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Fernando Valenzuela
Sparking Fernandomania with his extraordinary 1981 rookie season.
Two pitching awards · World Series title
- Born
- 1 November 1960
- Birthplace
- Etchohuaquila, Mexico
- Died
- 22 October 2024
More people
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela was a Mexican pitcher whose screwball and distinctive delivery made him a Los Angeles Dodgers favourite.
Early life
Sonora family
Was the youngest of twelve children in a farming family.
Mayo roots
His parents were of Indigenous Mayo ancestry.
Career
- 1979–1980
Los Angeles
Signed with the Dodgers and made his major-league debut.
- 1981–1986
Dodgers ace
Made six consecutive National League All-Star teams.
- 1990s onward
Later career
Pitched for other clubs and later joined the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcasts.
Achievements
Two pitching awards
Won both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards.
World Series title
Helped the Dodgers defeat the Yankees.
No-hitter
Pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Beyond baseball
Citizenship
Became a United States citizen in 2015 and a citizenship ambassador.
Family
Married teacher Linda Burgos and had four children.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Tony Barnard, Los Angeles Times. CC BY 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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