Dodgers News: Fernando Valenzuela’s No 34 Will Be Retired This Season
The Dodgers got this one right. On Saturday at Dodger FanFest, in front of a crowd of thousands of Dodger fans, Team President Stan Kasten got on stage for a special announcement. To help with the announcement, he called Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela to the stage.
After a little back and forth, sharing some history about why Valenzuela’s jersey has not yet been retired, Kasten made the announcement that Dodgers fans have wanted to hear for decades: The team is retiring Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey.
The ceremony will be a weekend-long celebration from August 11-13. The weekend will include the jersey retirement ceremony with “special guests,” a Valenzuela bobblehead giveaway and a Valenzuela 1981 World Series ring giveaway.
It’s going to be a very special weekend for Dodgers fans. Valenzuela can’t wait.
“To be a part of the group that includes so many legends is a great honor,” Valenzuela said per the Dodgers press release. “But also for the fans — the support they’ve given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them. I’m happy for all the fans and all the people who have followed my career. They’re going to be very excited to know that my No. 34 is being retired.”
Here’s what Kasten said, per the press release:
“I am incredibly happy that number 34 for the Los Angeles Dodgers will be retired forever,” Kasten said. “The one question that I continuously get asked, more than anything else, is about retiring Fernando Valenzuela’s number. The citywide call by our fans to honor him is truly remarkable. What he accomplished during his playing career, not only on the field but in the community, is extraordinary. He truly lit up the imaginations of baseball fans everywhere. It’s hard to envision a player having a greater impact on a fan base than the one Fernando has had.”
Again, we’ll provide more information on the dates of the retirement when we get them. But for now, Dodger fans can celebrate, knowing no one will ever wear No. 34 again for the Dodgers.
It is about damn time.
Fernando. Fernandomania. He’s one of those players whose numbers, while good, aren’t that good. But like a few, he was much more than his career numbers. He was a force, he made an impact, both to the Latin community and everyone. He’s deserving of the number retirement honor. Congrats to Fernando!
The Dodgers are doing the right thing with Fernando. If the retired numbers are rewarded to the hall of fame members only, excluding Jim Gilliam, why can’t there be two ways to honor other deserving former players. Keep the retired numbers the way they are, but have a “ring of honor” for other great Dodgers from the past? Other teams and colleges do this. Shouldn’t Garvey, Newcombe, Cey, and many others have that “place of honor”?