We hope you and your family enjoy the NEW Britannica Kids. ): Major General, Army Officer, Valenza, Tasia 1967- (Julie Monroe, Tasia Vallenza), Valeri, Hon. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. "I am incredibly happy that No. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Now, more than 40% of the team's fans are Latino. If you were a young Mexican . Fernando Valenzuela has won 1 World Series. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Britannica does not review the converted text. The Dodgers Encyclopedia. Along the way he received baseball's first million-dollar salary arbitration award in 1983. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Getting to know Fernando Valenzuela is like getting to know the poster-child of "Who is who" in education in Latin America. He is from Mexico. As a player, Valenzuela spoke regularly at Los Angeles-area elementary schools, many of them in heavily Latino areas. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Mexican pitcher who won the 1981 National League Cy Young award as a rookie, while helping lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series Championship amidst the era known to Angelenos as "Fernandomania.". He would play in Mexico in 1992 before returning to MLB the next year with the Baltimore Orioles. Specifically for Mexican Americans, we take him to heart more than anyone, he says, because for the first time and maybe ever in the United States, everyone wants to be a Mexican.. Baseball player, coach April 7, 2021 Updated 5 AM PT. Thank you! Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela throws a pitch on his way to a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Friday, June 29, 1990 in Los Angeles. . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Despite his considerable achievements with the Dodgers, he is nevertheless best remembered for setting the baseball world on its ear during the spring and summer of 1981. Legal Statement. But Arellano says hes skeptical of saviors because Mexican Americans must find confidence within to navigate life in the United States. . In a career that lasted from 1980 to 1996, Valenzuela was known almost as much for his burly physique and unorthodox windup as for his effectiveness and durability. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Did not play in major or minor leagues (Mexico), Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses, Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/valenzuela-fernando-1960. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video. [1] The same safe and trusted content for explorers of all ages. In 2015, he became a naturalized American citizen. There was the funky windup, with the high leg kick and Valenzuela looking skyward before he delivered his next pitch. The youngest of twelve children, by the age of sixteen Fernando was earning $80 a month as a pitcher in the Mexican leagues. Although Valenzuela went on to have a successful career with the Dodgers, Fernandomania faded by season's end; afterwards he was just a very good pitcher. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. As a teenager he began playing baseball professionally in Mexico. Teammates still awed by Fernandomania. He spoke little English but captivated this city and baseball fans across the country with the unprecedented things did on the pitchers mound. , money, salary, income, and assets. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps, St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Discover Fernando Valenzuela's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Column: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Forty years later, Fernando Valenzuela still a Mexican American icon. L. Beatriz Arnillas, MFA, SPHR. Jim Gilliam (19), Don Sutton (20), Walter Alston (24), Sandy Koufax (32), Roy Campanella (39), Jackie Robinson (42), Don Drysdale (53) and Hall of Fame broadcasters Vin Scully and Jarrn. At 30 years old, Valenzuela went to spring training with the. Fernando Valenzuela struck out 2,074 batters during his career. Fernando Valenzuela was born in Navojoa, Mexico. At 30 years old, Valenzuela went to spring training with the Dodgers in 1991 but was cut at the end of camp an emotional decision cemented by more struggles in the exhibition season.. Valenzuela capped the season by leading the Dodgers to the World Series title. Valenzuela, who was nicknamed "El Toro" as he took the Dodgers by storm at 20 years old in 1981 on his way to his only Cy Young Award of his career, was present at Dodger Stadium on Saturday during Dodgers Fan Fest, where the announcement was made. "Hetruly lit up the imaginations of baseball fans everywhere. Fernando Valenzuelas income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. His wife is Linda Margarita Burgos Metri (29 December1981 - present)( 4 children). Valenzuela played 11 of his 17 years in the major leagues with Los Angeles. As a young Mexican American in Southern California at the time, practicing Valenzuelas delivery became a ritual in the community, Arellano says. who was the youngest of 12 children in a family . //]]>. vs. CIN 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 SO, 6 BB, 3 ER, L, Rookie Status: Fernando Valenzuela Popularity Most Popular #47312 First Name Fernando #11 November 1 Baseball Player #2 62 Year Old Scorpio #16 Baseball Player Born in Mexico #1 Scorpio Baseball Player #17 He was named Rookie of the Year and received the Cy Young Award that season, pitching to a 2.48 ERA in 25 starts (192.1 innings). Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Rookie of the Year (1981) Cy Young Award (1981) Silver Slugger Award (x2) six-time All-Star Rookie of the Year Award Gold Glove Cy Young Award 1 World Series championship. Although his comebacks always seemed to draw a fair amount of attention, they were rarely successful (a 13-8 record in San Diego in 1996 being the only exception), as Valenzuela managed to compile a meager record of only 32 wins and 35 losses during his post-Dodger career. Fernando Valenzuela (El Toro, Freddy) was born on 1 November, 1960 in Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico, is an Actor. Fernando is driven, well-informed, creative . ", Fernando Valenzuela receives the Outstanding Americans by Choice recognition award during a special naturalization ceremony at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. After retiring as a baseball player, he became a television sports commentator. Family Life He was one of 12 children growing up in Sonora, Mexico. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea was born on November 1, 1960, in Etchohuaquila, Mexico. Mexican professional baseball pitcher Fernando Valenzuela played in the U.S. major leagues for 17 seasons, many of them for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. (Age 19-319d, "But also for the fans the support theyve given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them. career began to be hobbled by shoulder sorenessan ailment no doubt caused by a decade of subjecting his arm to the strain of throwing his famed screwball. Im happy for all the fans and all the people who have followed my career. But good enough to win 19 games in 1982 and register a league leading 21 victories in 1986. Led the National League in Complete Games in 1981 (11), 1986 (20) and 1987 (12). Fernando Anguamea Valenzuela was a star left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, first rookie to win the Cy Young Award. He caught the attention of fans when he pitched for the Dodgers in the opening . He rose to prominence in the Major Leagues quickly, while his age was widely disputed. Fernando Valenzuela, MLB's first Mexican superstar, was a phenom who changed the game when he led the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1981. . Im happy. Fernando Valenzuela will be honored over a three-day weekend on August 11-13. In 2003, he returned to the Dodgers as a broadcaster. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Valenzuela was the seventh son and last of 12 children born to a humble family, on a farm not as big as a baseball infield, in the tiny village of Etchohauquila in Navojoa, sometime between 1955 and 1960 . Four decades have passed since a 20-year-old screwball-throwing left-hander from Etchohuaquila, Mexico, named Fernando Valenzuela captivated the baseball world when he began the 1981 season by winning his first eight starts for the Dodgers. He checked off career milestones effortlessly: In his first season in the major league, he won both Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards, as well as helped carry the team to a World Series championship win. ", CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM, Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Fernando Valenzuela, in full Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea, byname El Toro ("the Bull"), (born November 1, 1960, Etchohuaquila, Mexico), Mexican professional baseball player whose career spanned 17 seasons in the major leagues of the United States. Valenzuela nicknamed El Toro by doting supporters had the added touch of being a left hander, a rarity among pitchers. Weve been busy, working hard to bring you new features and an updated design. That was the word for the spectacle and excitement surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who made his first start for the team 40 years ago this month. (Age 36-255d) All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. New York, Bantam, 1981. Total Baseball. Los Angeles will make it an entire weekend, with a collectors edition bobblehead given out to fans on Aug. 12 and a replica 1981 World Series ring given out on Aug. 13. "But. Encyclopedia.com. El local termin con tres hombres menos por las rojas a Zalazar, Rebolledo y Leiva. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. (Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images). Professional basketball player, sports administrator View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. You can try, How Jackie Robinson's Legacy Beyond Baseball Resonates Today, Bianca Smith Becomes 1st Black Woman Coach In Professional Baseball. Improved homework resources designed to support a variety of curriculum subjects and standards. Fernando ValenzuelaFernando Valenzuela's April and May in 1981 were something you felt inside you, like a superpower. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Valenzuela would move on to the then-California Angels in 1991, but he did not do well in two starts. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Valenzuelas first start for the Dodgers in April of 1981 was a shutout win against the Houston Astros a moment that marked the start of Fernandomania. Los Angeles went wild. . "Valenzuela, Fernando (1960) Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Fernando Valenzuela was born in Etchohaquila, in the Mexican state of Sonora, about 350 miles south of the Arizona border. His wife is Linda Margarita Burgos Metri (29 December 1981 - present) ( 4 children) Fernando Valenzuela Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Or write about sports? Arellano, who grew up in Southern California, was a toddler during the summer of Fernandomania. Legal Statement. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. He also had brief stints with the American League (AL) California Angels and with the NL St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, one season with the AL Baltimore Orioles, and almost three full seasons with the NL San Diego Padres. Find out more. Valenzuela finished his career with six All-Star nods, two Silver Slugger awards and a Gold Glove. Like that, Fernando Valenzuela said of the passage of time. In 1986 he led the National League with 21 wins and 20 complete games. Rawlings RBG 4 12" FERNANDO Valenzuela FastBack Right Handed RHT Baseball Glove. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Fernandomania began in Los Angeles soon after the screwball-throwing lefthander started the season with a shutout, and it spread across the North American continent as Valenzuela managed to notch seven more victories (including four more shutouts) before registering his first loss. At the same time, the Dodgers had failed to produce a World Series win since 1965 and werent actively embraced by the Mexican American community, he explains. Valenzuela became a U.S. citizen in 2015. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. And there was his 8-0 start with five shutouts and a 0.50 ERA during that stretch in 1981 when Fernandomania took hold. Fernando Valenzuela was 5 ft 11 inches, 180 lb (180 cm, 81 kg). Alex Ashlock produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Todd Mundt. A new, third level of content, designed specially to meet the advanced needs of the sophisticated scholar. [10] Early life [ edit] Fernando Valenzuela, the youngest of twelve children, was born in Etchohuaquila, a small town within the municipality of Navojoa in the state of Sonora, Mexico. LOS ANGELES Inside Dodger Stadium, the man who triggered Fernandomania snapped his fingers. "In sports, you win and you lose," he recalled telling the children. Champaign, Illinois, Sports Publishing, 1997. Please use a different way to share. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. He suffered a severe arm injury in 1988, and he could never pitch the same again. Fernando Valenzuela: The Screwball Artist (Sports Stars (Children's Press Paper)) Paperback - March 1, 1983 by Mike Littwin (Author) See all formats and editions Height/Weight. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. DODGERS LEADERSHIP ADDRESSES TREVOR BAUER'S RELEASE, SAYING DECISION WAS UNANIMOUS, "What he accomplished during his playing career, not only on the field but in the community, is extraordinary," Dodgers team president Stan Kasten said. In addition to his U.S. major-league career, Valenzuela pitched for three seasons in the Mexican League and for several more during the winter in the Mexican Pacific League. Peter O'Dowd Twitter Senior Editor, Here & NowPeter ODowd has a hand in most parts of Here & Now producing and overseeing segments, reporting stories and occasionally filling in as host. Gibson, Bob 1935 (Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images). Valenzuela retired from baseball after the 1997 season. Valenzuela's number 34 will take its place among those previously displayed on the left field club level: Pee Wee Reese's number 1, Tommy Lasorda's number 2, Duke Snider's number 4, Gil Hodges'. (Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images). , If you were a baseball fan in the '80s, you knew about "Fernandomania.". At 62 years old, Fernando Valenzuela height is 5' 11" (1.8 m) . His nickname was El Toro (the Bull). So, how much is Fernando Valenzuela worth at the age of 62 years old? Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. Fernando Valenzuela had 2,074 strikeouts over his career. Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960. Awards And Honors. Valenzuela's face appeared on the covers of numerous sports magazines in the summer of 1981, while he charmed the sports world with his modesty, his eyes-to-the-sky windup, and his virtual ignorance of English. Jose Vasquez Valenzuela 1935-1997 Spouse and Children Fernando Valenzuela 1897-1974 Male Matilda Vasquez 1902-1971 Female Marriage 26 June 1920 Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States Children (9) Fernando Juan Valenzuela 1921-1943 Male Paula Valenzuela 1924- Female Eugene Valenzuela 1925-2006 Male Alfredo Valenzuela 1927- Male The crafty left-hander would play for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals before retiring after the 1997 season. But Fernando, for those first couple of years, he was like Zeus, he says, throwing thunderbolts down to home plate and just slaying all the competition.. Nothing has been like this in sports ever since, Arellano says. Winding up on the mound, Valenzuela would extend his arms up as high as possible, hands in the air, eyes toward the sky, before unleashing an explosive delivery to home plate, Arellano says. McNeil, 1993. It went so fast.". Arellano is part of the newspapers Fernandomania @ 40 documentary series. How many wins did Fernando Valenzuela have? So much has been written and said about Julius Erving over the years that i, Valenzuela, Alfred A.: 1948(? As the American League's Rookie of the Year in 1986 and the first player to hit forty home, Erving, Julius 1950 There was his screwball, at times virtually unhittable as it spun out of Valenzuelas left hand. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. So, how much is Fernando Valenzuela worth at the age of 62 years old? Books - Children; Books - Young Adult; Books- Teens; Seller feedback (2,991) l***1 (614) - Feedback left by buyer l***1 (614). Fernando Valenzuela pitches for the Dodgers against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of . Professional baseball player His age also kept people guessing, as many observers supposed that he was significantly older than his twenty years. Beating out the Yankees by half a step, the Los Angeles Dodgers bought the lefthander's contract from Puebla for $120,000 in 1979. Data Provided By Please try again. . Exceeded rookie limits during 1981 season, More Fernando Valenzuela Pages at Baseball Reference. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Arellano: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Fernando Valenzuela remains a Mexican American icon April 7, 2021 The children of Valenzuela's fans, and now even their children, have become. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about starting pitcher Fernando Valenzuela on ESPN. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Tony, B.A. El Toro is a nickname for Fernando Valenzuela. The L.A. Dodgers: The World Champions of Baseball. September 15, 1980 The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of Four decades later, Mexican Americans still feel nostalgic for the peak of the Valenzuela years. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. 34 is retired. Associated With He was managed by Tommy Lasorda on the Los Angeles Dodgers. The youngest of twelve children, by the age of sixteen Fernando was earning $80 a month as a pitcher in the Mexican leagues. Fernando! Fernando Valenzuela, MLB's first Mexican superstar, was a phenom who changed the game when he led the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1981. . Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has described the frenzy around the star pitcher as a religious experience.. Dads and uncles would challenge the kids to competitions to see who could throw their arms the highest or roll their eyes up to heaven the most, he remembers. Thorn, Jim, and Pete Palmer, ed. How many strikeouts did Fernando Valenzuela have? FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. who was the youngest of 12 children in a family . Valenzuela played a key part in bringing the Dodgers their fifth franchise title in 1981, defeating the New York Yankees in six games. Many thanks to him. Fans were immediately captivated by the portly pitcher from Sonora, Mexico. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. 1966- By continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our. Market data provided by Factset. His best seasons were 1981, his rookie year, and 1986. Con goles de Aravena y el goleador argentino, los Cruzados se lo dieron vuelta a los Diablos Rojos. Jos Canseco: 1964: Baseball player Forty years ago, he was the 20-year-old rookie, bursting on the scene as Major League Baseballs first Mexican superstar. His popularity was so stronga phenomenon known as Fernandomaniathat attendance increased by an average of 9,000 fans whenever he pitched in road games. 14,404th in major league history) Accessible across all of today's devices: phones, tablets, and desktops. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Fernando Valenzuela receives the Outstanding Americans by Choice recognition award during a special naturalization ceremony at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. In the early 1980s, Mexican Americans started to become the biggest ethnic group in Southern California, but were still kind of seen as strangers despite living in the area for generations, he says. To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960. He was then only 20 years old. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. All rights reserved. During the 1980s he was also one of the league's most consistent strikeout pitchers, finishing among the top five for seven years in a row. Who Is Fernando Valenzuela's Wife? Although the league caught up with him in the second half of a strike-torn season, Valenzuela nevertheless finished the year as baseball's strikeout king, while also boasting the league's second-highest win total (13) and an impressive 2.48 ERA. The Dodgers haven't retired Fernando Valenzuela's number, but his impact on baseball, especially among Latinos in L.A., makes him Hall of Fame worthy. Born: In addition to being a star hurler during his years with the Dodgers, Valenzuela was also recognized for his excellent defense and a dangerous bat. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/valenzuela-fernando-1960, "Valenzuela, Fernando (1960) Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 12:52AM. He joined the Spanish-language broadcast team of the Dodgers in 2003. Please note: Text within images is not translated, some features may not work properly after translation, and the translation may not accurately convey the intended meaning. As a teenager he began playing baseball professionally in Mexico. Do you have a sports website? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. By Gustavo Arellano Columnist. $21.95 + $17.05 shipping. [CDATA[ The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Fernando Valenzuela is a MLB baseball player. However, "Fernandomania" deserves more than just one night. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Fernando Valenzuela Position: Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Left 5-11 , 180lb (180cm, 81kg) Born: November 1, 1960 in Navojoa, Mexico mx More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Cy Young Rookie of the Year 6x All-Star 1981 World Series Gold Glove 2x Silver Slugger ML PoY 34 36 34 33 34 34 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Do you have a blog? Valenzuela was discovered in 1977 by a scout from the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team in the U.S. National League (NL). Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. He was born on November 1, 1960. Born. is 5'11"(1.8m) . It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. Valenzuela became a cultural icon in the Latino community in the United States and a hero in Mexico. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. El Toro Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea. All rights reserved. Column: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Forty years later, Fernando Valenzuela still a Mexican American icon. 34 jersey retired by the Dodgers as part of a three-day celebration in August. During the late 1980s, his Serena McMahon Twitter Digital ProducerSerena McMahon was a digital producer for Here & Now. Linda Margarita Burgos Metri (29 December1981 - present)( 4 children). More importantly for Mexican Americans, we have not had a Mexican who has been as popular among the rest of the United States ever since, Arellano says. In his first full season in the major leagues, the boy from Mexico had led his team to a World Series championship, while being recognized as both the National League's Rookie of the Year and its Cy Young Award winner. Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea was born on November 1, 1960, in Etchohuaquila, Mexico. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. Fernando Valenzuela will have his No. . Fernando Valenzuela played for 6 teams; the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. Jarrn has often remarked on their loyalty. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. American baseball player He caught the attention of fans when he pitched for the Dodgers in the opening game of the 1981 season and shut out the Houston Astros. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Valenzuela will have his jersey retired on Aug. 11 during the Dodgers season. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 61 years old? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Few baseball players have captured the popular imagination as Fernando Valenzuela did in the summer of 1981, when the word "Fernandomania" came into the English lexicon, as the young lefthander with the incredible screwball astounded the baseball world by tossing five shutouts during an eight game winning streak to start the season. Forty years later, Valenzuela's otherworldly performance in that . There was a problem loading your book clubs. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Fernando Valenzuela had 173 wins during his career. What was Fernando Valenzuela's earned run average (ERA)? (born 1960). Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis.