Mike Scioscia was on the roster with Fernando Valenzuela during the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series championship run. Scioscia shares his memories about Valenzuela, including a time when the young Mexican pitcher lassoed people in the locker room.
What to Know
A funeral mass for Fernando Valenzuela was held Wednesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA.
The funeral mass was open to the public, but seating was limited.
The memorial comes just days after what would have been the pitcher's 64th birthday on a day to remember for the Dodgers and their fans.
A beloved Dodgers legend who inspired a nationwide phenomenon and captured the hearts of generations of fans was remembered Wednesday at a memorial service in downtown Los Angeles.
The memorial comes just days after what would have been the pitcher's 64th birthday, which fell on the same day that Dodgers fans and the team celebrated the 2024 World Series title with a parade in downtown Los Angeles and an event at Dodger Stadium.
Fans lined the World Series victory parade route to cheer Freddie Freeman, Shoheo Ohtani, Mookie Betts and other Dodgers, but Valenzuela's presence was there among the estimated 200,000 people in downtown Los Angeles. Fans at the parade held signs and wore No. 34 jerseys in honor of the man who sparked the nationwide "Fernandomania" craze with a rookie season for the ages.
Inside Dodger Stadium, fans gathered for a midday celebration sang "Happy Birthday." That evening, Los Angeles City Hall was lit up in blue to represent the Dodgers and red, white and green to celebrate the Mexico-born Valenzuela on what is now Fernando Valenzuela Day in Los Angeles.
On Vin Scully Drive at the entrance to Dodger Stadium, fans have added flowers, candles, photos and more to a memorial in front of a sign at the entrance to the property ever since news of Valenzuela's death.
Valenzuela is among the Dodgers' all-time franchise leaders in several categories, ranking fourth in complete games (107), fifth in strikeouts (1,759) and sixth in wins (141). He's the only player in major league history to the win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the same season, doing so in the Dodgers' 1981 World Series campaign.
Valenzuela's 17-year big league career ended in 1997 following stints in Anaheim, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego and St. Louis. He retired as the all-time leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) among Mexican-born major leaguers.
A fan holds up an image of late Fernando Valenzuela before the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 World Series Championship parade in downtown Los Angeles.
But his influence is not solely measured by statistics. He won his first eight games in the 1981 season, pitching a shutout in five. That success led to the "Fernandomania" craze and continued in the postseason, when Valenzuela and the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series. Valenzuela was also on the Dodger team that won the World Series in 1988 over the Oakland As.
The Navajoa, Mexico, native is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. His No. 34 has also been retired by the Mexican Baseball League.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 3, 1980 : Fernando Valenzuela #34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits in the dugout as a member of the Media team during the Hollywood Stars game Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
VERO BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 15, 1981: Manager Tommy Lasorda #2 clears the way for pitcher Fernando Valenzuela #34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – 1981: Fernando Valenzuela #34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers sits in the dugout during a game at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Fernando Valenzuela, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, blows a bubble during warmups in Dodger Stadium. 1981. (Photo by �� Vince Streano/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Unknown date and unknown location; USA, FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela in action on the mound.
Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 7: Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela #34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is interviewed by his manager Tommy Lasorda #2 before the game against the Chicago Cubs on June 7, 1981 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 10, 1981: Manager Tommy Lasorda congratulates Fernando Valenzuela #34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after defeating the Houston Astros during the 1981 National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
AP
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Manager Tommy Lasorda strums a new song… to the tune of El Novato del Ano … or Rookie of the Year for his ace pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who received the 1981 National League title in Los Angeles Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1981. The 21-year-old southpaw was also the recipient of this year’s Cy Young Award. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
MERIDA, MEXICO – DECEMBER 28, 1981: Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela #34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during his wedding ceremony to school teacher Linda Margarita Burgos Metri at the Immaculate Mary Church, Merida, Mexico. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
July 1983; Cincinnati, OH,USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela delivers a pitch during against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Maureen Donaldson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES – 1985: Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a portrait on the field at Dodgers Stadium in 1985 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maureen Donaldson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
UNITED STATES – JUNE 17: Baseball: Los Angeles Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela signing autographs and surrounded by fans before game, Los Angeles, CA 6/17/1985 (Photo by Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X31631)
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 10: Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernanado Valenzuela smiles during batting practice before the Dodgers Old Timer’s game at Dodger Stadium on June 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Retired Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, left, jokes with Spanish language broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela duirng a pregame ceremony inducting veteran Spanish language broadcaster Jaime Jarrin into the Dodger Stadium Ring of Honor at Dodger Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 19: Former pitcher Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out the ceremonial first pitch during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard on July 19, 2022 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
AP Photo
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela greets the crowd during his jersey retirement ceremony before the baseball game between the Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 10: Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela looks on from the dugout before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 01: A general view of a memorial on the pitcher’s mound in honor of former Los Angeles Dodgers player Fernando Valenzuela during the 2024 World Series Celebration Show at Dodger Stadium on November 01, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Nov 1, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A memorial to former Los Angeles Dodger Fernando Valenzuela grows at the entrance to Dodger stadium. The Dodgers are celebrating their World Series win with a parade and celebration at the stadium. The celebration also falls on the birthday of Valenzuela. Mandatory Credit: Sandy Hooper-USA TODAY via Imagn Images
Last year, the City of LA issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 11 as "Fernando Valenzuela Day." The six-time All-Star's No. 34 jersey was retired by the team that same year.
After leaving the Dodgers following the 1990 season, the left-hander with the high leg kick pitched for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
