To many individuals, Fernandomania started after Fernando Valenzuela tossed a shutout in opposition to the Astros on April 9, 1981. The truth that Valenzuela delivered that sort of efficiency on quick discover after Jerry Reuss went down with an damage helped improve the second, and his legacy.
Over the subsequent few months, Dodger Stadium was in a frenzy each time No. 34 took the mound, and the legend of Fernandomania shortly grew bigger than life. Valenzuela went on to win the Nationwide League Cy Younger and Rookie of the 12 months Awards in ‘81. However most significantly, he captivated the Mexican neighborhood dwelling in Los Angeles and related them to the Dodgers greater than some other participant in franchise historical past.
The entire journey felt like an ideal story: A pitcher who had come out of nowhere to develop into an in a single day star. Besides Valenzuela didn’t come out of nowhere. A minimum of to not the individuals who shared a clubhouse with him.
To these folks, Fernandomania began in September 1980, seven months earlier than that well-known Opening Day begin.
“When Fernando pitched in 1980, [that] was actually his baptism,” recalled former Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey, who performed three seasons with Valenzuela. “[He] got here in a troublesome scenario and pitched extraordinarily effectively. He impressed lots of people, after all, on the finish of the season. Then there have been expectations that Fernando would have a very good probability in Spring Coaching to be a part of the staff and make a major contribution, and the remainder is historical past.”
Pitching extraordinarily effectively may even be placing it frivolously. Pretty much as good as Valenzuela was to start out the 1981 season, the left-hander was practically as dominant to start his profession in ‘80 as a 19-year-old, as he didn’t enable an earned run in 10 appearances. After engaged on a screwball within the Minors, Valenzuela made his Main League debut on Sept. 15, 1980, tossing two scoreless innings in opposition to the Braves. 4 days later, he struck out 4 and recorded three extra scoreless innings in opposition to the Reds.
Over his subsequent 5 video games, Valenzuela added 6 2/three scoreless innings to his resume. He shortly bought extra duty from Dodgers Corridor of Fame supervisor Tommy Lasorda regardless of being the youngest pitcher on the roster. The stuff was that good.
“I used to be anxious to see what the scenario was, to have the expertise of being in a Main League stadium and face hitters at that degree,” Valenzuela stated. “At instances, you didn’t have that chance as a result of beginning pitchers pitched eight innings and then you definitely had the nearer. … I waited per week, roughly, and the chance arose. It wasn’t nerves, however anticipation, adrenaline, of being there on the mound in a Main League stadium.”
That adrenaline solely grew within the large moments, however the nerves remained low for Valenzuela. With three video games left within the common season and the Dodgers trailing the Astros by three video games, the golf equipment met for a last collection in Houston. Lasorda turned to Valenzuela in two of the three video games, and he delivered with 4 scoreless innings. The Dodgers went on to comb the Astros, forcing a one-game tiebreaker.
“To me, Fernandomania didn’t begin in 1981, it began in 1980 after we began that collection in opposition to the Houston Astros,” stated Dodgers Corridor of Fame Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, who additionally served as Valenzuela’s interpreter. “The Dodgers needed to win three video games in an effort to tie with Houston, and Fernando got here on in reduction and he did a incredible job. Many individuals thought Fernando ought to’ve began the [tiebreaker] sport, however Lasorda determined to pitch Dave Goltz.”
Valenzuela had pitched in Sport 162 in reduction, which made Goltz a extra conventional alternative for Sport 163. Sadly, Goltz allowed 4 runs (two earned) in three innings, and the Dodgers by no means mounted a comeback. Nevertheless, Lasorda didn’t hesitate to carry Valenzuela in as a reliever later within the sport. The Dodgers misplaced, 7-1, ending their season, however Valenzuela did what he had performed all month, pitching two scoreless innings. He didn’t enable a run in 17 2/three innings throughout 10 reduction appearances as a 19-year-old in ‘80.
“That’s when Fernando confirmed his character, his guts — he was wonderful,” Jarrin stated. “That’s why I believe Fernandomania began in 1980, after which you recognize what occurred in 1981.”