The city of Los Angeles began to mourn the death of one of its greatest idols, Fernando Valenzuela, on Tuesday night after the Dodgers announced the sad news through a brief statement.
“Toro” Valenzuela, who was about to turn 64 on November 1, leaves an enormous legacy in baseball and also outside of sports. His success as a pitcher for the Dodgers allowed him to become an inspiration for the Mexican and Latino community in Southern California, and indeed throughout the United States. Of course, Valenzuela is considered a hero in Mexico.
“Tonight, our city mourns a legend,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on social media. “For millions, Fernando Valenzuela was more than a baseball player. He was an icon who transcended the limits of hope and dreams. He was the voice of a game we hold close to our hearts. His charisma was palpable and his excellence was undeniable. “He was a world champion through and through.”
Valenzuela’s death came just three days before the World Series between his Dodgers and the New York Yankees. In fact, he passed away just a few hours before the 43rd anniversary of the most important game won in his legendary career.
On October 23, 1981, Valenzuela threw 147 pitches to beat the Yankees 5-4 and wake up the Dodgers, who went on to win three games in a row. to win the championship in that season in which the 20-year-old left-hander was Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Trophy winner, something unprecedented.
Pride and sadness of fans after the death of Fernando Valenzuela
Although it was late in Los Angeles, Dozens of Dodger fans arrived at the main entrance of the stadium where Valenzuela made history countless times. There were flowers, some tears, one or another distant cry to the memory of the “Bull” and also news helicopters flying over the area.
“Fernando was an idol for many of us, as boys, as children,” said Benjamín Torres, one of the fans who came to honor Valenzuela. “It represented the pride of being Mexican, of being Latino, of seeing athletes who looked like our children, our uncles, our cousins. He always used his platform to advance civic causes so that the Latino community could participate and develop more here in Los Angeles.”
Torres, wearing Dodgers clothing, hopes that Valenzuela’s legacy continues to be an inspiration for new generations.
“I hope his presence continues to inspire many young athletes; to the boys, to the girls, who have pride in being Mexican, in being Latino, and who want to pursue a career in sports, and in everything they do: who have pride in who they are. And that, the ‘Toro’ Fernando Valenzuela represented for all of us here in Los Angeles.”
Wearing a Dodgers hat and cap, Miguel Antonio González stood alone in front of the incipient floral tribute on Vin Scully Avenue that leads to the main entrance of the stadium.
“I’m fine, a little sad… because it’s the week they are going to play the World Series with the Yankees. The only one Fernando pitched (in the World Series) was with the Yankees as well. That is a memory I have with my father too.”
Valenzuela was much more than a player: he was an idol in Los Angeles
Although Valenzuela’s golden years were in the 80s, Many young Angelenos today received from their parents the inspiration that Valenzuela in turn transmitted to them. with sporting successes and good community causes.
Diego Velázquez, a young man wearing a shirt with Valenzuela’s image, said he went to Dodger Stadium to show his respect for the great Mexican pitcher “for everything he did for the Dodgers, for Mexicans, for the Latino people and for the baseball”.
“For me and my family he was like a saint,” Velázquez said. “My dad loved Fernando and [se] He wore his Fernando shirt with his brother for my aunt’s baptism. And even I, who play baseball, also play for Fernando and for my father, Fernando is his idol.”
Tony Ramos, another young Angeleno outside the stadium, said he wanted to bring Fernando a candle, but he didn’t find a store for it on his way to Dodger Stadium. Maybe he was there to pay tribute to him.
“He is a legend in the Dodgers. “I come from a Mexican family, for us he is much more than a player,” said Ramos, who was wearing a Lakers jersey, a team that on the same sad night in LA opened its 2024-25 season a few miles away. .
“He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame,” added Ramos, who then produced an idea that many Dodgers fans will want to see germinate with their team. “Hopefully the Dodgers can use this as motivation.”. Now we have to win for Fernando and the entire community.”
Valenzuela is survived by his wife Linda; his children Fernando, Ricardo, Linda and María; seven grandchildren and extended family.
Keep reading:
– Fernandomania, a unique and unrepeatable phenomenon in the history of baseball
– Fernando Valenzuela will be immortalized with a giant mural in the LA neighborhood
– The amazing drone show that the Dodgers dedicated to “Toro” Valenzuela