Fernandomania wasnt just about baseball. The 2022 Seneca Valley Sports Hall of Fame Inductees: Tony DeRiggi '04. But it always was when Valenzuela pitched. Spencer, who grew up in Southern California, watched Valenzuela transform from a reserved young man to worldwide phenomenon. Fernando Valenzuela's short peak removed him from the MLB Hall of Fame conversation. Decades before he starred on screens and on stages across the globe, comedian George Lopez was a young Dodgers fan. The Mexican-American community has always been large in Los Angeles, but it was not attached to the Dodgers when they were imported from Brooklyn. This is sport, he told the Times in 2021. 39), Jackie Robinson (No. I tried to do my best so they can have a good game, a nice day in the park.. Dodgers Offseason: Could LA Work Out an Extension with Julio Urias? 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. As promised, I will attempt to make the Hall of Fame (HoF)case for former Dodgers starFernando Valenzuela. 2002 Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Results - Baseball Almanac Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela speaks during a news conference in 2018. He still moves the needle. 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.. He was also very playful when he got comfortable.. Players. Valenzuela falls short in all three of Bill James tests making it only halfway in the most accurate predictor getting 25 of the 50 that indicates a HOF election..and then there is abysmal showing in the actual voting. It would be really great if they remembered me as someone who always tried his best to always give them a good show, so that they could have fun with this beautiful game.. The screwball that dropped straight down in the strike zone was best against the most disciplined hitters. Theres Pee Wee Reese (No. ), Babe Adams Joe Adcock Dick Allen Johnny Allen Felipe Alou Bobby vila Sal Bando Dick Bartell Ginger Beaumont Glenn Beckert Wally Berger Bobby Bonds Ken Boyer Harry Brecheen Tommy Bridges Pete Browning Charlie Buffinton Lew Burdette George H. Burns George J. Burns Guy Bush Dolph Camilli Leo Crdenas Bob Caruthers George Case Norm Cash Phil Cavarretta Spud Chandler Ben Chapman Rocky Colavito Walker Cooper Wilbur Cooper Mort Cooper Doc Cramer Del Crandall Gavy Cravath Lave Cross Mike Cuellar Bill Dahlen Alvin Dark Jake Daubert Tommy Davis Willie Davis Paul Derringer Dom DiMaggio Patsy Donovan Jimmie Dykes Bob Elliott Del Ennis Carl Erskine Roy Face Wes Ferrell Freddie Fitzsimmons Curt Flood Bill Freehan Jim Fregosi Larry French Carl Furillo Mike Garcia Jim Gilliam Jack Glasscock Joe Gordon Charlie Grimm Dick Groat Heinie Groh Stan Hack Harvey Haddix Mel Harder Jeff Heath Tommy Henrich Babe Herman Pinky Higgins John Hiller Gil Hodges Ken Holtzman Willie Horton Elston Howard Frank Howard Dummy Hoy Larry Jackson Julin Javier Jackie Jensen Sam Jethroe Bob Johnson Davey Johnson Joe Judge Willie Kamm Ken Keltner Don Kessinger Johnny Kling Ted Kluszewski Ray Kremer Harvey Kuenn Joe Kuhel Vern Law Sam Leever Mickey Lolich Sherm Lollar Herman Long Ed Lopat Dolf Luque Sal Maglie Jim Maloney Firpo Marberry Marty Marion Roger Maris Mike G. Marshall Pepper Martin Carl Mays Tim McCarver Frank McCormick Lindy McDaniel Gil McDougald Sam McDowell Stuffy McInnis Denny McLain Roy McMillan Dave McNally Andy Messersmith Bob Meusel Irish Meusel Bing Miller Stu Miller Minnie Mioso Terry Moore Tony Mullane Thurman Munson Johnny Murphy Buddy Myer Art Nehf Don Newcombe Bobo Newsom Lefty O'Doul Tony Oliva Claude Osteen Milt Pappas Mel Parnell Camilo Pascual Ron Perranoski Jim Perry Johnny Pesky Rico Petrocelli Deacon Phillippe Billy Pierce Vada Pinson Wally Pipp Johnny Podres Boog Powell Jack Quinn Vic Raschi Ed Reulbach Allie Reynolds J. He knew how to play the game. Valenzuela's rise to major league prominence began in September 1980, when he was called up from the minor leagues by the Dodgers. Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea ( Spanish pronunciation: [fenando alenswela], born November 1, 1960) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He led the MCL with 91 strikeouts. . (John Cordes / National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) It seemed like there was nothing he couldnt do. I tell them, Look, for me, the affection and that the people recognize what I have accomplished is more important than being in a Hall of Fame. After being staked to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Valenzuela gave up four runs in the next two frames, including a solo home run by Bob Watson and a two-run shot by Rick Cerone in the top of the third that gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead. ?subscriber: (@TimRogers2080) August 7, 2016. This story originally ran in 2021. On