LOS ANGELES—In honor of the late Fernando Valenzuela, the city of Los Angeles unveiled a six-story mural in Boyle Heights on Sunday paying tribute to the legendary Dodger’s enduring legacy as a champion.
City Councilman Kevin de León, who represents the 14th Council District, encompassing downtown and northeast L.A. neighborhoods, hosted a news conference to highlight the mural.
Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas joined the councilman and discussed his artwork, which captures the “spirit and pride Valenzuela brought to the Dodgers and to the city,” according to de León’s office.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, former Dodger Spanish-language announcer Jaime Jarrín and actor Edward James Olmos also attended.
“I’m here to say that [Valenzuela] deserves all of our love and all of our passion,” said Olmos. “He was the single most important factor for the Latinos to say ‘I wanna go see Fernando.”’
“This mural is all about representation,” said artist Vargas. “As an artist, we have an opportunity and responsibility to bridge these cultures. ... Bringing people together is what it’s all about. I hope I did right by Fernando Valenzuela’s family.”
The mural can be viewed at First Street at the Hollywood (101) Freeway entrance, which de Leon previously described as a fitting location that “represents the heart of the community Valenzuela inspired throughout his career.”
The City Council recently approved a resolution marking Nov. 1 as “Fernando Valenzuela Day,” in honor of his birthday. Valenzuela, who died on Oct. 19, would have turned 64. The cause has not been disclosed.
De León presented the resolution on Oct. 23 with support from several of his colleagues.
On Friday night, Nov. 1, the lights on Los Angeles City Hall were in Dodgers blue and Mexico’s colors of green, white, and red in his honor.
“Fernando’s contributions to the game of baseball were matched only by his contributions to the city of Los Angeles, where he remains an icon of perseverance, humility, and cultural pride, helping to elevate the visibility of the Latino community and a beacon for future generations of diverse backgrounds,” the city resolution said.
‘Fernandomania’
Valenzuela was taught to throw his famed screwball by Dodger pitcher Bobby Castillo following the 1979 season. Armed with the new pitch, Valenzuela led the Texas League in strikeouts in 1980.Valenzuela made his major league debut at age 19 with the Dodgers on Sept. 15, 1980, throwing 17 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run for the remainder of the season.
When Jerry Reuss pulled a leg muscle 24 hours before his scheduled opening day start in 1981 and Burt Hooton wasn’t ready to fill in, Valenzuela became the Dodgers opening day starter, pitching a five-hit shutout in a 2–0 victory over the defending National League West champion Houston Astros.
He then went on an unprecedented career-opening run, with complete games in his first eight career starts—five of them shutouts—and a 0.50 ERA, inspiring what would be dubbed “Fernandomania.”
Valenzuela became the only player to win the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award in the same season in 1981.
The Dodgers won the World Series over the New York Yankees in six games in 1981, with Valenzuela winning Game 3 at Dodger Stadium after the team had lost the first two games in New York. Valenzuela was also on the Dodgers team that won the World Series in 1988 over the Oakland A’s.
Valenzuela was a six-time All Star with the Dodgers, won a Gold Glove Award in 1986 and Silver Slugger Awards in 1981 and 1983.
He pitched a no-hitter in 1990, immortalized by Vin Scully’s call, “If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky.”
After being released by the Dodgers in 1991, Valenzuela pitched for the Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. He was 173–153 and had a 3.54 ERA in a 17-season major league career that ended in 1997.
Valenzuela was a Dodger broadcaster from 2003 until his death.
