The lone World Series appearance in the 1980s meant it was the first decade in which the Yankees did not win a title since the 1910s, and the first ever since the live-ball era, which would not happen again until the 2010s. He was born in Mexico and came to the United States in 1980. In addition to the National League rookie of the year award and a Silver Slugger, he won the award as a 20-year-old. 24 in San Francisco, when Valenzuela pitched 7 scoreless innings to beat the Giants. document.write(update); Copyright 1999- Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully and beloved hurler Fernando Valenzuela combined for an. The Dodgers got to the Series with help from Mexican-born rookie phenom Fernando Valenzuela, who won his first eight games including five by shutout. "Watching Fernando Valenzuela force himself into a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform is something like seeing Kate Smith struggling to fit into a pair of Brooke Shields' designer jeans." It's silly that the team has essentially already retired the number without giving Valenzuela the honor of making it official. On Nov. 11, 1981, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela became the first rookie to ever win the Cy Young Award, edging Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds. })(); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Donald Glover: From Baseball Player To Award-Winning Actor, Stay Informed About Baseball With Baseball Tonight Scoreboard Podcast, Making Your Baseball Bat Stand Out: Stamping A USA Logo For A Patriotic Touch. L.A. didnt exactly break out their bats, but came away with a 2-0 victory. The Dodgers would go on to win the World Series. After the walks, Davis was relieved by closer Goose Gossage who gave up a pinch-hit RBI single to Jay Johnstone and a sacrifice fly by Dusty Baker to score Thomas and Lopes, but Gossage closed out the win in the ninth. After posting a 1.71 ERA in four starts through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Valenzuela delivered a gutsy complete-game performance in the World Series against the Yankees in a must-win Game 3 with the Dodgers down 0-2. Because anyone who says they don't realize is not focused on the game is not watching what is happening in the game. Fast delivery and guaranteed savings! He seemed to be in trouble every inning, but somehow managed to pitch a complete game, giving up. He led all pitchers with 180 strikeouts that season. Year Team League; 1981: Los Angeles Dodgers: NL: NL Rookie of the Year. Here's how WBC offenses stack up with MLB's best. Because to throw a no-hitter, you need support from the offense, you need them to make runs. Factor in his 17 innings in relief without an earned run out of the bullpen in September 1980, and his start was even more remarkable. 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The Los Angeles Dodgers won their fourth World Series in a row in 1981 when they defeated the New York Yankees in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium. Former teammates Burt Hooton and Tommy John were locked in a scoreless duel until the fifth, when Larry Milbourne doubled in Willie Randolph for the only run John would really need. This was the Dodgers' first title since 1965, their first victory over the Yankees since 1963, and third overall Series win over the Yankees. The Yankees pushed across two more in the eighth off Steve Howe on a RBI single by Bob Watson and a sacrifice fly by Randolph. Fernando Valenzuela was a pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981. Though, he was unable to pitch that postseason due to. The Dodgers wound up meeting those, going on to defeat the New York Yankees in six games to win the 1981 World Series. Valenzuela, who was nicknamed El Toro (the Bull), got off to a slow start in 1982, perhaps the product of missing several weeks of Spring Training due to his holdout. This is the online home for all things baseball. Valenzuela drew massive attention as a 20-year-old rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, inciting "Fernandomania". Post-1988 playing career: Valenzuela returned to health and pitched 400 combined innings in 1989-1990. A tense moment occurred in the eighth when Goose Gossage beaned Ron Cey. Valenzuela had 76 walks and just 64 strikeouts in 142 innings. Valenzuela was a six-time All-Star during his tenure with the Dodgers, and was part of a second World Series championship team in 1988. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { } As Scully prepared to throw the pitch, he stopped midway through to reveal a curveball. Los Angeles won that contest 5-4 and went on to take the Series in six games. The Yankees, who led the American League East in the season's first half, took on the Milwaukee Brewers, winners of the second half division title, in the American League Division Series. for all stats, uniform numbers worn, salary data and other factual To put that in perspective, per capita income has increased approximately 60% across America since 1981, meaning the kid from Mexico, who took the Majors by storm, pitching eight consecutive complete games over his first eight starts, was making the modern day equivalent of $68,000. The chart below is a comprehensive analysis of the games Valenzuela pitched in, specifically relating to his 1981 pitching statistics. Joining Valenzuela in the rotation were veterans Burt Hooton (116, 2.28) and Jerry Reuss (104, 2.30). The Dodgers play the Royals in their spring training game at Surprise Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Reggie Jackson, continuing his torrid hitting, helped provide Guidry a lead by doubling to left in the second off Jerry Reuss, moving to third on a Davey Lopes error, and scoring on a Lou Piniella infield single. Odds & lines subject to change. How