Society / Obituary / October 23, 2024
The Dodgers pitcher had a legendary rookie year in 1981, helping them defeat the Yankees in the World Series.
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Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out the ceremonial first pitch during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium on July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
(Billy Weiss/Getty Images)
Three days before the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the New York Yankees in the World Series, Fernando Valenzuela, star of the last Dodgers team to defeat the Yankees in the series, died at the age of 63.
The New York Yankees will face the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time in 43 years in the 2024 World Series, as the greatest rivalry in team sports is revived. The conflict, which occurred nearly every year during the Eisenhower era and was revived in the 1970s, is returning to the Bronx Valley and Chavez Ravine. As the recently deceased James Earl Jones said in Field of Dreams, the boring baseball movie that Jones elevated, “This field, this game, it’s part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that was good and could be again.” (If this sounds Trumpian, and it might be from the mouth of another actor, Jones speaks not of a yearning for a reactionary era, but of the peace and joy of youth.
But no great drama is without tragedy, even if the scriptwriter rejects its timing. The symbol of the Dodgers’ magical 1981 season, which ended with the Dodgers defeating the hated Yankees, was a rotund rookie pitcher named Fernando Valenzuela from the small town of Echo Huaquira, Mexico. The great Fernando passed away last night.
Younger fans have no idea what Fernando mania was like in 1981, when the unknown 20-year-old left-hander burst onto the scene. He was a true original with a pitching windup that inspired poets. Before he released the ball, he twisted his thick body and looked toward the heavens in an almost penitent manner. As Susan Sarandon’s Annie Savoy said in the 1988 baseball movie Bull Durham, Fernando was breathing through his eyelids when he looked at the sky.
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For this suddenly famous son of Mexico, communication was primarily in Spanish. If Valenzuela was an American superstar, he became a symbol for Southern California’s baseball-crazy Mexican and Mexican-American communities. Valenzuela captured everyone’s imagination as his charisma, unique style, and the impact of his newness rivaled the best rookie season in all of sports. He started his career with five shutouts and eight consecutive complete games. His ERA during this period was an astonishing 0.50. Valenzuela also won the “Silver Slugger” award in 1981 as the National League’s best hitting pitcher. He was the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award winner, and of course finished the season by defeating the hated Yankees in the World Series.
With baseball at the center of the culture, it’s simply impossible for young fans to understand the energy of Fernandomania. In 1981, baseball led the way, followed by football, movies, and even music (which was outdated in 1981, before Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bruce, and Prince took the world by storm). Baseball is now just a sport, with regional rather than national influence. Today’s biggest star is Shohei Ohtani, another Dodger who speaks English as a second language. Ohtani is perhaps the most skilled player who ever lived. However, Shohei is just the king of the baseball world. Valenzuela was a rock star. Valenzuela was Elvis.
Valenzuela’s rise was amplified in a city like Los Angeles, which is always looking for the next big thing. But what he meant was more than the typical product of a star factory. Valenzuela made the Mexican and Mexican American communities visible and proud. He addressed the nation in Spanish with the help of an interpreter, showing that this is not a barrier to acceptance in the United States.
Valenzuela played for 17 years, making the All-Star team for his first six seasons before a shoulder injury derailed what was sure to be a Hall of Fame career. But while he was solid on the mound for the rest of the year, he never matched the dominance of his legendary first season. Valenzuela may not be a Hall of Famer, but he has retained the spark of his youth and remains an icon who is always ready for his adoring fans. He has been in the public eye for the past decade as one of the Dodgers’ Spanish speakers. Valenzuela’s broadcast partner and Hall of Fame announcer Jaime Jarrin said in 2023. “His charisma was unbelievable…From the beginning he was just amazing. And people fell in love with him.”
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For the young Valenzuela, 1981 was special for another reason. That was when he married a schoolteacher named Linda from Mexico. The two have been together ever since, and Valenzuela leaves behind Linda, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. But while Valenzuela will undoubtedly be remembered, as seen on opening night of the World Series, he will also be survived by his community, his city, and his indelible memories. A 20-year-old Spanish-speaking Mexican living in a town hard to find on a map was once the king of Southern California. He gave hope and visibility to marginalized people. he will never be forgotten.
There is a special sadness when I think of Valenzuela in 2024. In this election, Mexican immigrants in particular have been vilified, demonized, and dehumanized by Donald Trump. The Democratic response was not a head-on attack on this racism. , but claims there is a better plan to stop immigration. In such a toxic climate, it is an act of resistance to remember and honor a man whose very existence gives the lie to this endless vilification.
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This is the country that respected Valenzuela 43 years ago. If he had appeared in 2024, the right-wing crowd on social media would likely have called for his deportation to “make baseball great again.” Valenzuela will also be criticized for his lack of English skills. If you think this is an exaggeration, remember that Stephen A. Smith, the voice of ESPN, criticized Shohei Ohtani for using an interpreter. (After the ensuing uproar, Mr. Smith apologized.) It’s no wonder we live in a time when Republicans are comfortable talking about military action against Mexico, shooting people crossing the border, and opening concentration camps to hold illegal immigrants. – and I guarantee it. It’s documented immigration. The plan is to have “red national police” with complete immunity enter “sanctuary cities,” remove people from their homes and put them in camps. Almost half the country agrees with this.
Fernando Valenzuela reminded us that once upon a time, millions of people were undaunted by the presence of a Mexican baseball player. Because of his skin color and country of origin, he was not considered an enemy. Instead, he was widely treated like a shining shooting star. Valenzuela was an important figure in 1981. His memory will continue to be important for those seeking to resist prejudice and oppression.
Fernandomania will never die. Because he remains in the minds of those who seek to imagine a different kind of society than the dystopian, hate-filled, gray world that so many seem to aspire to achieve. . Valenzuela had bright colors streaking the sky. It’s hard to see the sky when you live in a sewer, so prejudiced people will never notice such beauty. May Fernando Valenzuela rest in peace, and long live Fernandomania.
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Dave Zirin is sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is also co-producer and writer of the new documentary Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL.
