Dodgers to wear patch in memory of Fernando Valenzuela

Field Level Media|published: Thu 24th October, 14:17 2024

MLB: Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers

Aug 11, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela (34) speaks during a ceremony to retire his jersey number prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers will honor franchise great Fernando Valenzuela with a jersey patch in the World Series and during the 2025 season.

The team unveiled the patch on Thursday -- a circular design with a black background, his name in white and a large No. 34 in Dodger blue.

Valenzuela, who sparked a fan phenomenon known as Fernandomania as a rookie and evolved into a Dodgers legend, died Tuesday evening at age 63.

USA Today reported his cause of death was long cancer.

Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980-90, then had stints with the then-California Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997). He finished with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts in 2,930 innings over 453 games (424 starts).

He riveted Southern California in 1981, when as a 20-year-old from Mexico, he went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 25 starts, throwing 11 complete games -- eight of them shutouts -- to win both Rookie of the Year and the National League Cy Young Award.

The Dodgers won the World Series against the New York Yankees that season -- their opponent in this year's World Series -- and Valenzuela was 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five starts in that postseason.

--Field Level Media