Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela has died on the age of 63.
The Dodgers introduced the information of Valenzuela’s demise by way of their X account on Tuesday. They didn’t add any particulars relating to the circumstances of the late pitcher’s demise.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela,” the crew wrote in its message.
Earlier this month, stories emerged saying that Valenzuela had been hospitalized for some health issues. Valenzuela had stepped away from broadcasting duties as an announcer on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcasts.
Although he served as a broadcaster for over 20 years, Valenzuela is greatest recognized for his legendary taking part in profession. The southpaw pitched for the Dodgers for 11 seasons from 1980-1990. He captured Los Angeles by way of his excellent pitching within the 1981 season, sweeping the complete metropolis up in a frenzy referred to as “Fernandomania.” The Mexican pitcher helped join the Mexican-American group with the Dodgers whereas capturing the hearts of the complete metropolis’s followers.
Valenzuela went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 1981 and led the league with 11 full video games and eight shutouts. He did all that regardless of being simply 20 years outdated. Valenzuela’s excellent efficiency earned him the NL Rookie of the Yr and Cy Younger Award that season. He additionally led the Dodgers to a World Sequence title that 12 months.
This exhibits simply how a lot of a star he was in 1981:
Along with his stellar pitching within the 80s, Valenzuela was among the best hitting pitchers of his era. He was generally used as a pinch-hitter in video games and he received two Silver Slugger awards as the perfect hitting pitcher within the league.