A few families held out and refused to leave their homes, even after the city sold the land to O'Malley for the stadium. Everyone was clamoring for Fernando stories and it was just so unbelievable the amount of attention he was getting, says Steve Brener, who was the director of publicity for the Dodgers from 1970-87. From an on-field performance impact, his historic first 8 starts with 5 shutouts always comes up first. Among 85 eligible voters, 79 cast ballots so 60 votes were the minimum to elect a candidate. The ballpark was electrified by his performance, Lopez recalled. That support was always there. This story was originally published on April 16, 2021. This story originally ran in 2021. The Dodgers added Spanish-speaking ushers. From purely a fan perspective I cannot think of a player since Jackie Robinson that has had a generational draw like Valenzuela. Dodgers fans, especially Mexican Americans, were eager to see the kid for a full season. He made being a lefthander cool, says Gustavo Arellano, a Los Angeles Times columnist of Mexican heritage. The new committee would comprise all living members of the Hall of Fame, recipients of the Spink Award (broadcasters), recipients of the Frick Award (writers), and members of the old committee until expiration of their terms. Of course they dropped the ball when presented with a perfect opportunity to officially remove Fernando Valenzuelas No. The pitch has always been about risk-reward with higher on the risk, but Fernando knew exactly what he was doing with it. Gwynn owns all-time Padres records for batting average, runs, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, RBIs, walks, stolen bases and games played. Doug McKain 06/30/2021. It was a historic run that almost didnt happen. Follow her on Twitter @NathalieMLB. My dad couldn wait to watch Los Doyers and I could not wait to watch the game with him regardless of who was playing for the Dodgers all because of Fernando Valenzuela. Valenzuela won his sixth start with a nine-inning effort in Montreal, though he was denied a complete game when the contest went to a 10th inning. Fernandomania wasnt just about baseball. Yes, I totally agree that Fernando Valenzuela should be in the HALL OF FAME 100 percent. He threw 63.2 innings in the post season with an ERA of 1.98. Fernando Valenzuela's short peak removed him from the MLB Hall of Fame conversation. If you have any questions please feel free to email Athletic Director Jesse Irvin or call 240-740-6415 anytime. In the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees, the Dodgers lost the first two games. All fathers wanted their sons to be the next Fernando Valenzuela, and all of us kids would imitate his delivery, looking up to the sky, hands up in the air high and everything. When you think of our particular history, which we are so proud of and talk about every day, you can't talk about it without mentioning Fernando's impact, Dodgers president Stan Kasten says. Lasorda stuck with Valenzuela and the managers faith in the pitcher was rewarded when Fernando shut down the Yankees the rest of the way. Fernando.. Back in his home country, the Mexican Baseball League -- Liga Mexicana de Beisbol -- retired Valenzuelas No. The ballot consisted of 33 players; 496 ballots were cast, with 372 votes required for election. The Dodgers were down 2-0 after the first two games and he pitched a complete game to help the Dodgers win 5-4. He is part of a group of players once considered outsiders and who changed the games landscape upon their entry. Mundo 7 Latinos who belong in baseball s Hall of Fame Among Latino fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fernando Valenzuela is a baseball immortal. At one point, the left-hander made 255 consecutive starts before going on the injured list for the first time in 1988 because of shoulder troubles that cost him two months and the opportunity to pitch in another World Series. Valenzuela also had one of the more distinctive windups and deliveries of all time. The two candidates who received at least 75% of the vote and were elected are indicated in bold italics; candidates who have since been selected in subsequent elections are indicated in italics. He was stellar in the 1981 playoffs including his World Series game 3 start. They want to play for the Dodgers, they root for the Dodgers and the Dodgers are winning because of a Mexican. Im not saying Fernando cured all the racism in Southern California, but he was