Fernando Valenzuela, who won the baseball world championship in 1981, died at the age of 63.
Valenzuela, who began his career as a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was dealing with life-threatening conditions when he died on Tuesday.
He earned National League honors as the Cy Young Award winner and Rookie of the Year in 1981. He also helped the Dodgers win the World Series title over the New York Yankees that season.
Valenzuela died on Tuesday after battling health conditions. He was 63 years old.
DODGER GREAT FERNANDO VALENZUELA SUCCEEDED WITH HEALTH ISSUES: REPORTS
Fernando Valenzuela prepares to throw out the first pitch during the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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This comes just three days before the Dodgers and Yankees meet in the World Series for the 12th time, and the first since Valenzuela’s hit in the 1981 Fall Classic.
The Dodgers made an official announcement Tuesday night of Valenzuela’s passing but did not say the cause of his death.
Valenzuela, a native of Mexico, pitched in Major League Baseball for 17 seasons and became the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcaster in 2003. He recently left to “focus on his life,” the group said.
Born in Navojoa, Mexico, he quickly entered the majors, being called up as a relief pitcher late in the 1980 season at age 20.
In 1981, shortly after Dodgers starter Jerry Reuss was injured the day before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda assigned Valenzuela to make the first MLB start of his career.
“Tommy Lasorda came up to me and said, ‘Are you ready to pitch tomorrow?’ I said, ‘I’m ready,'” Valenzuela said during the 2023 broadcast. “That’s what I wanted, a chance to show what I can do.”
GREAT MEN FERNANDO VALENZUELA BECAME A CITIZEN OF SATHI
Los Angeles Dodger Fernando Valenzuela (34) signs autographs for fans before the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. (Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Valenzuela opened the season with a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros. He started the season with an 8-0 record – with five shutouts – and a 0.50 earned run average.
He finished the season with a 13-7 record, 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games and eight shutouts. His 192 innings led the National League and his 180 strikeouts led the majors in the shortened season.
Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980-90, and was unceremoniously released from the team just before the 1991 season. He went on to pitch for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. He retired with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts in his 17 seasons.
DODGER ANNOUNCES FERNANDO VALENZUELA’S UNO 34 TO RETIRE THIS SEASON
Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during an MLB game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
He has two World Series championships and his number 34 was retired by the Dodgers – the only number retired by an organization not inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Dodgers will host the Yankees in this season’s World Series. This is the 12th time these teams have met in the World Series, the most played Fall Classic ever. The first since Valenzuela’s 1981 year.
Valenzuela will be honored at Dodger Stadium during this year’s World Series, which begins with Game 1 on Friday night in Los Angeles.
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“Fernando has been an outstanding ambassador for baseball,” Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Tuesday night. “He consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and MLB events in his home country. As a member of the Dodger broadcast team for more than 20 years, Fernando helped reach a new generation of fans and cultivate their passion for the game.
“Fernando will always be a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for millions of inspired Latino fans.”
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