Fernando Valenzuela, former MLB pitching phenom, dies at 63

Fernando Valenzuela, who took the baseball world by storm in 1981, has died at the age of 63.

Valenzuela, who began his career as a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was battling health issues when he died Tuesday.

He won National League honors as both the Cy Young Award winner and Rookie of the Year in 1981. He also helped the Dodgers win the World Series title over the New York Yankees that season.

Valenzuela died on Tuesday after struggling with health problems. He was 63.

DODGERS GREAT FERNANDO VALENZUELA HOSPITALIZED WITH HEALTH COMPLICATIONS: REPORTS

Fernando Valenzuela prepares to throw out the first pitch during the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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This comes just three days before the Dodgers and Yankees meet in the World Series for the 12th time, and the first time since Valenzuela was a hero in the 1981 Fall Classic.

The Dodgers officially announced Valenzuela's death Tuesday night, but did not reveal the cause of death.

Born in Mexico, Valenzuela played in Major League Baseball for 17 seasons and then became the Dodgers' Spanish-language broadcaster in 2003. He recently stepped down to “focus on his health,” the team said.

Born in Navojoa, Mexico, he quickly worked his way into the majors, being called up as a reliever at the end of the 1980 season as a 20-year-old.

In 1981, shortly after Dodgers starter Jerry Reuss was injured the day before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda gave Valenzuela the first MLB start of his career.

“Tommy Lasorda came up to me and said, 'Are you ready to pitch tomorrow?' I said, 'I'm ready,'” Valenzuela said during a broadcast in 2023. “That's what I was looking for, the opportunity to show what I can do.”

Dodgers great FERNANDO VALENZUELA BECOME A US CITIZEN

Los Angeles Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela (34) signs autographs for fans before the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. (Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Valenzuela opened the season with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros. He began the season with an 8-0 record – with five shutouts – and a 0.50 earned run average.

He finished the season with a 13-7 record, 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games and eight shutouts. His 192 innings pitched led the National League and his 180 strikeouts led the majors in strike-shortened seasons.

Valenzuela played for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990 and was unceremoniously released from the team just before the 1991 season. He then pitched for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. He retired with a 173-153 record, a career ERA of 3.54 and 2,074 strikeouts in his 17 seasons.

The Dodgers announce that Fernando Valenzuela's number 34 will be retired this season

Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during an MLB game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Ron Vesely/Getty Images)

He won two World Series championships and his number 34 is retired by the Dodgers – the only number retired by the organization for someone not enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Dodgers will host the Yankees in this year's World Series. It will be the 12th time the teams have met in the World Series, which is the most Fall Classic matchups ever. It's the first since Valenzuela's rookie year in 1981.

Valenzuela will be honored at Dodger Stadium during this year's World Series, which begins with Game 1 Friday night in Los Angeles.

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“Fernando was an outstanding ambassador for baseball,” Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Tuesday night. “He has consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events in his home country. As a member of the Dodger broadcast team for more than 20 years, Fernando has helped reach a new generation of fans and cultivate their love of the game.

“Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodgers history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired.”

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