definitely a bridge to let people know that we are OK., The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn after the 1957 season and played their first four seasons in Los Angeles at Memorial Coliseum. So for me a guy like Dave Parker who I only remembered from his last few years on the As. For his career, Valenzuela finished with a record of 173-153, a 41.5 career WAR, a 3.54 ERA, 2,930 innings pitched, 2,074 strikeouts and a 1.32 WHIP. I wore it like any other number. The Dodgers were down 0-2 against the Yankees. I cant remember one player who captured the fantasy of the fans and the media the way Fernando did. But Fernando at age 20 did not say he was going to redeem the past sins of civic Los Angeles, real estate developers, the Red Scare, progressive activists and racism. Bob Uecker received the Ford C. Frick Award honoring a baseball broadcaster. Houston had eliminated the Dodgers in a one-game tiebreaker the year before to claim the National League West title. That helped me a lot in my career.. I always looked at the Hall of Fame differently than most voters. Kelechi ndukwe asonye. By mid-May, he was 8-0 with an earned run average of 0.50. This guy had some unbelievable talent, but for me, the key to Fernando was that he just wanted to be treated like the 24 other players and not get any special treatment. People have always been very patient with me, Valenzuela, 60, says in Spanish one recent morning from his home in Los Angeles. In front of a crowd of 50,511, Valenzuela showed no signs of nerves as he twirled a five-hit shutout, striking out five with the help of his screwball, to help Los Angeles start the season with a 2-0 win over the Astros. 1981-04-09 LA Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela's 1st start, beats Astros 2-0; 1981-04-22 Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela tosses his 3rd shutout in 4 starts; 1981-09-17 Fernando Valenzuela sets NL rookie record with 8th shutout of season; 1981-11-11 LA Dodgers starter Fernando Valenzuela becomes first MLB rookie to win a Cy Young Award; Milwaukee Brewers' Rollie Fingers takes . The only left-handed pitcher in the Hall of Fame with a WAR lower than Valenzuelas is Rube Marquard (32.5), who began pitching in 1908. Back then, the pair emerged as dominant Latino figures in the sport with Jarrn narrating Valenzuelas achievements to Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S., Latin America and beyond. Some know me as the "sweater guy". You can also follow SVHS athletics on twitter and Instagram @svhsathletics or at screamingeagleathletics on Facebook. When its good, its incredible, and when executed perfectly, youll never forget it. Don't miss any of the Dodgers latest News, Rumors, and Exclusive Offers! I came to San Diego for college and never left nor did I ever switch my Dodgers' allegiance. Lasorda, who could communicate effectively in Spanish with Latin American players after several seasons managing in the Dominican Winter League, visited the mound after Cerones homer with his pitcher on the ropes. Fernando.". Fernando Valenzuela (1981/1981) [8]-NL 4. This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 02:41. The Dodgers announced on Saturday that Valenzuela's No.. 20), manager Walter Alston (No. Numbers are there to be worn. Loaiza won 21 games to match Fernando Valenzuela's single-season record for a Mexican-born pitcher and finished as the runner-up in Cy Young Award voting. If things had turned out differently, if I didnt do my job, we dont know if there would have been more opportunities, no? Valenzuela said. Long ago, he began golfing, giving pro golfers and amateur hackers in Southern California tales of Fernando sightings, from tony country clubs to city courses. Future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson had already thrown one no-hitter during the 1990 season when he combined with Chuck Finley to throw another one in Japan. It wasnt a dream come true because nobody could have dreamed it.. During his six-year peak run from 1981-86, he sported a 2.97 ERA in 1,537 innings with 84 complete games and 26 shutouts. There are several [mound conversations] that I dont remember, but to stay in the game and to not be taken out, I was always trying to evade him and give him the runaround or go someplace else to avoid having him approach me and have that conversation.. If not for Fernando Valenzuela's incredible rookie performance and "Fernandomania" taking the sport by