Fernando Valenzuela Dies: Legendary Dodgers Pitcher Who Inspired “Fernandomania” Was 63
deadline.comFenando Valenzuela, the left-handed Dodgers pitcher who took Los Angeles by storm in the 1980s, has died at 63. The club announced the news on social media.
Valenzuela was called up from the minors at the very end of the Dodgers’ 1980 season and impressed right out of the gate. In his official rookie year, when began when he was just 20, Valenzuela won the Cy Young Award, was named National League Rookie of the Year as well as an all star and was the MLB strikeouts leader.
In addition to his dominance on the mound, Valenzuela had an unusual and memorable pitching motion which included a glance skyward at the apex of each wind-up.
Given that plus his youth, dominance and appeal to the Latino market, he was made for Los Angeles. What followed was known as “Fernandomania,” an electric love affair between the town and its favorite pitcher.The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.
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