the anniversary of Fernando Valenzuela's first and only career no-hitter, we make the case that the Dodgers should retire "El Toro's" iconic . In his book, Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between, Eric Nusbaum details how the club ended up with Dodger Stadium, specifically how three Mexican neighborhoods -- Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop -- were destroyed to make way for a housing project that was canceled amid the Red Scare hysteria and real estate speculation. Valenzuela was scheduled to pitch Game 7 in New York, but as it turned out, his heroics in Game 3 helped set the Dodgers on a path to making that start unnecessary. He further internationalized the player pool. Arduino rgb led module Rc kunstflug torquene. What he accomplished from 1980 to 1987 ranks atop any pre steroid performer like Roger Clemens. That performance was followed by another shutout against the Mets in New York and a complete-game win against the Expos at Dodger Stadium. Kellogg's Corn Flakes put him on a box of cereal. 34 since he was released by the club in 1991, although the number is not officially retired. And those that played on great teams like Tony Lazzeri, but werent considered great on their own. He knew how to play the game. And then the next wave was Fernando, who captured the attention of the entire Hispanic world.. Hernndez: Fernando Valenzuela's lasting impact on baseball makes him Meanwhile, six Hall of Fame members independently selected five nominated players, making 25 to 30 players. Sooner or later, it has to be properly recognized. Alexandre bernardo teixeira gomes cleveland. Players you saw at the end of their careers who were surprisingly good - posted in Trivia, Questions, Advice: Im looking for guys who surprised you how good they were once you were old enough to go back and look at their numbers. Less than a year later, Valenzuela made his big league debut. They would vote by mail using "ballots and supporting material -- prepared by the Hall of Fame". Los Angeles was evolving when Fernandomania erupted in 1981. 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 city's Mexican American community. Fernando Valenzuela is the only player ever so far to win a Cy Young Award and a Rookie of the Year Award in the same season. Fernando Valenzuela was one of MLB's most beloved players over his 17-season career. As an encore, the 20-year-old from rural Mexico helped pitch the Dodgers to their first World Series title in a generation. Former Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela throws a ceremonial first pitch before the MLB All-Star Game last summer at Dodger Stadium. Years later, Lopez made his own statement with a No. Everything combined to give us those victories.. The Dodgers were one of the first teams to cater to Spanish speakers with Spanish broadcasts. Fernandomania unified the city, giving it something to cheer for, together. ESPN.com: MLB - Kile, Valenzuela, others make Hall of Fame ballot From 1987-97, his statistics would say no: 74-85 with a 4.23 ERA. Players elected to the Hall of Fame fall into different categories: No matter why or how they got in, they are in the Hall of Fame. It was immediate, and it was powerful. Later that summer, Valenzuela attended a state luncheon at the White House with President Ronald Reagan. (Lou Sauritch/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Within a few short weeks, Fernandomania was sweeping the nation. When rookie Fernando Valenzuela took the mound in L.A. for Opening Day 1981, no one knew it would be the beginning of a cultural phenomenon. Nonetheless, Jarrn said, logically, the talent would have emerged sooner or later.. You cannot like what happened at Chavez Ravine and still love the Dodgers, says Arellano, who also taught Chicano Studies at Cal State Fullerton. But even Jaffe, a seasoned analyst who relies on hard numbers to make Hall of Fame cases, has a soft spot for Valenzuela. Many of these residents were Mexican Americans, who became embittered and remained cool to the Dodgers for decades afterward. While the ERA looks impressive, the Mexican Center League was a low-offense environment and three team staffs had lower ERAs. The program is trying to recapture its traditions while building new ones in the modern era. Not elected to 2023. Forty years later, there are still memories.. 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. Eliminated from annual BBWAA consideration by poor performance or expiration on this ballot. During a videoconference he participated in with Valenzuela over the weekend, Jarrn spoke of how El Toro helped immigrants find their place in this city. 