|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-10/fernando-valenzuela-dogders-los-angeles-baseball-tribute-songs|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

== 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>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==See also==
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls allowed leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career wild pitches leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players from Mexico]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

'''Sources'''
* {{Cite news|last=Click |first=Paul |title=20 Years Ago, Fernando Valenzuela Was King of the Hill |publisher=Baseball Digest |date=July 2001 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_7_60/ai_75308168/pg_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210074746/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_7_60/ai_75308168/pg_1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=February 15, 2007}}
* {{cite web|last=Linden|first=Lance|title=Fernandomania, Revisited|url=http://www.thebaseballpage.com/features/2001/fernandomania.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308232026/http://www.thebaseballpage.com/features/2001/fernandomania.htm|archive-date=March 8, 2007}}
* {{Cite news|last=O'Connor |first=Kevin |title=St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture: Fernando Valenzuela |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419201244 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717044637/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419201244 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |year=2002 |work=St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=123619|espn=753|br=v/valenfe01|fangraphs=1013327|brm=valenz002fer|retro=V/Pvalef001}}
*{{sabrbio|fernando-valenzuela}}

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