The Latino community of the American Union was part of Fernando Valenzuela’s ‘boom’. The famous screwball pitch, his gaze skyward every time, is an unusual physique for the MLBBut unsurpassed intelligence and professionalism, and a charisma like few others, made ‘Fernandomania’ a social phenomenon.
When the 20-year-old took the mound in 1981, few could have imagined what would happen next. He started with eight straight hits and gradually became part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ regular rotation, with impressive averages for a rookie.
Latino fans, at that time somewhat distant from baseball, began to reach out. How could one not if one of them wins?
In this way, little Spanish was heard at Dodger Stadium and Mexican fans, mostly in Los Angeles, supported Fernando.
In the same season that Fernando Valenzuela was Player of the Year and Cy Young, he had a great game in the World Series against the Yankees, becoming the most productive pitcher in the National League and the entire MLB during that time.
The Dodgers will be missing 34 other than Fernando Valenzuela
Everyone wanted to wear the number 34, jerseys sold like hotcakes, and Fernando was invited to all kinds of events, sporting and non-sporting. The man from Sonora simply replied that even though he takes hours to serve his fans, he never refuses photos or autographs.
In the news announcing Valenzuela’s death, the Dodgers famously coined a phrase: “Fernandomania forever,” and it’s true, because years later, with Fernando as the Los Angeles team’s radio analyst, he’s still a phenomenon. His death hurt, but his legacy will surely transcend and the vision of heaven will continue, but on the part of all who lived through ‘Fernandomania’.
