Fernando Valenzuela Out From Dodgers’ Broadcast Booth: Report
Los Angeles Dodgers legendary pitcher-turned-broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela has reportedly left the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcast team indefinitely, per a report from Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group.
The Dodgers declined to give a reason for Valenzuela’s absence and he is not likely to return for the playoff broadcasts.
Valenzuela burst onto the scene in 1981. His rookie campaign was unlike any other and set the city of Los Angeles and baseball ablaze with mania.
Fernando Valenzuela’s incredible season, known as “Fernandomania,” saw him dominate the mound and make history. In a single year, he achieved something no one had done before: winning both the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors.
But his accomplishments didn’t stop there. Valenzuela played a crucial role in leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series victory, defeating the New York Yankees in six games and adding a championship ring to his collection.
Even after hanging up his cleats, Valenzuela’s name still pulls fans in. The Dodgers even gave him his own bobblehead to honor his legacy. On July 29, 2001, fans at Dodger Stadium for the game against the Colorado Rockies got to relive some of that “Fernandomania” magic.
As part of a tribute series for “Dodger Greats,” Valenzuela joined legends like Tommy Lasorda and Kirk Gibson in getting the bobblehead treatment. What made it even more special was that it marked 20 years since Fernandomania first took off, showing just how much of an impact Valenzuela still has on the Dodgers and their fans.
On Aug. 11, 2023, the Dodgers made Valenzuela’s legacy official by retiring his No. 34, kicking off a special three-day celebration at Dodger Stadium called “Fernandomania” weekend.
Valenzuela became just the 12th player in team history to have his number retired. On top of that, he was also inducted into the Dodger Stadium Ring of Honor, making him the 14th person to join that exclusive group.
It’s now grown to 15 with the addition of Walter O’Malley but Valenzuela’s legacy with the Dodgers just keeps growing, and this celebration was another way to show the lasting impact he’s had on the franchise.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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