Before Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers community suffered a tremendous loss. Legendary Los Angeles pitcher and broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela passed away on October 22 at the age of 63. This standout pitcher shined from the moment he stepped on a Major League mound. He became the first player in history to win the Rookie of the Year award and the Cy Young award in the same season. Adding to his rookie resume, Valenzuela helped the Dodgers win the 1981 World Series over the New York Yankees. “He brought Fernandomania, and it was awesome,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. “Obviously I wouldn’t have been alive during that time, but to see how much he meant to so many people around him over the past three years, I wish he was still here.”

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Valenzuela helped mend the strained relationship between the Dodgers and the Mexican-American community due to the controversial construction of Dodgers Stadium on Chavez Ravine. He also became one of the first Mexican MLB players, attracting Latin American fans to baseball. “It’s hard to put into words,” Freeman said of Valenzuela’s impact. “My stepmother is from Los Angeles. She grew up with Fernando. I think what Fernando means to the city of Los Angeles, not just Los Angeles, to baseball fans around the world.” The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series as if the stars had aligned to honor this Mexican-American pitcher.