Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexico-born Los Angeles Dodgers icon who helped bring about the team’s 1981 World Series victory and who inspired the “Fernandomania” craze thanks to his unique and flamboyant pitching style, died Tuesday, the team announced. He was 63.
“He was a lot more than just a heavy set left handed pitcher. He was smart and seemingly always in control of himself and hitters who thought they might get the best out of the Southpaw from Sonora, Mexico. Well, it didn’t happen all that often. He was, after all, one of 12 children. He was the patron saint and the king of Fernando mania, discovered by the legendary Scout Mike Brito. Fernando made his major league debut in 1980 at the ripe old age of 19,” said a short documentary about Valenzuela, shared by the Los Angeles Dodgers on the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
“Enormously popular and beloved in the Dodger community, on the field Fernando was larger than life, and always will be. Fernando Valenzuela, a Dodger legend,” the clip concluded.
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