Fernando

[doug.goodman]

Legend

[Brent G.]

My first baseball memories are of that ‘81 season/World Series. What a career and life.

[jingram058]

Sad, and heartbreaking. "Fernandomania" was real. RIP, sir...

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

As a Dodger fan of a certain age he was one of my baseball heroes

[talkinbaseball]

"If you have a Sombero throw it to the sky".
Vince Scully's call on Fernando's No Hitter.
John

[Harliduck]

I was a young teen when "Fernandomania" hit...it was the first time I dug through my collection looking to see how many rookies I had in my stacks (would later look through my 81 Topps for the Rock) and was super excited to see I had a few. I was a hero at school for a while. RIP...it was an exciting time. He will be missed...

[Snapolit1]

I thought this video was really well done.

https://www.mlb.com/news/fernando-valenzuela-dies

[gregndodgers]

In my opinion, he is a Hall of Famer. Three similar pitchers are in HOF: Catfish Hunter, Lefty Gomez, and Rube Marquard.

Of those four, Fernando ranks first in WAR, first in strikeouts with 2,074, second in FIP at 3.61, and second in shutouts with 31. He and Catfish are the only pitchers with a Cy Young award. He also threw a no hitter in 1990. There are only 326 no hitters in MLB history

He also was a cultural phenomenon for many years (ala Shohei Otani), and because of an arm injury and playing on many poor teams, he finished short of 200 wins (173).

In the early 80s, Dodgers fans were very happy to see Fernando start a game because we knew there was a good chance of a win.

[Brent G.]

I'd been searching for a nice 1981 Fernando Topps auto, got one a few weeks back on eBay, it failed authentication, so I returned it.

Needless to say, since early last evening, the prices have exploded and inventory vanished.

I'll always remember that "eyes to the sky" delivery to the tune of "This Week in Baseball." The dude could swing a bat, too -- .304 in 1990, four seasons .250+. There are MANY everyday position players now who can't do that.

[JollyElm]

Fernando-mania was off the hook in the summer of 1981, when it seemed not a single player could get a hit off of the man!!!
And the body twisting, eyes glancing up at the heavens delivery was imitated by every Wiffle Ball playing kid in the country to form their new unhittable pitch (even all of us who hated the Dodgers with a seething passion).

What a time to be alive!!!!

No idea if this is authentic, but got it TTM with other cards of his sometime in the early 80's...

valenzuelarookie.jpg


Rest in peace, fine sir.

[Beercan collector]

Remember 1981 like it was yesterday (yet cannot remember yesterday)
ROY , Cy Young , Silver Slugger , World Series winner
.. All in the same year

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Brent G.

I'd been searching for a nice 1981 Fernando Topps auto, got one a few weeks back on eBay, it failed authentication, so I returned it.

I have a 1980 autograph that I got in person before he won his first career game in Candlestick, I'll have to find it and post a scan.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

My first childhood sports hero...RIP

[vthobby]

It's hard to believe that a player from the 1981 Topps set has passed but I felt the same way when Gwynn ('83 Topps), and Puckett ('85 Topps) all passed as well. Life is way too short. RIP Fernando and goodnight Sibby Sisti wherever you are.

[HercDriver]

I was a freshman in high school that year, and couldn't wait for Fernando to come to Wrigley. My dad was a Brooklyn Dodger fan, mostly for Duke Snider, so we always went to Cubs/Dodger games. When I was remembering it this morning, driving home, I thought Fernando was undefeated when he showed up at Wrigley. We killed him that day, is what I mostly remember. When I went back and looked for the 1981 game log, he was 10-2 when he came to town, and my sorry Cubs beat him, 11-5. Mike Tyson was the hero, with a 3-run homer. But what a cool thing to see him pitch, and all the hype that went with it. Oddly enough, the Shota Imanaga frenzy this year at Wrigley totally reminded me of Fernandomania. Great stuff...sad to see him and Tiant leave us. Two of the best, and most entertaining pitchers I ever saw.

[icollectDCsports]

Such an exciting player who was great for the game. RIP

[rlevy]

Great ballplayer, great gentleman. Always received a huge well deserved standing ovation at Dodger Stadium whenever they showed him on the large screen. RIP.

Rick

1981 Fernando.jpg

[calvindog]

Rick, love your Koufax website!

[rlevy]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Rick, love your Koufax website!

Thanks Jeffrey, I've been collecting Koufax memorabilia for 35 years, and it has become almost impossible to add to the collection in recent years. Cards yes, vintage memorabilia, no.

Regarding Fernando, I'm going to the first game tomorrow night, and it's going to be super emotional for everyone when the Dodgers have a tribute to him. Incredibly sad way to start such a highly anticipated world series. I wish Fernando would have lived long enough to be there, he certainly would have been throwing out the first pitch.

Rick

[DodgerMike22]

RIP Fernando

[Chris-Counts]

Fernando is my favorite Dodger ever. The buzz when he came up was off the charts. I saw him beat the Yankees during the World Series in 1981. I'm so glad his number was retired last year while he could still appreciate it.

[Casey2296]

-
There's an old and verified story that infield teammates Ron Cey Bill Russell Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey, meticulously taught Fernando in English how to be nice-nice to Tommy Lasorda if and when Tommy made a trip to the mound to chat up Fernando or in rare cases came to pull him.

The four infielders told him it was traditional and customary here in the USA to graciously repeat a phrase that would endear Fernando to Tommy.

The only problem was they taught Fernando to say slowly "Thank You Mr Lasorda, you co**sucking a**hole".

When Tommy left the dugout for the mound all 4 players gathered around covering their mouths with their hats or gloves.

Those in attendance said Tommy reached for the ball as Fernando reached to hand it to him and Fernando walked down the slope of the mound and in almost perfect English said "Thank You Mr Lasorda you co**sucking a**hole".

Rumor has it that the 4 infielders had to keep Tommy from falling to the ground.

Gotta love baseball.

[gonzo]

Rest in Peace, Fernando.
I remember, in 1981, waiting for “This Week in Baseball” to see what he'd done that week. He was the star of the first Topps Traded set.

We don’t see many screwball pitchers anymore.

In Harry Turtledove’s sci-fi story, “The Road Not Taken,” Fernando’s passes away right before the story begins.
Turtledove is a big baseball fan. Pre-war baseball fans will recognize several of the character names.

https://eyeofmidas.com/scifi/Turtled...adNotTaken.pdf