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. A total of 3272 individual votes were cast, an average of 6.60 per ballot. The Dodgers Spanish-language voice since 1959, Jarrn is without question worthy of his place in the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame. People in U.S. soccer circles have spent decades looking for a Mexican American star and the best they have come up with is, who, Herculez Gomez? Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2003_Baseball_Hall_of_Fame_balloting&oldid=1146471837, Articles needing additional references from January 2021, All articles needing additional references, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Hall of Fame member elected on this ballot (named in, Hall of Fame member elected subsequently to 2023 (named in. I always looked at the Hall of Fame differently than most voters. That support was always there. And with the roots of the movement starting with the . Valenzuela made the Dodgers the team of a community that once viewed the franchise with suspicion. We have Jackie Robinson, and we know his status in popular culture. Mexican-Americans Lalo and Mark Guerrero, a father-and-son songwriting team, got into the act with tribute songs, Fernando, El Toro and Ol! He had a 118 ERA+, a 2.88 FIP with a 33.5 WAR. Not mine as much as my Dad's. Its almost always easier for a lefty pitcher to throw those kinds of pitches.. He watched the entire city embrace him. They also know his voice in Southern California because he broadcasts Dodgers games in Spanish. [1], The process would cover players every two years and other contributors (managers, umpires and executives) every four years. She just threw her arms in the air and embraced him, Lopez says. When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA - History The screwball is basically a reverse curve where the pitcher uses the same tempo as his fastball. Numbers are there to be worn. The newly eligible candidates included 22 All-Stars, five of whom were not on the ballot, who were selected a total of 68 times. Hernandez grew up in South Pasadena and graduated from UCLA in 2002, after which he worked at the San Jose Mercury News for five years. Hall of Fame Inductee Fernando Valenzuela and his daughter attend the Why on earth include Bud Selig and Bobby Cox? I wore it like any other number," Valenzuela added. Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2003 proceeded in keeping with rules enacted in 2001. But how do we honor all the many great other players? Dodgers Way Top Ten Dodgers of All-Time: Number Six PITCHER FERNANDO VALENZUELA FOR HALL OF FAME NOW! - Change.org If Selig hadnt supported the home run surge of the late 1990s by looking the other way when players started injecting themselves with steroids, who knows whether baseball would have ever recovered from its last work stoppage? The Dodgers won the title in seven games. Of course they dropped the ball when presented with a perfect opportunity to officially remove Fernando Valenzuelas No. "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. The only left-handed pitcher in the Hall of Fame with a WAR lower than Valenzuelas is Rube Marquard (32.5), who began pitching in 1908. 20), manager Walter Alston (No. Through the 1986 season, he was 99-68 with a 2.94 earned-run average, 84 complete games and 24 shutouts. Valenzuela, who had thrown batting practice at Dodger Stadium the day before, learned of his assignment less than 24 hours before first pitch. Valenzuela won his sixth start with a nine-inning effort in Montreal, though he was denied a complete game when the contest went to a 10th inning. He made being a lefthander cool, says Gustavo Arellano, a Los Angeles Times columnist of Mexican heritage. 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. I always prepared my arm to throw a lot of pitches. They know his pitching delivery, the World Series win, his big glasses and all that. Future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson had already thrown one no-hitter during the 1990 season when he combined with Chuck Finley to throw another one in Japan. Which isnt to say Selig isnt deserving. Fernando Valenzuela. Required fields are marked *. They didnt have to wait long. Don Sutton, a Hall of Fame pitcher who was a stalwart of the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation spanning an era from Sandy Koufax to Fernando Valenzuela, died Tuesday. Fernando Valenzuela | Biography, Stats, & Facts | Britannica I cant remember one player who captured the fantasy of the fans and the media the way Fernando did. 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 . Fernando Valenzuela played 17 seasons. I will be comparing him to some other Hall of Famers; and as someone who is a big hall person, I feel I can make the case. 