Fernando Valenzuela, former MLB pitching phenom, dies at 63

Fernando Valenzuela, who took nan baseball world by large wind successful 1981, has died astatine nan property of 63.

Valenzuela, who started his profession arsenic a rookie pinch nan Los Angeles Dodgers, was battling wellness conditions erstwhile he passed distant Tuesday. 

He won nan National League’s honors arsenic some nan Cy Young Award victor and Rookie of nan Year successful 1981. He besides helped nan Dodgers triumph nan World Series title complete nan New York Yankees that season.

Valenzuela died Tuesday aft battling wellness conditions. He was 63.

DODGERS GREAT FERNANDO VALENZUELA HOSPITALIZED WITH HEALTH COMPLICATIONS: REPORTS

Fernando Valenzuela prepares to propulsion retired nan first transportation during nan 2022 MLB All-Star Game astatine Dodger Stadium connected Tuesday, July 19, 2022 successful Los Angeles, CA.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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This comes conscionable 3 days earlier nan Dodgers and Yankees meet successful nan World Series for nan 12th time, and nan first since Valenzuela was a leader successful nan 1981 Fall Classic.

The Dodgers made an official announcement Tuesday nighttime of Valenzuela’s passing but did not authorities nan origin of his death.

The Mexican-born Valenzuela sounded successful Major League Baseball for 17 seasons and past became nan Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcaster successful 2003. He precocious stepped distant to "focus connected his health," nan squad said.

He was calved successful Navojoa, Mexico, and quickly worked his measurement into nan majors, getting called up arsenic a alleviation pitcher precocious successful nan 1980 play arsenic a 20-year-old.

In 1981, conscionable aft Dodgers starter Jerry Reuss was injured nan time earlier Opening Day, Dodgers head Tommy Lasorda tasked Valenzuela pinch making nan first MLB commencement of his career.

"Tommy Lasorda came up to maine and said, 'Are you fresh to transportation tomorrow?' I said, 'I'm ready,'" Valenzuela said during a 2023 broadcast. "That's what I was looking for, nan opportunity to show what I tin do."

DODGERS GREAT FERNANDO VALENZUELA BECOMES U.S. CITIZEN

Los Angeles Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela (34) signing autographs for fans earlier crippled vs San Diego Padres astatine Dodger Stadium. (Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Valenzuela opened nan play pinch a 2-0 triumph complete nan Houston Astros. He began nan play pinch an 8-0 grounds — pinch 5 shutouts — and a 0.50 earned-run average.

He ended nan play pinch a 13-7 record, 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games and 8 shutouts. His 192 innings led nan National League and his 180 strikeouts led nan fields successful nan strike-shortened season.

Valenzuela sounded for nan Dodgers from 1980-90, and he was unceremoniously released from nan squad conscionable earlier nan 1991 season. He went connected to transportation for nan California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. He retired pinch a 173-153 record, 3.54 profession ERA and 2,074 strikeouts done his 17 seasons.

DODGERS ANNOUNCE FERNANDO VALENZUELA'S NO 34 TO BE RETIRED THIS SEASON

Fernando Valenzuela of nan Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a MLB crippled astatine Wrigley Field successful Chicago, Illinois.  (Ron Vesely/Getty Images)

He has 2 World Series championships and his No. 34 is retired by nan Dodgers — nan only number retired by nan statement for personification who’s not enshrined successful nan Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Dodgers will big nan Yankees successful this season’s World Series. It’s nan 12th clip nan teams person met successful nan World Series, which is nan astir lucifer ups successful nan Fall Classic of each time. It’s nan first since Valenzuela’s 1981 rookie year.

Valenzuela will beryllium honored astatine Dodger Stadium during this year’s World Series, which originates pinch Game 1 connected Friday nighttime successful Los Angeles.

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"Fernando was an outstanding ambassador for baseball,"Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said successful a connection Tuesday night. "He consistently supported nan maturation of nan crippled done nan World Baseball Classic and astatine MLB events crossed his location country. As a personnel of nan Dodger broadcasting squad for much than 20 years, Fernando helped to scope a caller procreation of fans and cultivate their emotion of nan game.

"Fernando will ever stay a beloved fig successful Dodger history and a typical root of pridefulness for nan millions of Latino fans he inspired."

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