comprehensive is our World Series data? He was a six-time All-Star during his 11 seasons in Los Angeles from 1980-90. Fernando Valenzuela started opening day for the Dodgers in 1988, but injuries and ineffectiveness limited the highest paid pitcher in baseball to his worst season to date. Oh, I need a catcher. But after losing three of his first five starts, the magic returned, as he pitched complete games in six of his next seven outings, and went 17-10 with a 2.89 ERA over his final 32 starts. While he played for six MLB teams, he is best remembered for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. NLCS & World Series performance: Valenzuela made it back from injury in time to make one regular season start and pitch another four innings in relief, but the left-hander was left off the postseason roster and reduced to a spectator against the Mets and Athletics. Its the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in our shows, and more! Fernando 'El Toro' Valenzuela Autograph on a 1981 Fleer Baseball Card (#140), Fernando Valenzuela World Series Pitching Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Hitting Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Fielding Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Miscellaneous Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Miscellaneous Items of Interest. First Name Fernando #11. This was the last meeting between teams from New York City and Los Angeles for a major professional sports championship until the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers reached the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Finals. They would also appear in the World Series in 2018 against the Boston Red Sox, which they also lost. On October 25, 2017, Valenzuela threw the first pitch at game 2 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium, introduced by recently retired announcer Vin Scully, and joined by Steve Yeager. In the first half of the season, the Dodgers won the Western Division of the National League and advanced to the playoffs. update=copyright.getFullYear(); Valenzuela is a true baseball legend and his induction into the Hall of Fame was a well-deserved honor. Since he left the team after the 1990 season, no Dodger has worn Valenzuela's number 34. The Gigantic Book of Baseball Quotations. What did your teammates say to you? First of all we were raised by Vin Scully, who in his prime would call the biggest games in sports. var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); Did you know that in the Fernando Valenzuela Miscellaneous World Series Items of Interest section seen above you can click the Stats link under the World Series label and a truly comprehensive history of that World Series will appear on your screen? Valenzuela struck out the pitchers both times. This man was the radar gun. ABC Sports covered this World Series on television in the United States, its third under the then-present contract of alternating Series coverage with NBC Sports. He spoke little English but captivated this city and baseball fans across. Make it happen, Dodgers. Valenzuela would eventually allow runs to be scored at a more frequent pace, ending the season with a 2.48 ERA (135 ERA+) in 192 innings. . Dodgers pitchers are hesitant to use the PitchCom device to call their own pitches. With a lead and the Dodger Stadium crowd behind him, Valenzuela appeared to finally settle down. His Game Three win in the World Seriesa gut-wrenching 147-pitch, 5-4 victorywas the turning point as the Dodgers began a four-game win streak to beat the Yankees. Dave Winfield was signed as a free agent in the off-season, joined another all-star, Reggie Jackson, in the outfield. He improved slightly in 1989 and went 10-13; he posted a 13-13 record in 1990. 1988 Dodgers player profile: Fernando Valenzuela, the injuredsuperstar. SUMMARY Career WAR In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela woke up from a nap and began pitching, and winning, sparking the phenomenon known as Fernandomania and almost singlehandedly repairing a fractured relationship between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the citys Mexican American community. Ulises Alou, a Mexican-born player who played for the Dodgers from 1969 to 1974, is regarded as the first Mexican-born player in Major League Baseball. Composite Dodgers 2023 team prospect rankings. Valenzuela was sent by the Padres to the Cardinals in a six-player trade in July 1997, and ended his career with five starts for St. Louis. He had 10 career home runs and batted .200 over his career. NL Los Angeles Dodgers (4) vs. AL New York Yankees (2). Fernando Valenzuela pitched in 25 Major League games during the 1981 regular season. Watson led off the fifth with a double, but no one scored as Valenzuela pitched out of it again. The Braves . [12][13] The Yankee owner was criticized by players and press alike for doing so, as many people felt losing a World Series was not something for which a team needed to apologize.[14]. How acquired: The Dodgers signed Valenzuela out of the Mexican League on July 6, 1979, and in just over a year was pitching in the big leagues in the bullpen in a pennant race. 62 Year Old Scorpio #16. Valenzuela had only one no-hitter in his career, which came in the eighth. Fernando Valenzuela Position: Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Left 5-11 , 180lb (180cm, 81kg) Born: November 1, 1960 in Navojoa, Mexico mx More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Cy Young Rookie of the Year 6x All-Star 1981 World Series Gold Glove 2x Silver Slugger ML PoY 34 36 34 33 34 34 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. John managed to strand Guerrero in scoring position to end the seventh and pitched the last two innings, but closer Gossage never got in the game.