Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who took Major League Baseball by storm with ‘Fernandomania’ while winning the National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards during the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series season, has died at the age of 63, the team announced on Tuesday (October 22).
“The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela,” the Dodgers wrote on their X account, along with a graphic that stated, “Fernandomaia por siempre. Fernandomania forever.”
Valenzuela’s cause of death was not publicly revealed as of Tuesday night. The legendary pitcher’s passing came days before the Dodgers host the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series on Friday (October 25) at Dodger Stadium.
Valenzuela will be honored by the Dodgers during the World Series this weekend, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed via ESPN. The Mexican native spent the first 11 of his 17-season MLB career with the Dodgers, making six consecutive All-Star appearances from 1981 to 1986, as well as leading the National League in wins during the 1986 season, strikeouts in 1981, pitching a no-hitter in 1009 and winning the Silver Slugger Award twice (1981, 1983) and the Gold Glove Award in 1986.
Valenzuela also had stints with the then-California Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997) before returning to the Dodgers as the team’s Spanish-language radio color commentator for National League West games and later the Spanish-language feed for SportsNet LA in 2015.
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