Why Fernando Valenzuela should be in Baseball Hall of Fame - Los But it always was when Valenzuela pitched. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! He watched the entire city embrace him. He made five starts, two of which were games where the Dodgers faced elimination. Dodgers Offseason: Could LA Work Out an Extension with Julio Urias? [40] . I tried to do my best so they can have a good game, a nice day in the park.. He could hit, he could bunt, field his position. He was unbelievable with the lasso, says former Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia, Valenzuelas batterymate. NEW YORK -- Eddie Murray, Lee Smith, Ryne Sandberg and Fernando Valenzuela are among 17 players on baseball's Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. There are countless Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles and across the country with stories like Lopezs. He placed in the top 5 in Cy Young voting 4 times in 6 years. Jarrn said his favorite memory of the 1981 season was of the time he accompanied Valenzuela to a luncheon at the White House that was staged in honor of then-Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo. Many of the families impacted still refuse to go to Dodger Stadium. [1], The process would cover players every two years and other contributors (managers, umpires and executives) every four years. His favorite venue was Dodger Stadium and the nights Valenzuela pitched were magical. However, it was the screwball that was the main reason for his amazing peak from 1980-1986. Its a memory I always have, of saying, He gave me this opportunity, I have to take advantage of it, Valenzuela said. It was the fifth game of Valenzuelas eight-game winning streak. He placed in the top 5 in Cy Young voting 4 times in. The clubs history with Chavez Ravine, the land on which Dodger Stadium is built, is well-documented. He finished top-3 in Cy Young voting two more times before fizzling out in 1990. Valenzuela could receive the Buck ONeil Award, which the Hall of Fame presents once every three or more years to an individual whose extraordinary efforts enhanced baseballs positive impact on society, broadened the games appeal, and whose character, integrity and dignity are comparable to the qualities exhibited by ONeil.. They didnt have to wait long. This guy had some unbelievable talent, but for me, the key to Fernando was that he just wanted to be treated like the 24 other players and not get any special treatment. His biggest accomplishment was how he took baseball by storm in a time where the dodger organization was rejected by the Latino community in regards to Chvez ravine. Valenzuela was the first pitcher to accomplish both feats in the same season. People have always been very patient with me, Valenzuela, 60, says in Spanish one recent morning from his home in Los Angeles. Valenzuela finally took his first loss of the season -- and of his career -- on May 18, when he allowed four runs in seven innings against the Phillies. In a 2-0 opening-day victory over the Houston Astros, Valenzuela pitched a complete game. If you click on the tweet at the top of the article you can see how much Fernando meant to them and their families. He began with a high leg kick, then briefly paused before throwing the pitch. It seemed like there was nothing he couldnt do. Fernando was in the inaugural class because of the impact he had here and because of the following he continues to have among our fanbase.. [25] However, . He was also a six-time All Star (1981-1986) and third in the Cy Young voting in 1982 with 19 wins and second in 1986 when he led the league in wins with 21. Fernandomania wasnt just about baseball. It wasnt a dream come true because nobody could have dreamed it.. The reporter spoke Spanish, and while the English lessons lasted only a few weeks, the pair built a bond that still exists. He had a 118 ERA+, a 2.88 FIP with a 33.5 WAR. Seaver, who was 7-1 in each half of the split season, got eight first-place votes, seven for second. Players. Only umpire Doug Harvey tallied more than fifty percent support. He cant walk five feet at Dodger Stadium without fans of all ages stopping him. Forty years ago, Fernando Valenzuela pitched himself out of rural Mexico and into the heart of one of the worlds most famous cities with a magical season in 1981 that started with a perfect 8-0 record and launched a movement. Loaiza never again repeated his Chicago success before retiring after the 2008 season. How many of them impacted the fans like Fernando did? Fernandomania @ 40 is a multi-episode documentary series that examines star pitcher Fernando Valenzuelas impact on the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and the Latino community in Los Angeles 40 years ago. Why on earth include Bud Selig and Bobby Cox? The audience that was won over by Valenzuela remains. The confidence that we had in him, along with what Tommy and the coaching staff had in him was very real and we just knew that, somehow, he was going to get it done.. One thing is certain: Valenzuela broke barriers. Theres Pee Wee Reese (No. S. First, the veterans committee will not vote him in, because his screwball embarrassed them for six seasons. The ballpark was electrified by his performance, Lopez recalled. In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela won Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Yankees. In rural Mexico, they would beat 'lefthanded-ness' out of you. Fernando Valenzuela played 17 seasons. That support was always there. Im open to the idea that baseball should be recognizing more of these cultural figures in the Hall of Fame, Jaffe says. 34 from their jersey rotation. The pitch has always been about risk-reward with higher on the risk, but Fernando knew exactly what he was doing with it. Hall of Fame Inductee Fernando Valenzuela and his daughter attend the 12th Annual California Hall of Fame Ceremony at The California Museum on December 4, 2018 in Sacramento, California. 