2 weeks Ago By Sarah Effress
The 2024 World Series took on a new meaning for the Dodgers in the days leading up to Game 1. On Tuesday, Los Angeles icon and former Cy Young winning pitcher Fernando Valenzuela died at 63, marking the second time in three years a Dodger great has passed away after legendary broadcaster Vin Scully's death in August 2022. Responsible for one of the most remarkable rookie seasons ever by an MLB ace, the Mexican phenom terrified hitters with his ruthless pitching style.
Valenzuela's dominance in the early 1980s prompted the rise of "Fernandomania" —the original "Linsanity" —representing the utter excitement surrounding his talent through the first six years of his career, both in Southern California and his native country. With his death rubbing up against the upcoming Fall Classic, it's inevitable the Dodgers will honor Valenzuela in some way when the series opens Friday night. Additionally, the team will wear patches in his honor throughout the week.
Here's everything to know about the Dodgers World Series jersey decal, including why the team will wear No. 34 on its uniforms for Fernando Valenzuela. SN's MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule Dodgers jersey patch, explained Akin to the Padres' "PS" heart patches in honor of the team's late owner Peter Seidler who passed last November, the Dodgers will don a similar decal featuring Valenzuela's first name above his No.
34. Last summer, the Los Angeles franchise retired Valenzuela's number and inducted him into the team's Ring of Honor. Now, his digits can be found on the Dodger Stadium facade, as well as on the left sleeve of L.
A.'s World Series jersey throughout the Fall Classic and the 2025 season. In memory of our hero Fernando Valenzuela, the Dodgers will wear this uniform patch during the World Series and throughout the 2025 season.
pic.twitter.com/7HozGMf2Tr MORE: When is the World Series 2024? Start date, TV schedule & more for Fall Classic games Who is Fernando Valenzuela? Despite enjoying a storied 17-year career, including extended stints with the Padres and Orioles among others, Valenzuela is best known for the first six years of his career, especially his electric rookie season.
That year, the Etchohuaquila native won 1981 NL Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young award fresh off adolescence. He made his first start at 20-years-old on Opening Day after an injury sidelined pitcher Jerry Reuss, and he pitched a complete-game shutout. That was just the beginning.
Touted as "the Mexican Sandy Koufax" by Dodgers scout Mike Brito, Valenzuela's next seven starts were also complete games. Four of those were shutouts, and the lefty went 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA in his first eight starts.
"Fernandomania" was born, and the rookie became Los Angeles' most valuable arm for the next half-decade After his retirement in the late 1990s, Valenzuela joined the Dodgers as a broadcaster in 2003. He was the team's Spanish-language radio color commentator for NL West games before he moved into a television role in 2015 doing the same thing for SportsNet LA. Valenzuela stepped out of the booth for good the final week of the 2024 regular season.
MORE: Remembering "Fernandomania" in The Sporting News Did Fernando Valenzuela win a World Series? The 1981 Dodgers were pegged as World Series contenders before Valenzuela's first start. Thankfully, the team made its way into the postseason and through to the Fall Classic, where Los Angeles faced none other than the Yankees for the title. Valenzuela made his first and only World Series start that year and pitched a complete game once again.
He struck out six batters over 140 pitches en route to Los Angeles' first win of the series, beginning a four-game streak that secured the team's first title since 1965. The Dodgers were down 2-0 in the series to New York and trailed by a run in Game 3 after the third inning. Then, the pitcher got himself out of a fourth-inning jam and shut out the Yankees for the rest of the game, allowing his teammates to pull ahead and win the contest 5-4.
Tuesday, the day of Valenzuela's death, was just one day shy of the 43rd anniversary of his historic Game 3 appearance..
