| Fernando Valenzuela | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | ||
| Born: November 1, 1960 Navojoa, Mexico |
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| Batted: Left | Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | ||
| September 15, 1980 for the Los Angeles Dodgers |
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| Final game | ||
| July 14, 1997 for the St. Louis Cardinals |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Win-Loss record | 173-153 | |
| Earned run average | 3. In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Navojoa is the fifth-largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated in the southern part of Sonora 608 kilometers (360 miles The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals (4-2 Mike Schmidt, MVP The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians (4-3 Liván Hernández, The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St A win is a Statistic in Major League Baseball credited to the Pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when his team last took the lead In Baseball statistics, earned run average ( ERA) is the Mean of Earned runs given up by a Pitcher per nine Innings pitched 54 | |
| Strikeouts | 2,074 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
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Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea (b. In Baseball or Softball, a strikeout or strike out (denoted by SO or K) occurs when a batter receives three strikes The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals (4-2 Mike Schmidt, MVP Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Oakland Athletics (4-0 José Rijo, MVP The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves (4-3 Jack Morris, MVP The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies (4-2 Paul Molitor, The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Headline events of the year As a result of a players' strike the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians (4-2 Tom Glavine, MVP Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians (4-3 Liván Hernández, The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians (4-3 Liván Hernández, The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation. The 1988 World Series matched the Oakland Athletics against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers upsetting the heavily favored A's to win the Series in five For the award given to amateur boxers see Golden Gloves. In American Baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to The In Baseball, the Cy Young Award is an honor given annually to the best Pitcher in Major League Baseball (one each for American and National In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to one player from each league as voted upon by the Baseball Writers Association of America Before there was a Cy Young Award, there was the Pitcher of the Year Award, established by The Sporting News in 1944, though no awards were given in November 1, 1960 Etchohuaquila, in the state of Sonora) is a former left-handed pitcher who pitched for six different teams during his Major League Baseball career, most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he pitched for eleven seasons, from 1980 to 1990. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Etchohuaquila is a small town within the municipality of Navojoa, in the Mexican state of Sonora. Sonora is one of the 31 federal states of Mexico and is located in the northwest of the country In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Thanks in part to his "Ruthian physique,"[1][2] and a devastating screwball that helped him win his first eight straight decisions in 1981, Valenzuela touched off an early 80s craze dubbed "Fernandomania. George Herman Ruth Jr (February 6 1895 &ndash August 16 1948 also popularly known as " Babe " " The Bambino " and " The Sultan of A screwball is a Baseball pitch that is thrown so as to break in the opposite direction of a Slider. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees (4-2 Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. "[3] That year, Valenzuela became the only player in Major League history to win both the Rookie of The Year award and the Cy Young Award in the same season. In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to one player from each league as voted upon by the Baseball Writers Association of America In Baseball, the Cy Young Award is an honor given annually to the best Pitcher in Major League Baseball (one each for American and National
Contents |
Early life
Valenzuela, the youngest of twelve children, was born in Etchohuaquila, a small town within the municipality of Navojoa, in the state of Sonora, Mexico. Etchohuaquila is a small town within the municipality of Navojoa, in the Mexican state of Sonora. Navojoa is the fifth-largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated in the southern part of Sonora 608 kilometers (360 miles Sonora is one of the 31 federal states of Mexico and is located in the northwest of the country [4] His birth date is officially listed as November 1, 1960, but during his phenomenal rookie season in 1981 some observers questioned his age, guessing him to be significantly older than twenty. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [5]
Playing career
In 1978, 17-year-old Fernando Valenzuela began his professional baseball career with the Guanajuato Tuzos of the Mexican Central League, posting a 5-6 record with a 2. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Yankees over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2 Bucky Dent, MVP 23 ERA. The following year, the Mexican Central League was absorbed into the expanded Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (Mexican Baseball League), automatically elevating then 18-year-old Valenzuela to the AAA level. Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North Pitching for the Leones de Yucatán (Yucatan Lions) that year, Valenzuela went 10-12 with a 2. 49 ERA and 141 strikeouts. [6] A number of Major League teams scouted Valenzuela during this time, but it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who finally gambled on the young lefty, buying out his Liga contract on July 6, 1979, for $120,000. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Baltimore Orioles (4-3 Willie Stargell, [7]
Los Angeles Dodgers
After acquiring Fernando Valenzuela in the summer of 1979, the Dodgers assigned him to the Lodi Dodgers (now the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes) of the High-A level California League, where he posted a 1-2 record and a 1. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a Minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga California, USA. The California League is a Class A Advanced Minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. 13 ERA in limited action. [8] In 1980 Valenzuela was promoted to the AA level San Antonio Missions. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals (4-2 Mike Schmidt, MVP Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North For the historic churches see San Antonio Missions National Historical Park The San Antonio Missions are a Minor league baseball There Valenzuela led the Texas League with 162 strikeouts, and ranked third in ERA. The Texas League is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. [9]
Valenzuela was called up to the Los Angeles Dodger bullpen in September of 1980. In Baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief Pitchers warm-up before entering a game In the last month of the season, Valenzuela helped the Dodgers to a Western Division tie with the Houston Astros, tossing 17 2/3 shutout innings of relief over the course of ten games, during which he earned two wins and a save. The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball 's National League. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. [10] The Los Angeles Dodgers then lost a one-game playoff - and thus the division championship - to the Astros. A one-game playoff or pennant playoff is a Tiebreaker in certain professional sports to determine which of two teams tied in the final standings will qualify His agent Antonio De Marco (husband of Rita De Marco (Caprino) of the Caprino Sisters) assisted him in entering the U. S. A. , and his lucrative contracts with the Los Angeles Dodgers etc.