2), Duke Snider (No. The workload eventually caught up to him. 2002 Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Results. Comedian George Lopez reacts after his ceremonial first pitch during the 2009 NLDS. But its entertainment for the fans. He had a brief but eye-opening debut as a reliever (no earned runs in 17 2/3 innings) down the stretch in 80, but he was still just a 20-year-old kid. Valenzuela is not the first Mexican or Mexican-American big leaguer in baseball. The two candidates who received at least 75% of the vote and were elected are indicated in bold italics; candidates who have since been selected in subsequent elections are indicated in italics. We have had so many great players that if we tried to retire everyone's number who would qualify, then we would be in triple digits on our uniforms now, Kasten says. OMalley once wished out loud for a Mexican Sandy Koufax, a pitcher who could capture fans imaginations the way the Hall of Famer had. Rules enacted in August 2001 provided that the Veterans Committee would be expanded from its previous 15 members, elected to limited terms, and it would vote by mail rather than convene. The ballot consisted of 33 players; 496 ballots were cast, with 372 votes required for election. In 1981, the pitcher from rural Mexico helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series titleand energized Mexican American fans. He also appeared on the covers of The Sporting News, Sport Magazine, Baseball Digest and countless other publications. Valenzuela only lasted two years on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot before being dropped for lack of votes, meaning he seemingly never had a chance to add his No. "He meant everything to a community that was thirsting for a hero, Arellano says. 1981-04-09 LA Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela's 1st start, beats Astros 2-0; 1981-04-22 Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela tosses his 3rd shutout in 4 starts; 1981-09-17 Fernando Valenzuela sets NL rookie record with 8th shutout of season; 1981-11-11 LA Dodgers starter Fernando Valenzuela becomes first MLB rookie to win a Cy Young Award; Milwaukee Brewers' Rollie Fingers takes . I wore it like any other number. So, is Fernando Valenzuela a Hall of Fame-worthy player? I had a fastball and a curveball that was good but maybe, a screwball, a pitch that moved in the opposite direction of the curveball, could help, Valenzuela says. A new Historical Overview Committee comprising ten baseball writers nominated 200 players and 60 managers, umpires, and executives. Long live Fernandomania! The Dodgers won the next three contests to clinch the World Series title in six games. Players eligible for the first time who were not included on the ballot were: Damon Berryhill, Mike Bielecki, Darnell Coles, Mariano Duncan, lvaro Espinoza, Greg Gagne, Mike Gallego, Rene Gonzales, Kevin Gross, Mark Gubicza, Ron Karkovice, Joe Orsulak, Jody Reed, Bruce Ruffin, Kevin Seitzer, Don Slaught, and John Smiley. Fernandomania made it all the way to Cooperstown - Baseball Hall of Fame Today, their job is to focus on the reigning World Series champion Dodgers, but inevitably, the spotlight will center on one of the most celebrated moments in baseball history: the season when Valenzuela and his arm captivated the baseball world and recruited a new generation of fans. In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela became the first pitcher in history to win the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Im not saying that they should not have been elected, but Im saying that if they are in,then Fernando should be in too. I always looked at the Hall of Fame differently than most voters. ', So, Fernando in many ways, even though he never had to say it, he was a bridge to let Americans know that, Hey, its going to be OK. He is in the most important HOF- my heart and mind. "Fernando was one person and he obviously was a massive success, and he did bring tons of Mexican-American fans to the park, but it wasn't like every single person from those communities all of a sudden said, Because of Fernando, we're going to change our feelings and go to Dodgers games,'" Nusbaum says. He won his first eight starts with seven complete games and five shutouts, on his way to Hes a third generation Dodgers fan whose love for the team can be traced back to his Brooklyn-born grandfather. It was a historic run that almost didnt happen. Dylan Hernndez is a sports columnist with the Los Angeles Times. I always think twice about what I want to do or say, and I think its the only way to achieve certain things in life. I cant remember one player who captured the fantasy of the fans and the media the way Fernando did. My slider wasnt very good. I think it is not too much to say that for Mexican-American communities, Valenzuela was a hero like Hank Greenberg was for the Jews. But with Valenzuela starting in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles won, 5-4. Finley and Johnson take 'Year of the No-Hitter' overseas His importance to the Dodgers, in particular, was critical to the point that former owner Walter OMalley imagined him before he existed. Fernando, who was not very fast with his fastball, piled up the strikeouts because of the screwball, and it was a hard screwball. Valenzuela also pitched 251 innings in 1987. There are certain guys who, for me, impacted the game way beyond any kind of statistical analysis or the standard criteria that most voters use. Dodgers to retire Fernando Valenzuela's No. 34 this summer What Fernandomania did for the Dodgers was build generation after generation of Mexican-American fans, says John Thorn, the official historian of MLB. "I've never seen anything like it," broadcaster Jaime Jarrn told Sports Illustrated. Hall of Fame Inductee Fernando Valenzuela and his daughter attend the 1), manager Tommy Lasorda (No. Eliminated from annual BBWAA consideration by poor performance or expiration on this ballot. 