Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican 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. He was 63 years old. His death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela will be honored during the series at Dodger Stadium. Valenzuela left his job as color commentator on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language telecasts in September without explanation. It was reported that he was hospitalized earlier this month. His work made him a regular commentator 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 get autographs.

In Memory Of Fernando Valenzuela 1960-2024 Forever In Our Heart Shirt

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. He is, however, part of Cooperstown, which has several artifacts including a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990. “He is one of the Dodgers’ most influential players ever and deserves to be honored as a team hero,” Stan Kasten, the team’s president and CEO, said in a declare. “He galvanized fans with the 1981 Fernandomania season and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He left us too soon.”