Viva Valenzuela! California Declares Nov. 1 a Day to Celebrate Dodgers Legend

The state of California has declared Nov. 1 as “Fernando Valenzuela Day.” That’s the birthday of the late Dodgers pitching sensation.

Valenzuela died Oct. 22, 2024 of septic shock at the age of 63.

California State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, who represents parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties, introduced the measure to highlight the positive impact his legacy created in the Latino and Hispanic community.

She spoke about El Toro’s breakout rookie season that sparked a movement known as “Fernandomania.”

“Dodger Stadium overflowed, Dodger Stadium emerged behind capacity, Mexican flags waved, fans wore hats, mariachi movement echoed in the parking lot,” said Quirk-Silva.

The Los Angeles City Council proclaimed Aug. 11 as “Fernando Valenzuela Day” for the city in 2023.
In his 11 years with the Dodgers, Valenzuela won the Rookie of the Year and was selected to six All-Star teams.

Valenzuela was born in 1960 in the small town of Etchohuaquila in Sonora, Mexico — the youngest of 12 children — and inherited the love of baseball from his father Avelino, a farmer.

In 1978, legendary Dodger scout Mike Brito made a trip to Silao, Mexico and got his first glimpse of Valenzuela on the mound.

Peter O’Malley, wanting a Mexican star to play for the Dodgers, paid $120,000 on July 7, 1979, to purchase Valenzuela’s contract from Puebla, of the Mexican League, then sending the 19-year-old to Lodi in the California League.

Then in 1981, Jerry Reuss was scheduled to start on Opening Day for the Dodgers but injured his ankle, and Tommy Lasorda named 20-year-old Fernando Valenzuela the Opening Day starter.

Valenzuela shut out the Astros 2-0 and “Fernandomania” was born.

Valenzuela pitched 11 years of his 17-year career with the Dodgers, finishing with 173 wins and a 3.54 ERA. He pitched his only no-hitter on June 29, 1990, against the Cardinals.

After his final Major League pitch, Valenzuela continued pitching. His last professional game was in 2006 for Los Aguilas de Mexicali.

He joined the Dodgers’ Spanish broadcast team in 2003 and spent the next 21 years calling games for the Dodgers.

Valenzuela had left his color commentator job on the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast in September 2024.