Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born baseball phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” by winning the NL Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in 1981, has died at the age of 63. The Dodgers confirmed he died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital but did not provide a cause or other details. His death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela will be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

Fernando Valenzuela Los Angeles Dodgers Portrait Long Sleeve Shirt

Valenzuela stepped down from his role as a commentator for the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation and it was reported that he was hospitalized earlier this month. His commentary made him a regular at Dodger Stadium, where he holds court in the press room cafeteria before games and remains popular with fans, who seek him out to Take pictures and ask for autographs. “God bless Fernando Valenzuela!” actor and Dodgers fan Danny Trejo posted on X on Monday. Valenzuela was one of the most dominant players of his era and an extremely popular figure in the 1980s, although he was never elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, several important artifacts from his career are part of the Cooperstown museum, including a signed ball from his 1990 no-hitter.

Valenzuela’s rise from humble beginnings as the youngest of 12 children in Mexico and his exploits on the mound made him incredibly famous and influential in the Latino community in Los Angeles, and helped attract new fans to MLB, and that continued even after he retired.In 1981, Valenzuela became the Dodgers’ opening day starter as a rookie after Jerry Reuss was injured 24 hours before the scheduled start. He beat the Houston Astros 2-0 and started the season with an 8-0 record, including five clean sheets, giving him a paltry ERA of 0.50 .