32), Roy Campanella (No. Kelechi ndukwe asonye. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. For me, it was about what you did for the game and how you impacted the sport. Walk-up sales increased from 8,000 to 12,000 fans on nights Valenzuela pitched. The Dodgers won each. The lone exception is Jim Gilliam (No. He led the MCL with 91 strikeouts. Note: With the Mexico Series taking place this weekend (April 29 and 30) between the Padres and Giants, we wanted to highlight some of the great Mexican players and stories from baseball's past. You can try refreshing the page, and if you're still having problems, just try again later. Fernandos peak from late 1980-1986 was filled with high performance, and historic impact on the game. In addition to calling games, Jarrn served as Valenzuelas interpreter at news conferences, which gained him exposure in other markets and, by extension, the electorate of the Hall of Fames Ford C. Frick Award. He earned Mexicos Premio Nacional del Deporte, the countrys highest sports honor, last November. Reflecting on his rookie season, Valenzuela spoke of the importance of the emergency start he made on opening day. 4), Don Sutton (No. Which isnt to say Selig isnt deserving. The screwball is hard to learn, even harder to throw and risky because it puts so much stress on the arm. He could lasso anything.. In 2019, Valenzuela joined Don Newcombe and Garvey in the inaugural class of the Legends of Dodger Baseball in recognition of their impact on the franchise on and off the field. . The baseball world -- on and off the field -- would never be the same. Kellogg's Corn Flakes put him on a box of cereal. in bold letters across the top. The city was celebrating its 200th anniversary and the Latino population was exploding. Dodgers pitcher Bobby Castillo taught Valenzuela the screwball in the winter of 1979 at the urging of legendary scout Mike Brito, who signed both of them. Those candidates receiving less than 5% of the vote (25 votes) will not appear on future BBWAA ballots, but may eventually be considered by the Veterans Committee. Valenzuela played 11 of his 17 years in the major leagues with Los Angeles. Bob Uecker received the Ford C. Frick Award honoring a baseball broadcaster. She made that.. In addition, Darryl Kile was exempted from the five-season rule and included on the ballot, due to his unexpected death during the 2002 season. We created this new class of player called Dodger Legends in our new center-field plaza. The Dodgers rallied to a 5-4 victory behind Valenzuelas complete-game, 147-pitch effort in front of 56,236 fans. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB and Facebook. Candidates who were eligible for the first time are indicated here with a dagger (). There have been some rumblings about that, right? BREAKING: Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton, a stalwart of the Dodgers' rotation spanning an era from Sandy Koufax to Fernando Valenzuela, has died. He would have won over 25 wins every year with dodgers last 6 seasons for sure and 5 world series, He also won 21 games in 86 with a fifth place dodger team and was robbed of his second cy young awards given to Mike Scott of the Astros with only 16 wins big time robbery, I agree with the fact that he was overused. And in my opinion, Fernando should have pitched another five years easy if it wasnt because Lasorda didnt care for the welfare if this great Mexican pitcher that came to the Dodgers from a little town in Sonora, Mexico. Although it was not an elimination game, it was definitely a must-win situation. He was 75. When its good, its incredible, and when executed perfectly, youll never forget it. This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 02:41. Honorees have a permanent plaque on display at Dodger Stadium. And in the ultimate sign of fame and ubiquity, he became recognized by his first name only. I think at that point that we were in the playoffs and the World Series, he knew me and the way I liked to pitch, Valenzuela says. From 1980-86, his statistics say yes. Or he could be elected to his rightful place in the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee, which considers candidates who are no longer eligible to be voted in by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Fernando Valenzuela - Wikipedia Large homemade 'Viva Fernando' signs in the bleachers were all the rage. Not elected to 2023. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Dodgers fans, especially Mexican Americans, were eager to see the kid for a full season. Hall of Stats: Fernando Valenzuela But Fernando at age 20 did not say he was going to redeem the past sins of civic Los Angeles, real estate developers, the Red Scare, progressive activists and racism. Five years earlier, a statue of Valenzuela was erected at the entrance of Estadio de Bisbol Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico. His next 18 pitches were strikes, Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia told the Times. Meanwhile, six Hall of Fame members independently selected five nominated players, making 25 to 30 players.
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