storm, Raines would've easily won the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year Award. Fernandos peak from late 1980-1986 was filled with high performance, and historic impact on the game. This will be all age related. Later that summer, Valenzuela attended a state luncheon at the White House with President Ronald Reagan. R. Richard Eddie Rommel Charley Root Al Rosen Schoolboy Rowe Pete Runnels Jimmy Ryan Johnny Sain Manny Sanguilln Ron Santo Hank Sauer Wally Schang Hal Schumacher George Scott Rip Sewell Bob Shawkey Urban Shocker Roy Sievers Curt Simmons Vern Stephens Riggs Stephenson Mel Stottlemyre Harry Stovey Jesse Tannehill Tony Taylor Johnny Temple Fred Tenney Bobby Thomson Mike Tiernan Joe Torre Cecil Travis Hal Trosky Virgil Trucks George Van Haltren Johnny Vander Meer Bobby Veach Mickey Vernon Dixie Walker Bucky Walters Lon Warneke Will White Cy Williams Ken R. Williams Maury Wills Wilbur Wood Glenn Wright Jimmy Wynn Rudy York, Gene Autry Buzzie Bavasi Samuel Breadon Charles Bronfman Gussie Busch George W. Bush Roger Craig Harry Dalton Bill Dinneen Charles Dressen Barney Dreyfuss Chub Feeney John Fetzer Charles O. Finley John Galbreath Larry Goetz Calvin Griffith Fred Haney Doug Harvey Garry Herrmann Whitey Herzog John Heydler Ralph Houk Bob Howsam Fred Hutchinson Ewing Kauffman Bowie Kuhn Frank Lane Billy Martin Gene Mauch Marvin Miller Danny Murtaugh Hank O'Day Walter O'Malley Steve O'Neill Paul Owens Steve Palermo Gabe Paul Joan Payson Babe Pinelli Bob Quinn Alfred Reach Beans Reardon Paul Richards Cy Rigler Bill Rigney Ben Shibe Charles Somers Billy Southworth George Stallings Bill Summers Cedric Tallis Chuck Tanner Birdie Tebbetts Patsy Tebeau Chris von der Ahe Lee Weyer Bill White Dick Williams Phil Wrigley. The next season, when he was only 20, Valenzuela energized fans in Los Angeles, Mexico and throughout the big leagues with one of the more remarkable seasons in baseball history. Or he could be elected to his rightful place in the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee, which considers candidates who are no longer eligible to be voted in by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Through it all, Valenzuelas teammates marveled at his poise and his athletic ability. When manager Tommy Lasorda handed Valenzuela the ball after scheduled starter Jerry Reuss was scratched with a calf injury, it became the first time that a rookie started on Opening Day in Dodgers history. Leading up to the celebration Sunday of Valenzuelas landmark rookie season, there were renewed pleas for the franchise to make an exception to its arbitrary policy of retiring only the numbers of Hall of Famers. The widespread calls spoke to the enormity of Valenzuelas legacy. He was a prankster and impressed his teammates with another skill nobody expected. Players. Each of the Dodgers retired numbers was worn by a player who played a majority of his career with the club and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. They are ethnic heroes. People in U.S. soccer circles have spent decades looking for a Mexican American star and the best they have come up with is, who, Herculez Gomez? Don Sutton, a Hall of Fame pitcher who was a stalwart of the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation spanning an era from Sandy Koufax to Fernando Valenzuela, died Tuesday. The field included four Rookies of the Year (Murray, Valenzuela, Vince Coleman and Todd Worrell), as well as one MVP (Sandberg) and two Cy Young Award winners (Valenzuela and Mark Davis). Long before we got here, they established a policy, which I agree with, and that is that we'll just use Hall of Fame people for retired numbers. I said it from the beginning, and I believe it. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Dodgers dont need the long ball to finish sweep of Cardinals, Clayton Kershaw adds to his Dodgers legend with another pitching gem, With Miguel Vargas at second base, Dodgers have an expectation he will get better, Celebrating the legacy of Fernandomania 40 years later, Arellano: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Fernando Valenzuela remains a Mexican American icon, Rookie Zach McKinstry continues his torrid start as Dodgers sweep Nationals. In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela won Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Yankees. Several artifacts from his illustrious career are housed in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, but he has not received the call for enshrinement. From 1987-97, his statistics would say no: 74-85 with a 4.23 ERA. The Los Angeles Times couldnt stop writing about Valenzuela, and The Los Angeles Herald Examiner even had a nickname contest and voted El Toro as the winner. [25] However, . Ryne Sandberg was selected a total of ten times, while Eddie Murray (eight times), Lee Smith (seven), Fernando Valenzuela (six) and Tony Pea (five) were all selected at least five times. David Venn is the executive editor of LasMayores.com, MLBs official Spanish-language website. 