Status of the relationship. [34], On October 26, 2010, ESPN broadcast a documentary commemorating Valenzuela's arrival with the Dodgers titled Fernando Nation as part of their 30 for 30 documentary series. He is a producer, known for. Forty years ago, he was the 20-year-old rookie, bursting on the scene as Major League Baseballs first Mexican superstar. He was a superstar and as we saw with this debut of the years in terms of Fernandomania,ethnic Mexican and Mexican Americans throughout the United States were showing up in ballparks and they were rooting for their guy, who was Fernando.". [citation needed], A number of MLB teams scouted Valenzuela during this time. Prior to the 1986 season, he signed a contract worth $5.5 million over three years (equivalent to $13.6million in 2021), then the wealthiest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. He won his first eight starts (five of them shutouts). Why doesnt someone else arise to become a national icon on the level of Valenzuela? we ask ourselves. Early in his career, Valenzuela and his family spent offseasons between the Mexican cities of Etchohuaquila and Mrida. Ratings skyrocketed during the Dodgers Spanish-language broadcasts in 1981thanks to Valenzuela, said Jarrin, the teams play-by-play announcer, who during Fernandomania inherited another role: interpreter. According to news reports, approximately 4,000 people waited outside of the church. Valenzuela shut out the Houston Astros 20. And once again, the large crowd is one inning away from getting a shocking answer.. He is a producer, known for 1981 National League Championship Series (1981), 1985 National League Championship Series (1985) and 1983 National League Championship Series (1983). 1 / 0. Born. In 2003, he returned to the Dodgers as a broadcaster. They've shown us the entire planet with each other and are delighted in their . Fernando Valenzuelas income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. SUMMARY Career WAR His eventual career record was 173 wins and 153 losses. Los Angeles Dodgers scout Mike Brito had gone to a game in Mexico to evaluate a shortstop named Ali Uscanga. . Valenzuela, at the time the No. In 1987, Fernando Valenzuela signed the wealthiest contract for a pitcher in league history at the time when he inked a three-year, $5.5 million deal with the Dodgers. Kids at Aldama Elementary School in Highland Park spell out Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuelas name during the 1980s, the height of Fernandomania. Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former Major League Baseball pitcher. Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. [9] Despite having recently shown flashes of his former self, he was unceremoniously released by the Dodgers just prior to the 1991 season. Arellano: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Fernando Valenzuela remains a Mexican American icon. Fernando Valenzuela Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth But what impressed Brito wasa pitcher who fell behind in the count 3-0 to Uscanga before throwing three straight fastballs for the strikeout. Relation Contrary to appearances, Fernando Valenzuela is married. The Dodgers won the World Series that season. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 63 years old group. Valenzuela married his wife, then a 20-year-old schoolteacher, at Immaculate Mary Church in Merida, Mexico. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Over the course of his 17-year professional career, Valenzuela played for six teams (Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals), but he is best known for his time with the Dodgers. In the NL West Division Series against the Houston Astros, Valenzuela became the youngest pitcher to start the first game of any postseason series and later pitched a complete game in Game Three of the World Series against the New York Yankees. He was most active throughout the 80s, when he became known as one of the better hitting pitchers of his era. Donna Is No-Show as Valens Gets Star - Los Angeles Times Move to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day starting pitchers, Fernando de Valenzuela, 1st Marquis of Villasierra, List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders, List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls allowed leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, List of Major League Baseball career wild pitches leaders, List of Major League Baseball players from Mexico, List of members of the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Dodgers award winners and league leaders, "Fernando Valenzuela | St. of Pop Culture", "Conoce a Fernando 'el Toro' Valenzuela, la leyenda mexicana de Dodgers", Crowe's Nest: How the Dodgers discovered Fernando Valenzuela, Great Scott's power burned brightest in '86, "Fernando Valenzuela Statistics and History", The Night of Two No-Hitters: Fernando Pitches One for the First Time as He Stymies Cardinals, 6-0, "Fernando Valenzuela Quietly Affirms His Status as a U.S. Citizen The New York Times", "Valenzuela inducted into Caribbean Hall of Fame", Fernando Valenzuela Minor League Statistics & History, A screwball chain of events led the Dodgers to Fernando Valenzuela, "Jeremy Lin: Fernando Valenzuela understands Lin-Sanity first hand", "SI.com Writers Alex Belth: The five true pitching phenoms Tuesday August 8, 2006 11:33AM", "Hubbell: My record didn't mean much: Valenzuela's All-Star strikeout effort doesn't mean much, either, he believes", "Fernando Valenzuela released by Dodgers", "Jaime Jarrn & Jorge Jarrin new Dodgers Spanish radio team", "Maury Wills named to 'Legends of Dodger Baseball', "Watch: Vin Scully brings Dodgers legends for 1st pitch", "Beloved Scully delights Dodgers fans at Game 2", "Notification of the LMB about the planned award", "Fernando Valenzuela Minor League Statistics & History", "20 Years Ago, Fernando Valenzuela Was King of the Hill", "St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture: Fernando Valenzuela", National League Pitcher of the Year Award, National League Pitcher Silver Slugger Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fernando_Valenzuela&oldid=1150288331, Major League Baseball players from Mexico, Mexican expatriate baseball players in Canada, Mexican expatriate baseball players in the United States, Mexican people of indigenous peoples descent, Naturalized citizens of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 15,1980,for theLos Angeles Dodgers, July 14,1997,for theSt. Louis Cardinals, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 17 April 2023, at 08:16.