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. Darryl Kile, who died during the 2002 season, is also on the ballot. Lasorda stuck with Valenzuela and the managers faith in the pitcher was rewarded when Fernando shut down the Yankees the rest of the way. Valenzuela also was unflappable, a rarity for a player so young. You could see how genuine and humble he was through it all and that also resonated with people.. He won the Rookie of the Year award and Cy Young award, given annually to the best pitcher in each league. 21 Most Valuable 1981 Donruss Baseball Cards - Old Sports Cards He was 75. He is in the most important HOF- my heart and mind. Maybe the Dodgers will come to their senses by then. Valenzuela had a strong 6 years plus had a huge impact, Tim Rogers 2080 ? Outside of Jackie Robinson and maybe Babe Ruth, Valenzuela reshaped baseballs landscape more than any other player in history. S. First, the veterans committee will not vote him in, because his screwball embarrassed them for six seasons. Back then, the pair emerged as dominant Latino figures in the sport with Jarrn narrating Valenzuelas achievements to Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S., Latin America and beyond. This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 02:41. The clubs history with Chavez Ravine, the land on which Dodger Stadium is built, is well-documented. Valenzuela was an All-Star in each of his first 6 seasons. TV ratings spiked, too. 4), Don Sutton (No. There are countless Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles and across the country with stories like Lopezs. In his 1986 All-Star appearance, he tied Carl Hubbell by striking out 5 in a row. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Fans bought T-shirts with Valenzuelas name on the back, made their own or bought bootleg versions available all over the city. In fact, at this point, it is premature and meaningless to discuss the induction of a nine-year-old pitcher into the Hall of Fame. It wasnt a dream come true because nobody could have dreamed it.. For my generation, Im talking Generation X, the children of Mexican immigrants that grew up in Southern California in the 1980s, hes not a myth, he was a hero. Fernando Valenzuela - Baseball Fever He could hit, he could bunt, field his position. 32), Roy Campanella (No. 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. the number of wins in the Hall of Fame vote still has a significant impact. 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. Dodgers: The Hall of Fame Case for Fernando Valenzuela Leading up to the celebration Sunday of Valenzuelas landmark rookie season, there were renewed pleas for the franchise to make an exception to its arbitrary policy of retiring only the numbers of Hall of Famers. Everyone was clamoring for Fernando stories and it was just so unbelievable the amount of attention he was getting, says Steve Brener, who was the director of publicity for the Dodgers from 1970-87. This articleby Jos M. Alamillo tells his amazing story of how Fernando impacted him. If you look at that video, everybody in that stadium is of the same mind and thinking, She might have kissed him, but we all kissed him, too. We all wanted to get close to him and hug him. When we see managers, commissioners, and front office personnel elected to the Hall of Fame with sketchy contributions to the game, and players like Fernando Valenzuela are not, then something is wrong. The new committee would comprise all living members of the Hall of Fame, recipients of the Spink Award (broadcasters), recipients of the Frick Award (writers), and members of the old committee until expiration of their terms. For my generation, Im talking Generation X, the children of Mexican immigrants that grew up in Southern California in the 1980s, hes not a myth, he was a hero. The Veterans Committee held elections both for players who were active no later than 1981 and for non-players (managers, umpires and executives), but did not select anyone. ( marks those newly eligible since 2001 (eight). Shes like us, out there running around with a T-shirt with blue sleeves that she bought at a hardware store and had 34 ironed on the back. Twenty years old!! 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. Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda started Valenzuela, awakening him from a slumber to give him the news. Its a memory I always have, of saying, He gave me this opportunity, I have to take advantage of it, Valenzuela said. Valenzuela was pitching on short rest, and he clearly did not have his best stuff. The workload eventually caught up to him. the May 18, 1981, edition of Sports Illustrated, when he threw out a ceremonial first pitch. Fernandomania - Society for American Baseball Research In 1981, the pitcher from rural Mexico helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series titleand energized Mexican American fans. Kellogg's Corn Flakes put him on a box of cereal. In terms of player comparisons, over the last 25 years guys like Bruce Sutter, Jack Morris, Bill Mazeroski and Jim Rice have all been elected. La Opinin. It was really important for me because things went well, Valenzuela says. If theres someone [else] that can wear it, thats no problem. It was a historic run that almost didnt happen. "He was an extremely important person in the history of baseball.. From an on-field performance impact, his historic first 8 starts with 5 shutouts always comes up first. THEN AND NOW: Media mixes up Hall of Fame voting - Daily News He won his first eight starts with seven complete games and five shutouts, on his way to In front of a crowd of 50,511, Valenzuela showed no signs of nerves as he twirled a five-hit shutout, striking out five with the help of his screwball, to help Los Angeles start the season with a 2-0 win over the Astros. He could do everything on a baseball field but run. When I came up in 1980, it was at my locker. Seaver, who was 7-1 in each half of the split season, got eight first-place votes, seven for second. Fernando, who was not very fast with his fastball, piled up the strikeouts because of the screwball, and it was a hard screwball. Impianto di terra cantiere alto. His importance to the Dodgers, in particular, was critical to the point that former owner Walter OMalley imagined him before he existed. He is part of a group of players once considered outsiders and who changed the games landscape upon their entry. 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.. The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) held an election to select from among recent players; Gary Carter and Eddie Murray were elected. 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. 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. I really think theres a home for Fernando in the Hall," says the longtime sportswriter. Valenzuela had never started a Major League game when he got the call on Opening Day 1981. Although it was not an elimination game, it was definitely a must-win situation. The fact that he was Mexican and that he was so good, and so humble while on such an incredible run was inspiring, Lopez says. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. His screwgi wad unique, his defense won him gold gloves his hitting silver bats. 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. Among 85 eligible voters, 81 cast ballots so 61 votes were the minimum to elect a candidate. And in the ultimate sign of fame and ubiquity, he became recognized by his first name only. He was the Mexican who made it and was destroying all of the competition. Its been a lot of years since someone has worn No. Mike Brita, a Dodgers scout since 1978, found him in Etchohuaquila, Mexico (population 857 in 2020), roughly 1,000 miles northwest of Mexico City. Im not going to speculate, but it is safe to say that he could have averaged 15 wins per season up until 1996, cementing his bid to the hall of fame. Bobby Cox, Bud Selig,John Schuerholz, Bruce Sutter, Bill Mazeroski, and many others without the qualifications of Valenzuela are in the Hall of Fame. We won. He was only 20 years old in 1981 when he won the NL Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year, 5th in MVP voting, Silver Slugger and went 13-8 while leading the NL in SHO (8), CG (11), IP (192.1) and K (180). Didnt . When its good, its incredible, and when executed perfectly, youll never forget it. Both cycles first concluded with elections in February 2003, electing no one. Not necessarily looking for HOFers. Valenzuela is not the first Mexican or Mexican-American big leaguer in baseball. The screwball relies on movement and lots of feeling. I was there when that girl ran on the field and kissed him. Valenzuela also had one of the more distinctive windups and deliveries of all time. The numbers, however, speak for themselves: He began the 1981 season with eight straight wins, seven complete games and five shutouts. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, Elliott: Pissed off Kings must improve in key areas to break Oilers playoff stranglehold, Shohei Ohtanis seventh home run of the season helps Angels avoid sweep, Florida Panthers upset record-setting Boston Bruins in Game 7 OT thriller, Lakers vs. Warriors: What scouts expect in playoff series, School is in session as Sparks begin training camp. Ive always been asked what the situation is, with Cooperstown and all that, Valenzuela says. The lone exception is Jim Gilliam (No. ?subscriber: (@TimRogers2080) November 10, 2018. No Dodgers player has worn Valenzuelas jersey No. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB and Facebook.