Fernandomania
Valenzuela's efforts made him the odds-on favorite to be the league's top rookie in 1981, and he didn't disappoint, starting the season 8-0 with four shutouts and an ERA of 0. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees (4-2 Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero 50. Punctuating this dominance on the mound, Valenzuela had an extremely unusual but flamboyant wind-up (looking skyward just at the apex of every pitch), which drew attention of its own. [11] He became an instant media icon, drawing huge crowds from the Los Angeles Hispanic community every time he pitched and triggering high demand across the country for his rookie baseball cards. Hispanic (hispano hispánico hispânico Hispānus adjective from ''Hispānia'', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically A baseball card is a type of Trading card relating to baseball usually printed on some type of Paper stock or card stock The craze surrounding Valenzuela came to be known as "Fernandomania. "[12]
Valenzuela was less dominant after the 1981 player strike wiped out the middle third of the season, but the left-hander still finished with a 13-7 record, a 2. The 1981 Major League Baseball strike was the fifth work stoppage in Major League Baseball since the 1972 Major League Baseball strike 48 ERA, and a league-leading 180 strikeouts. That season Fernando Valenzuela became the only pitcher to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award honors in the same year. In Baseball, the Cy Young Award is an honor given annually to the best Pitcher in Major League Baseball (one each for American and National In the post-season, Valenzuela pitched a complete Game 3 of the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees, helping the Dodgers to their first World Championship since 1965. The 1981 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking their third meeting in the Series in five years The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Minnesota Twins (4-3 Sandy Koufax, MVP
In addition to his skills on the mound, Valenzuela also made a name for himself at the plate. During his rookie season, Valenzuela batted . 250 and struck out just nine times in 64 at bats. That season, and again in 1983, Valenzuela was the recipient of the National League's Silver Slugger Award for pitchers. The In 1990, his last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fernando hit . 304 in 69 at-bats, with one home run, five doubles, and eleven runs batted in. In 936 career at-bats - roughly two full seasons worth of at-bats for a full-time position player - Valenzuela had ten home runs and 84 runs batted in. On at least two occasions with the Dodgers, Valenzuela was called upon to play outfield and first base in marathon extra-inning games in which he did not pitch. [13]
El Toro
Following the outstanding debut, Valenzuela, nicknamed "El Toro" by fans, settled down into a number of years as a workhorse starter and one of the league's best pitchers. He had his best season in 1986, when he finished 21-11 with a 3. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Mets over Boston Red Sox (4-3 Ray Knight, MVP 14 ERA and led the league in wins, complete games and innings pitched. He lost a narrow vote for the Cy Young Award to the Astros' Mike Scott. Michael Warren Scott (born April 26, 1955 in Santa Monica California) is a former right-handed Pitcher in Major League Baseball for
At the 1986 All-Star Game, Valenzuela made history by striking out five consecutive American League batters, tying a record set by fellow left-handed screwballer Carl Hubbell in the 1934 contest. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League Carl Owen Hubbell ( June 22, 1903 &ndash November 21, 1988) was a left-handed Screwball Pitcher in Major League Baseball Champions Major League Baseball World Series: St Louis Cardinals over Detroit Tigers (4-3 All-Star Game
In 1987, he began to slump, dropping off to 14-14 with a 3. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Minnesota Twins over St 98 ERA. By 1988, when he won just five games and missed much of the season (ironically, in a year in which the Dodgers won the World Series), it was obvious he had a dead arm. See also 1988 Major League Baseball season Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers The 1988 World Series matched the Oakland Athletics against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers upsetting the heavily favored A's to win the Series in five
No longer blessed with his great screwball, he came back in 1989 and went 10-13, improving to 13-13 a year later. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants (4-0 Dave Stewart, He had one last great moment on June 29, 1990, when he threw a 6-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals just hours after the Oakland Athletics' Dave Stewart had thrown one against the Toronto Blue Jays. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Oakland Athletics (4-0 José Rijo, MVP In Baseball, a no-hitter (also known as a no-hit game, or colloquially a no-no) refers to a game in which one of the teams prevented the other from getting The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. David Keith Stewart (born February 19 1957 in Oakland California) is a former right-handed starting Pitcher in Major League Baseball The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Post Dodger Career
After pitching ineffectively in spring training in 1991, Valenzuela was released by the Dodgers. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves (4-3 Jack Morris, MVP An abortive attempt at a comeback with the California Angels failed later that summer. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California. He returned to the Mexican League, where he pitched and played some first base when he wasn't on the mound, before making another brief comeback in 1993 with the Baltimore Orioles. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies (4-2 Paul Molitor, The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Jumping between the big leagues and Mexico for the next few seasons, he put together one more solid big-league season in 1996 for the San Diego Padres, going 13-8 with a 3. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves (4-2 John Wetteland, MVP The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 62 ERA. He retired a year later with a final record of 173-153 and a 3. 54 ERA.
