Meet Fernando Valenzuela

FERNANDO 

VALENZUELA

"El Toro"

Positions: Pitcher

Full Name: Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea

Bats: Left - Throws: Left

Born: November 1, 1960 in Navajoa, Mexico

Organizations: Los Angeles Dodgers (11), San Diego Padres (3), Baltimore Orioles (1), Philadelphia Phillies (1), St. Louis Cardinals (1), California Angels (1)

FERNANDO VALENZUELA'S WALL OF GLORY

HONORS AND AWARDS

• All Star: 6 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
• Rookie of the Year: 1 (1981)
• Cy Young: 1 (1981)
• Major League Player of the Year: 1 (1981)
• Gold Gloves: 1 (1986)
• Silver Sluggers: 2 (1981, 1983)
• World Series Rings: 1 (1981)

PITCHING

• Wins Leader: 1 (1981)
• IP Leader: 1 (1981)
• SO Leader: 1 (1981)
• GS Leader: 1 (1981)
• CG Leader: 3 (1981, 1986, 1987)
• SHO Leader: 1 (1981)

FIELDING

• Assists as P: 2 (1982, 1986) 
• Fielding % as P: 1 (1985)

WHO?

"El Toro" is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. Valenzuela played 17 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, from 1980 to 1991 and 1993 to 1997. While he played for six MLB teams, he is best remembered for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His career highlights include a win-loss record of 173–153, with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.54. Valenzuela was notable for being one of a small number of pitchers who threw a screwball regularly

In 1981 (shortened season because a player's strike), in what came to be called "Fernandomania," Valenzuela became an international phenomenon. The jovial left-handed started the season with 8-0 (5 shutouts) and an ERA of 0,50. In addition to his domain as a pitcher, his unorthodox pitching motion caught attention immediately, and he became an instant media icon. Valenzuela finished with a record of 13–7 and had a 2.48 ERA. He became the first, and to date, the only player to win both Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. Also, El Toro was also the first rookie to lead the NL in strikeouts.

The 1986 one was one of his best seasons, finishing with 21-11 and 3,14 ERA. leading the league in wins, complete games and innings. Valenzuela finished in second place in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

On June 29, 1990, Valenzuela threw his only MLB no-hitter, pitching at Dodger Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals, a 6–0 victory. The no-hitter was the second one pitched that day: Oakland Athletics Dave Stewart  had just no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays a few hours earlier. Nevertheless, his performance was declining since 1987, and Valenzuela was released by Los Angeles. He had a comeback with Orioles (1993) and a more- solid season with Padres (1996). El Toro retired in 1997 with a record of 173-153, 2074 SO and 3,54 ERA.

 

MY COMMENT:

Fernandomania.

This is the term that describe all the hype that surrounded Fernando Valenzuela and that swept United States. Between 1981-1986 El Toro was one of the most dominating pitchers in the National League, being selected to 6 All-Star games and averaging more than 200 SO.

But during that span he pitched 84 complete games. This overuse could be the cause of his accelerated fading. 

During his prime his name was synonymous of great pitching. Even in my home country (Venezuela), when me and my friends, as kids, played baseball, we made reference to El Toro.

The first time I heard about him in pop culture, was in the TV show "V" (the original 1984-1985), when the main character (Michael Donovan) told his son that he would teach him "to pitch like Valenzuela".

Fernando Valenzuela and his Fernandomania were a massive cultural phenomenon like no other in the history of the game. Even in these times, it continues to echo in our brain.

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
1981	20	LAD	NL	13	7	.650	2.48	25	25	11	8	0	192.1	140	55	53	11	61	180	1.045
1982	21	LAD	NL	19	13	.594	2.87	37	37	18	4	0	285.0	247	105	91	13	83	199	1.158
1984	23	LAD	NL	12	17	.414	3.03	34	34	12	2	0	261.0	218	109	88	14	106	240	1.241
1985	24	LAD	NL	17	10	.630	2.45	35	35	14	5	0	272.1	211	92	74	14	101	208	1.146
1986	25	LAD	NL	21	11	.656	3.14	34	34	20	3	0	269.1	226	104	94	18	85	242	1.155

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience
What do you think? Do you have any memories about Fernandomania? Or is there other major cultural phenomenon in baseball that you remember? Share your thoughts!