34 since he was released by the club in 1991, although the number is not officially retired. Hernandez grew up in South Pasadena and graduated from UCLA in 2002, after which he worked at the San Jose Mercury News for five years. 2002 Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Results. Fernando Valenzuela was one of MLB's most beloved players over his 17-season career. No game was more memorable than Game 3 of the World Series against the Yankees at Dodger Stadium. Valenzuela played 11 of his 17 years in the major leagues with Los Angeles. For me, it was about what you did for the game and how you impacted the sport. I think it is not too much to say that for Mexican-American communities, Valenzuela was a hero like Hank Greenberg was for the Jews. Before that, he was the Dodgers beat writer. La Opinin. Its been a lot of years since someone has worn No. Mexican-Americans Lalo and Mark Guerrero, a father-and-son songwriting team, got into the act with tribute songs, "Fernando, El Toro" and "Ol! Still, he remains the only MLB player since baseball integrated in 1947 to win his first eight career starts. Valenzuela falls short in all three of Bill James tests making it only halfway in the most accurate predictor getting 25 of the 50 that indicates a HOF election..and then there is abysmal showing in the actual voting. ?subscriber: (@TimRogers2080) August 7, 2016. Dodgers owner Walter OMalley was open about his desire to find a Mexican Sandy Koufax.. I always say, maybe if things hadnt gone so well, we dont know if I would have had more chances. Not necessarily looking for HOFers. #Retire34, Tim Rogers 2080 ? OMalley once wished out loud for a Mexican Sandy Koufax, a pitcher who could capture fans imaginations the way the Hall of Famer had. One thing is certain: Valenzuela broke barriers. Just like the good old days, he still loves sliding behind the wheel of his Corvette for long leisurely drives. During that moment, as still photographs showed, Valenzuelas eyes rolled back into his head. For some, his middling 173-153 won-loss record makes him an unworthy Hall of Fame candidate. Not elected to 2023. In 1981, the pitcher from rural Mexico helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series titleand energized Mexican American fans. His family lived on a dirt road that was filled with potholes, he says. The last played in the majors during 1980 or 1981. On January 8, 2002, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) conducted their yearly ballot for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. On the anniversary of Fernando Valenzuela's first and only career no-hitter, we make the case that the Dodgers should retire "El Toro's" iconic . As Fernandomania was taking off, Mike Littwin, then a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, visitedthe pitcher's hometown. The fundamental problem with many in the media is that they mistake . Less than a year later, Valenzuela made his big league debut. He also appeared on the covers of The Sporting News, Sport Magazine, Baseball Digest and countless other publications. I believe that the manager Tom Lasorda overused him with the excuse of Fernandomania frenzy of those days and that he was only thinking of making the Dodgers richer with the millions of fans that he brought to the park every time he pitched. One thing is certain: Valenzuela broke barriers. In fact, at this point, it is premature and meaningless to discuss the induction of a nine-year-old pitcher into the Hall of Fame. Long live Fernandomania! ), Hal McCoy received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award honoring a baseball writer. You can try refreshing the page, and if you're still having problems, just try again later. He made everybody feel bigger and welcome. Back at sold-out Dodger Stadium, fans bought T-shirts with Valenzuelas name on the back, made their own or bought bootleg versions