Delgado: Fernando Valenzuela belongs in Hall of Fame

You can’t talk about Latinos who made an impact on and off the field in Major League Baseball without mentioning Fernando Valenzuela. El Toro was more than just a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The iconic left-hander captivated the world.

The Dodgers retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 in 2023. Now, Viva Valenzuela! could potentially be throwing a fiesta at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, joining other immortals. On Sunday, the Hall will announce if any of the eight players on the Era Committee ballot will be heading to Cooperstown, N.Y, to headline the Class of 2026.

The 5-foot-11 Mexican southpaw had one of the most unique deliveries you will ever see in a starting pitcher. Valenzuela would look up to the sky in his windup as if he was giving thanks or receiving a blessing. Honestly, it looked like he might have been thinking the common Spanish phrase “Gracias a Dios,” translating to English “Thank God” for the opportunity.

Chavez Ravine, a Mexican American community once home to more than 1,000 families, was cleared after the city of Los Angeles approved construction for Dodger Stadium.

Fixing Dodgers’ relationship with Latinos

Latino residents were heartbroken and stunned as they were forced to leave their homes and relocate. Therefore, putting the Dodgers at risk of having any kind of support and connection from the Latino community.

Nonetheless, a soft spoken 20-year-old rookie from Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico had the opportunity to bring baseball and the Latino community together. All-Star pitcher Jerry Reuss was supposed to start Opening Day for the Dodgers in 1981.

Reuss suffered a strained calf muscle during batting practice. Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda then summoned his Mexican lefty to start against the Houston Astros.

Valenzuela pitched a five-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory. He was the first rookie to start on Opening Day in Dodgers franchise history. This was just the beginning of Fernandomania.

Valenzuela was a worldwide icon. He flourished his baseball skills and charming personality. From Dodger Stadium, to the Astrodome, to Shea Stadium, fans were ready to pack out the ballpark just to watch El Toro perform.

If fans couldn’t attend the game, they would rush home to turn on their TVs to hear the legendary Vin Scully on the call, or tune in to the radio to listen to Valenzuela’s close friend and Dodgers Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrín.

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Astros Spanish broadcaster Francisco Romero grew up during Fernandomania and followed the Dodgers closely. One summer day in Tucson, Arizona, Romero and his brother were shocked to find the Dodgers broadcast on the radio in English with Scully was on the call.

A special 1981

For following Valenzuela, and listening to Scully, Romero found his dream following Valenzuela’s journey.

“It wasn’t a pitcher who had success; it was a movement,” Romero said about Fernandomania on the Full Seam Ahead Podcast. “Later on in my life I understood what kind of movement he started with him pitching and being successful. It was pretty amazing and I don’t think if it’ll happen ever again.

“What he did, (he did) not only do for the Mexican Americans and Latinos, but for the baseball world. People from Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador they can recite the Dodgers lineup of 1981, ’82, and ’83 just because of Fernando Valenzuela.”

Valenzuela’s 1981 season is something we will never see happen. Not even the great Shohei Ohtani was able to capture this historic season. The six-time All-Star won his first eight career starts.

Seven complete games, including five shutouts and a 0.50 ERA in that exact span. In addition, he became the first player to win National League Rookie of the Year, the Cy Young Award, a Silver Slugger, and win a World Series title in MLB history.

A Mexican workhorse

Valenzuela’s durability resembled a warrior’s spirit, a person who never wanted to give in or give up on himself. In Game 3 of the 1981 World Series, Valenzuela dazzled throwing 147 pitches through nine innings in a 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees.

Furthermore, the Gold Glove pitcher made 255 consecutive starts before landing on the disabled list for the first time in his career in 1988. He finished his career with 113 complete games, including 31 shutouts. In 1986, Valenzuela threw 20 complete games and led the league in that respective category. It’s a mark no pitcher has surpassed since.

Not to mention you also need a workhorse when you make the postseason. Valenzuela posted a 5-1 record with 44 strikeouts, a 1.98 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 3.34 FIP in nine career postseason games. He was very effective in high-pressure situations, especially with the use of his deceptive screwball, a pitch that you rarely see from current pitchers.

It’s very difficult to earn your spot in the Hall of Fame. Jack Morris, who was elected into the Hall of Fame by the Modern Baseball Era Committee in 2018, has a smilier resume to Valenzuela.

Morris is a three-time World Series champion, a five-time All-Star, and the 1991 World Series MVP. In his 18-year career, Black Jack has a 43.5 WAR, seven postseason wins in 13 postseasons games, a 3.90 ERA, 105 ERA+, 2,478 strikeouts, 5.8 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9), 4.27 runs allowed per nine innings pitched (RA9), and a 3.94 FIP.

Impact beyond diamond

Morris also finished in the top five of American League Cy Young voting five times. Valenzuela’s 17-year resume consists of a 41.4 WAR, 3.54 ERA, 104 ERA+, 2,074 strikeouts, a 6.4 K/9, 4.00 RA9, and a 3.61 FIP. The Mexican phenomenon finished in the top five NL Cy Young voting four times.

Valenzuela’s impact extends far beyond the baseball field. His spirit lives on not only in Los Angeles and Mexico, but around the world. As baseball continues to grow globally, Valenzuela remains one of the pioneers who helped pave the way for future stars. 

The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s motto states “Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations.” Valenzuela embodied hard work, perseverance and excellence.

There will never be another Fernandomania. The Era Committee has a chance to vote in the Hall’s first Mexican-born inductee. If and when Valenzuela gets elected, everyone will have their sombreros ready to throw to the sky!