LA Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela dies at 63

LOS ANGELES -- Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, a Dodgers icon whose "Fernandomania" fame swept done each of shot successful the 1980s, has died astatine property 63.

The squad confirmed his decease connected X, posting "The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela."

The origin of decease has not been released, but Valenzuela successful caller weeks had stepped distant from his relation arsenic a Spanish-language broadcaster for wellness reasons.

Fernando Valenzuela was calved successful 1960 successful the tiny municipality of Etchohuaquila successful Sorona, Mexico -- the youngest of 12 children -- and inherited the emotion of shot from his begetter Avelino, a farmer.

All of his older brothers played baseball, and naturally, Fernando followed successful their footsteps.

At the property of 17, Valenzuela began his travel towards Major League Baseball -- archetypal playing pro shot successful the Mexican Central League and Mexican Baseball League.

In 1978, legendary Dodger scout Mike Brito made a travel to Silao, Mexico and got his archetypal glimpse of Valenzuela connected the mound. The 17-year-old impressed the seasoned scout, not conscionable with his diversion ability, but his fearlessness connected the bump.

Peter O'Malley, wanting a Mexican prima to play for the Dodgers, paid $120,000 connected July 7, 1979, to acquisition Valenzuela's declaration from Puebla, of the Mexican League, past sending the 19-year-old to Lodi successful the California League.

While playing successful Lodi, Brito noticed that Valenzuela's fastball didn't amended and told General Manager Al Campanis that Valenzuela would request different transportation too his curveball to past the majors.

In 1979 successful Arizona, Dodger Pitcher Bobby Castillo, who was recovering from an injury, taught Valenzuela however to propulsion a screwball.

Within a twelvemonth Valenzuela was throwing the screwball arsenic good arsenic Castillo, and rapidly roseate done the Dodgers' insignificant league teams. Then successful 1981, Jerry Reuss was scheduled to commencement connected Opening Day for the Dodgers but injured his ankle, and Tommy Lasorda named 20-year-old Fernando Valenzuela the Opening Day starter.

Valenzuela unopen retired the Astros 2-0 and "Fernandomania" was born.

The federation was introduced to Valenzuela's antithetic pitching question arsenic helium glanced skyward successful his wind-up, and started his rookie play 8-0 with 5 shutouts.

The 1981 players onslaught wiped retired portion of the season, but Valenzuela inactive finished 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA. He besides won some the Rookie of the Year and the CY Young Award.

Valenzuela helped the Dodgers triumph the 1981 World Series implicit the Yankees, but much importantly, helium helped physique a span betwixt the enactment and the Mexican community.

"Fernandomania" didn't conscionable instrumentality implicit Los Angeles but each of Major League Baseball, arsenic it gave the athletics a changeable successful the arm. Reporters waited for Valenzuela astatine each visiting city, magazines wanted in-depth stories and fans filled ballparks.

Valenzuela didn't talk English, was soft-spoken wide and a backstage person, which helped him woody with the unit of instant stardom. The gag was -- Fernando didn't cognize the meaning of the connection "pressure."

Valenzuela pitched 11 years of his 17-year vocation with the Dodgers, finishing with 173 wins and a 3.54 ERA. He pitched his lone no-hitter connected June 29, 1990, against the Cardinals.

After his last Major League pitch, Valenzuela continued pitching. His past nonrecreational crippled was successful 2006 for Los Aguilas de Mexicali.

He joined the Dodgers' Spanish broadcast squad successful 2003 and spent the adjacent 21 years calling games for the Dodgers.

As a amusement of respect, the Dodgers unofficially kept Valenzuela's jersey #34 retired of circulation. And past season, connected August 11, the Dodgers officially retired his number, becoming the 12th Dodger to person the honor.