available all over the city. Then again, the Dodgers are the same organization whose miscalculations resulted in a seven-year television blackout. (Lou Sauritch/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Within a few short weeks, Fernandomania was sweeping the nation. Numbers are there to be worn.". The Dodgers won the title in seven games. Impianto di terra cantiere alto. The lone exception is Jim Gilliam (No. Fernandomania unified the city, giving it something to cheer for, together. Twenty years old!! Fernando Valenzuela deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Todays Fernando is a fun-loving grandfather with a dry sense of humor and perfect comedic timing. Sixty baseball writers selected from the nominees 25 players and 15 other contributors to appear on the ballots. He was 9-5 in the first half of 2004 before getting traded to the Yankees. In his 1986 All-Star appearance, he tied Carl Hubbell by striking out 5 in a row. Im not saying that they should not have been elected, but Im saying that if they are in,then Fernando should be in too. However, his presence did not right the wrongs that took place before he was even born. I remember how his rivals laughed at his delivery and his weight. Only three players led by Gil Hodges (61%) tallied more than fifty percent support. The reporter spoke Spanish, and while the English lessons lasted only a few weeks, the pair built a bond that still exists. How many . Valenzuela only lasted two years on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot before being dropped for lack of votes, meaning he seemingly never had a chance to add his No. Army family housing appropriation thresholds. I will be comparing him to some other Hall of Famers; and as someone who is a big hall person, I feel I can make the case. Mike Brita, a Dodgers scout since 1978, found him in Etchohuaquila, Mexico (population 857 in 2020), roughly 1,000 miles northwest of Mexico City. He placed in the top 5 in Cy Young voting 4 times in 6 years. They also know his voice in Southern California because he broadcasts Dodgers games in Spanish. Fernando Valenzuela, 80.6% (65.8%): Created tons of Dodgers fans, and with so many big names elected last year, was the first choice among players on a lot of ballots. And ever since his induction into the Hall of Fame, his 1981 Donruss rookie card has enjoyed a nice bump in value. Shes like us, out there running around with a T-shirt with blue sleeves that she bought at a hardware store and had 34 ironed on the back. . He began with a high leg kick, then briefly paused before throwing the pitch. Decades before he starred on screens and on stages across the globe, comedian George Lopez was a young Dodgers fan. As promised, I will attempt to make the Hall of Fame (HoF)case for former Dodgers starFernando Valenzuela. Note: With the Mexico Series taking place this weekend (April 29 and 30) between the Padres and Giants, we wanted to highlight some of the great Mexican players and stories from baseball's past. Required fields are marked *. That helps me get through all those innings. As an encore, the 20-year-old from rural Mexico helped pitch the Dodgers to their first World Series title in a generation. Valenzuela is a member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame, Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame and the California Sports Hall of Fame. Alexandre bernardo teixeira gomes cleveland. Among 85 eligible voters, 81 cast ballots so 61 votes were the minimum to elect a candidate. Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela delivers during a win over the Philadelphia Phillies on May 23, 1984. And with the roots of the movement starting with the . Arellano, who grew up in Southern California, was a toddler during the summer of Fernandomania. The baseball world -- on and off the field -- would never be the same. Valenzuela was the first pitcher to accomplish both feats in the same season. He placed in the top 5 in Cy Young voting 4 times in. That list starts with Jackie Robinson for African Americans, and it also includes Hideo Nomo and Ichiro for the Japanese, Chan Ho Park for Koreans, Tony Lazzeri for Italian-Americans and Al Simmons (Szymanski) for Polish-Americans. After struggling with injuries he came back and threw his only no-hitter in 1990. They are culture heroes. He was the Mexican who made it and was destroying all of the competition.
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