Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela has died at the age of 63.
The Dodgers announced the news of Valenzuela’s death via their X account on Tuesday. They did not add any details regarding the circumstances of the late pitcher’s death.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela,” the team wrote in its message.
Earlier this month, reports 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.
Though he served as a broadcaster for over 20 years, Valenzuela is best known for his legendary playing career. The southpaw pitched for the Dodgers for 11 seasons from 1980-1990. He captured Los Angeles through his outstanding pitching in the 1981 season, sweeping the entire city up in a frenzy known as “Fernandomania.” The Mexican pitcher helped connect the Mexican-American community with the Dodgers while capturing the hearts of the entire city’s fans.
Valenzuela went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 1981 and led the league with 11 complete games and eight shutouts. He did all that despite being just 20 years old. Valenzuela’s outstanding performance earned him the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award that season. He also led the Dodgers to a World Series title that year.
This shows just how much of a star he was in 1981:
In addition to his stellar pitching in the 80s, Valenzuela was one of the best hitting pitchers of his generation. He was sometimes used as a pinch-hitter in games and he won two Silver Slugger awards as the best hitting pitcher in the league.
