He is one of the most beloved members in the organizations history, evident by the goosebump-inducing roar any time he is mentioned at Dodger Stadium. LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that one of the most enduring and popular players in Dodger history, left-handed pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, will have his number 34 retired this summer during a special three-day celebration. Major league scouts monitored him loosely until 1979, when legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito glimpsed the youngsters arm while scouting another player. Valenzuela has served as a player, coach and general manager for Team Mexico in several international competitions, including the World Baseball Classic. And he would gut out a Game 3 victory in the World Series against the New York Yankees that October, which would jump-start the Dodgers to a 4-2 series win after they lost the first two games. The same applies. Reflecting on his rookie season, Valenzuela spoke of the importance of the emergency start he made on opening day. He was the first Mexican-born player to be inducted and is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. The Dodgers Spanish-language voice since 1959, Jarrn is without question worthy of his place in the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame. Though Valenzuela's jersey is not retired by the Dodgers, no Dodgers player has worn No. I asked about this years ago in regards to Don Newcombes 36. It is more than digits on a uniform, it is a symbol of community, a monument to connection, a deep blue landmark that has long bonded a city and its baseball team. Every player that has a number retired with the team went on to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame, with the exception of Jim Gilliam. Which isnt to say Selig isnt deserving. His importance to the Dodgers, in particular, was critical to the point that former owner Walter OMalley imagined him before he existed. LOS ANGELES -- Tommy Lasorda had a problem that day in 1981. For 30 years, Valenzuela's number has been functionally retired. His next chance will be in three years when he can be considered by the Hall of Fames Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee. Fernando Valenzuela was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Valenzuela should be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame right-hander is famous for his very high leg kick during his windup, and that pose is captured in the form of a statue to honor him outside Oracle Park in San Francisco. Name one other player in L.A. history that was so omnipresent, so community galvanizing, soL.A.! Its good enough that you cant lean on his curve or his screwball.. Only players or managers inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown had their numbers retired by the Dodgers with one exception. Valenzuela spoke with the media ahead of his celebration on Sunday. The widespread calls spoke to the enormity of Valenzuelas legacy. Valenzuelas No. He kept wearing it for the Dodgers, when he won Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award, through six All-Star Games, while pitching a no-hitter, and as a part of two World Series winners, all while captivating a fanbase as the Dodgers biggest-ever star from Mexico. The obvious exclusion finally became too great for the Dodgers to ignore. But every now and then we also sit down and review those policies and after all of the public clamor for Fernando that is the single reason that pushed this decision way over the edge its about what this means to a great number of fans.. Valenzuela would have to be chosen by the Todays Game Committee, which will hold its next election in 2022. Therefore, he should be nominated based on those requirements mentioned above and the following accomplishments:A career record of 173 wins and 153 losesNamed NL Rookie of the Year (1981)First rookie player to win the Cy Young Award (1981)Lead the Dodgers to the World Series (1981)MLB Strikeout Leader (1981)6 times All-Star (1981-1986)2 times Silver Slugger Award (1981-1983)Gold Globe Award (1986)NL wins leader (1986)Pitch a no-hitter (1990)Let's not forget that his popularity generated the phenomenon known as "FERNANDOMANIA." 34 since him in 1990. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Episode 1 | Everybody wants to have a hero, Episode 2 | How Mike Brito discovered Fernando Valenzuela, Episode 3 | Why the Dodgers are haunted by Chavez Ravine ghosts, Fernando Valenzuelas number retirement celebrated by Jaime Jarrn and Julio Uras, Hernndez: Fernando Valenzuelas lasting impact on baseball makes him worthy of Hall of Fame, Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies: How to watch, start times and betting odds, Dodgers dont need the long ball to finish sweep of Cardinals. Especially women. Sports Celebrating the legacy of Fernandomania 40 years later April 8, 2021 Before refuting the premise by. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August 1996 Valenzuela was the starting and winning pitcher for the Padres against the New York Mets in Monterrey, Mexico, in the first regular-season major league game played outside the United States and Canada; from the ovation he received, it was clear that he was still a national hero in Mexico. Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell called Valenzuelas crafty pitch the best screwball since mine and Don Sutton was in awe of his screwball, while Joe Morgan argued that The key is his fastball. 34. Valenzuela had a career record of 173 wins and 153 losses. Why isn't fernando valenzuela in the hall of fame. Clayton Kershaw adds to his Dodgers legend with another pitching gem. Jarrn has often remarked on their loyalty. But, hey, the 50-year anniversary of Fernandomania is only a decade away. And for good reason. Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. MLB Power Rankings: Who's No. While he played for six MLB teams, his longest tenure was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The one question that I continuously get asked, more than anything else, is about retiring Fernando Valenzuelas number. He returned to Mexico in 1992 and pitched for the Jalisco Charros, going 10-9 with a 3.86 ERA. Fernando Valenzuela on Baseball Reference.. 19 in 1978 after his sudden death from a massive brain hemorrhage, every Dodgers ownership group has abided by that mandate. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? It was a wonderful way to bring two countries together., A baseball signed by Fernando Valenzuela, from Game 1 of La Primera Serie in Mexico in 1996. In addition to calling games, Jarrn served as Valenzuelas interpreter at news conferences, which gained him exposure in other markets and, by extension, the electorate of the Hall of Fames Ford C. Frick Award. When . Its largely Latino fan base is a result of growth that began with Valenzuela. Until 1986, Fernando had a Hall of Fame career, with six consecutive All-Star Games and finishing second for the Cy Young in 1986. Valenzuela began his professional baseball career at the age of 17 with the Guanajuato Tuzos, going 5-6 with a 2.23 ERA. But fan sentiment made it obvious Valenzuela needed to be an exception to that rule, he said. Valenzuela was a trailblazer for Latin American players and his induction was a watershed moment for the sport. Funny enough, Dodgers fans have been calling for Fernando to have his jersey retired for years. In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela became the first pitcher in history to win the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Outside of the stadium. He was a six-time All-Star during his 11 seasons in with the Dodgers from 1980-90. But also for the fans the support theyve given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them. Armed with a new screwball taught by Castillo, Valenzuela made his big league debut the following season at the end of 1980. Citizenship and Immigrations Service. Therefore, I ASK the Baseball Writers' Association of America to nominate Fernando Valenzuela before the Eras Committee to induct him into the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.FERNANDO VALENZUELA AL SALON DE LA FAMA DEL BEISBOL YA!A pesar del impresionante historial de Fernando Valenzuela como lanzador en las Grandes Ligas de Beisbol y otras contribuciones a este deporte desde que se unio a los Dodgers en 1980, su nominacion al Salon de la Fama de las Grandes Ligas NO HA SUCEDIDO!Estamos seguros que la Asociacion de Escritores de Beisbol de America estaria de acuerdo con milies, o quiza millones, de fanaticos del beisbol en Estados Unidos y en todo el mundo en que la inclusion del pelotero Valenzuela al Salon de la Fama de las Grandes Ligas de Beisbol YA DEBIO DE HABERSE LOGRADO!De acuerdo con la Rega 5, capitulo 2, de la MLB, "para la elecciona al Salon de la Fama del Beisbol Nacional, la Asociacion de Escritores de Beisbol de America considera a los jugadores que jugaron por lo menos diez tempordas en las Grandes Ligas y tengan por lo menos cinco temporadas de jubilados". Maybe this latest Dodger honor will help. He was the Mexican who made it and was destroying all of the competition. I didn't know if [I] would stay in the rotation. "It was one of my greatest games, one of my biggest moments because we won the game," Valenzuela told ESPN.com this week. Im just so happy that its happening. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? I am incredibly happy that number 34 for the Los Angeles Dodgers will be retired forever, said Stan Kasten, Dodger President & CEO. So the Dodgers made an exception. Within Navojoa is the town of Etchohuaquila, home to fewer than a thousand residents but which gained global attention in 1981 as the birthplace of a 20-year-old Dodgers phenom who took baseball by storm. If things had turned out differently, if I didn't do my job, we don't know if there would have been more opportunities, no? Valenzuela said. 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. Gilliam was a favorite of owner Walter OMalley, but it shouldnt take a tragedy to change precedent. 34 had been unofficially retired since his playing career with the Dodgers ended after the 1990 season. (Rich Pilling/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). No, Valenzuela does not breathe through his eyelids like a Galapagos lava lizard, despite what Susan Sarandon's Annie Savoy of "Bull Durham" might say. Fenando alenswela born November 1 1960 is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. But for a man who earned the nickname El Toro, The Bull, his baseball career did not end there. Valenzuela made three appearances against the Astros in the final series of the 1980 season, when the Dodgers needed to sweep them at home to force a one-game playoff. More than three decades later, Valenzuela will finally be allowed to give the Dodgers the shirt off his back to hang in Chavez Ravine for eternity. . Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. MEXICO CITY -- By the time the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants take the field Saturday for their historic two-game series at Mexico City's Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium, a flurry of Major . I dont know why they waited. Fernando Valenzuela . Which isn't to say Selig isn't deserving. "He was something never seen before," Jarrin said of Valenzuela. The Dodgers released Valenzuela at the end of spring training in 1991, and they haven't issued number 34 to anyone since. Even if it meant breaking their own rules, the Dodgers realized their choice was really no choice at all. To his point: The Dodgers have fielded some bad teams over the last 20 seasons and all but one of them finished the season with an annual home attendance of more than 3 million fans. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). "In my book, that's when Fernandomania started," said Dodgers Hall of Fame Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, who also served as Valenzuela's interpreter. Valenzuela was part of two World Series champion teams, winning the 1981 National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. Lasorda turned to the cherubic left-hander getting his work in on the side, the rookie who had never started a game in the big leagues and was slated to be the Dodgers' No. 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. It was never assigned to another player. Por lo tanto, deberia ser nominado en base a los requisitos mencionados anteriorment y los siguientes logros:Un record de carrera de 173 victorias y 153 derrotasNovato del Anio de la Liga Nacional (1981)Primer novato en ganar el premio Cy Young (1981)Llevar a los Dodgers a la Seria Mundial (1981)Lider de Poncheo del MLB (1981)6 veces "All-Star" (1981-1986)2 veces "Bateador de Plata" (1981-1983)Premio Guante de Oro (1986)Lider Ganador del NL (1986)Lanzador sin Hits (1990)No olvidemos que su popularidad genero el fenomeno "FERNANDOMANIA". Dodgers Related: Tony Gonsolin Still Battling Through Shoulder Issue. Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame Share this page. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. I thank the fans and the Dodgers for making it happen.. Now that the Dodgers have made an exception for Valenzuela, there could be other players who did not make the Hall of Fame to consider like Orel Hershiser (55) or Steve Garvey (6).