Fernando Valenzuela, Mexican left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who captivated baseball fans as a 20-year-old during the 1981 season with his quirky at-bat that produced his signature swinging ball. himself, passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 63 years old. His death, at the hospital, was confirmed in statements by the Dodgers and Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred. The statements did not specify a cause. Valenzuela quit his job as the Dodgers’ broadcaster this month to focus on his health. The team said he planned to return for the 2025 season. Valenzuela won his first eight starts in 1981 in spectacular fashion: Five of his victories were clean sheets, and seven were complete games. His earned grade point average was a paltry 0.50.

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Valenzuela was somewhat more hittable throughout the remainder of the season, disrupted by a players’ strike that lasted nearly two months. But his 13-7 record and 2.48 ERA on the season were enough to win him National League Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award. He is the only player to ever win both awards in the same year. He continued his success in the 1981 postseason, with a 3-1 record, including a complete win in Game 3 of the World Series against the Yankees. Although he didn’t pitch his best in that game — he allowed nine hits and seven walks and threw 146 pitches — Valenzuela helped the Dodgers turn things around against the Yankees, who had won the first two games. The Dodgers won the next three games to win the Series.