The Los Angeles Dodgers invited him to spring training in 1999, but he declined the offer. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA
In 2003, he returned to the Dodger organization as the Spanish-language radio color commentator for National League West games, joining Jaime Jarrin and Pepe Yniguez in the Spanish-language booth. Headline event of the year The Florida Marlins become World Series champions holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team 4 games to Jaime Jarrin is the Ecuadorian born Spanish language voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On June 29, 2004, Valenzuela announced he would return to the mound in the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (the Mexican Pacific Coast League) to play for Los Aguilas de Mexicali in October at which time he was nearly 44 years old. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Headline events of the year The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since, ending the Curse of the Bambino. The Mexican Pacific League ( Liga Mexicana del Pacífico or LMP) is Mexico's most important winter Baseball league The Águilas de Mexicali (Mexicali Eagles is a Mexican baseball team playing for the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (Mexican Pacific League in Mexicali, Baja He pitched again that Mexican winter league, during the 2005-06 season.
In 2005, he was named one of three starting pitchers on Major League Baseball's Latino Legends Team. The Latino Legends Team was an all-time All-star Baseball team selected in 2005 to honor the history of Latin American players in Major League
Valenzuela also served in the coaching staff of Team Mexico. He served in that position during the World Baseball Classic held in the Spring of 2006, prior to the start of that year's season.
Pinch Hitting
Fernando Valenzuela was also known for being used as a successful pinch hitter, batting for an average of . 368.
| Date | At Bat | Against | Inning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 June 11 | Strikeout Swinging | Cincinnati Reds | 9th |
| 1984 May 12 | Strikeout Swinging | New York Mets | 4th |
| 1986 June 27 | Lineout to Second Baseman | Houston Astros | 5th |
| 1986 July 7 | Single | St. Louis Cardinals | 5th |
| 1986 July 11 | Flyout to Left Fielder | Chicago Cubs | 7th |
| 1986 July 27 | Single | Chicago Cubs | 6th |
| 1986 August 30 | Groundout to First Baseman | New York Mets | 5th |
| 1987 April 9 | Strikeout Looking | San Francisco Giants | 9th |
| 1987 April 10 | Strikeout Swinging | San Francisco Giants | 9th |
| 1987 April 26 | Groundout to First Baseman | San Diego Padres | 6th |
| 1987 August 11 | Single, Run Scored | Cincinnati Reds | 5th |
| 1989 April 13 | Strikeout Swinging | Houston Astros | 14th |
| 1989 August 23 | Strikeout Swinging | Montreal Expos | 17th |
| 1990 June 6 | Double | Atlanta Braves | 3rd |
| 1990 August 21 | Single | Philadelphia Phillies | 8th |
| 1996 April 25 | Strikeout Swinging | Chicago Cubs | 7th |
| 1996 June 22 | Strikeout Swinging | Chicago Cubs | 16th |
| 1996 August 14 | Single | Cincinnati Reds | 13th |
| 1997 May 26 | Single | Atlanta Braves | 9th |
| Career as a Pinch Hitter | 7 - 19 | BA . The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. The Washington Nationals is an American professional baseball team based in Washington D The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA 368 |
Family
His son, Fernando Jr. , played in the San Diego Padres organization as a first baseman. The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a Baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run In 2006, Fernando Jr. moved to the Kannapolis Intimidators, a Class A League team in the South Atlantic League affliated with the Chicago White Sox and located in Kannapolis, NC, as a first baseman. The Kannapolis Intimidators is a Minor league baseball team in Kannapolis North Carolina. The South Atlantic League or "Sally League" is a Minor league baseball League which operates mostly in the Southeastern United States, The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2008 season, he played first base for the Leones de Yucatan, of the Mexican Baseball League [14].
See also
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
References
- Click, Paul. Major League Baseball recognizes Strikeout champions in the American League and National League each season The following is a list of Major League Baseball wins champions. In Baseball, a Strikeout occurs when the batter receives three strikes during his time At bat. This is a list of No-hitters in Major League Baseball history. "20 Years Ago, Fernando Valenzuela Was King of the Hill", Baseball Digest, July, 2001. Retrieved on 2007-02-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor
- Linden, Lance. Fernandomania, Revisited.
- O'Connor, Kevin. St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture: Fernando Valenzuela.
External links
- Fernando Valenzuela at:
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