By Axios | Created at 2024-10-23 04:45:31 | Updated at 2024-10-23 07:19:00
2 hours ago
Fernando Valenzuela, a Mexican-born lefthanded pitcher who led the Dodgers to a World Series win over the New York Yankees and forever transformed the team's fanbase, died Tuesday. He was 66.
Driving the news: The Los Angeles Dodgers announced his death online, days after he stepped away from his duties as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the team with an undisclosed illness.
- His death comes just three days before the Dodgers are set to meet the New York Yankees in the World Series for the first time since 1981 — when Valenzuela won a crucial game.
The big picture: Born in Navojoa, Mexico, in 1960, Valenzuela gained national attention in 1981 when he won his first eight games as a rookie, including five by shutout with his unorthodox pitching style.
- Before arriving to the Dodgers, the team had struggled with some Mexican American fans in Southern California two decades after the team forcibly displaced Mexican Americans from Chavez Ravine to make room for Dodgers Stadium.
Zoom in: His immediate success drew thousands of Mexican American fans to Dodgers Stadium and others across the nation, generating what became known as "Fernandomania."
- The Fernandomania movement surprised sports writers and owners and would forever change how sports teams marketed to Latino fans.
The intrigue: Until Valenzuela's arrival, there had been just a few Mexican American baseball greats in Major League Baseball.
- Those who were, like Boston Red Sox slugger Ted William, hid that they were Latino out of fear of discrimination.
- Valenzuela, who was unapologetic about his culture, transformed the Dodgers into one of the most popular teams for Mexican American fans.
Zoom out: The Dodgers retired his jersey number in 2023 despite a long-standing rule that the team only did so for those who were in the Baseball Hall of Fame, per the Los Angeles Times.
