LOS ANGELES — Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, has died.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela at Dodger Stadium, in Los Angeles, circa 1981.
George Rose / Getty Images fileHis performances created the delirium known as “Fernandomania” among Dodgers fans.
Nicknamed “El Toro” by the fans, Valenzuela had an unorthodox and memorable pitching motion that included looking skyward at the apex of each windup.
The Dodgers named Valenzuela as part of the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in 2019 and inducted him into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2023.
Persons:
Fernando Valenzuela, phenom, “ Fernandomania ”, NL Cy Young, Rob Manfred, Valenzuela, Rushmore, ” Stan Kasten, “, ” Manfred, Fernando, ”, Jerry Reuss, Cy Young, George Rose, “ Fernando ”, Valenzuela’s, Vin Scully, “ El Toro, Bobby Castillo, Mike Scioscia, Mike Brito, Quintana Roo, Fernando Jr, Ricky, Linda, Maria
Organizations:
ANGELES, Los Angeles Dodgers, NL Cy, Dodgers, New York Yankees, Baseball, Dodger, Baseball Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball, MLB, Houston Astros, St, Louis Cardinals, of Fame, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Mexican Central League, California League, Sports Illustrated, White, NL, Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, Mexican League, Dodger Baseball ”, Tigres, Chicago White Sox
Locations:
Mexican, Los Angeles, Cooperstown, Mexico, Etchohuaquila, Sonora, U.S, Spanish, Valenzuela