Fernando Valenzuela: Forever a champion
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Juan Beltran, Contributor
- July 19, 2025
Dodgers present Fernando Valenzuela's family with champion's jersey
LOS ANGELES – A steady stream of fans of all ages walked over to the left field loge Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. Children with their parents and grandparents. Generation upon generation took pictures in front of the new Fernando Valenzuela mural.
On Fernando Valenzuela Bobblehead Night, the Dodgers unveiled a new mural of Valenzuela. They also surprised Valenzuela’s widow, children and grandchildren with a special gift.
Valenzuela, the Mexican and Dodgers icon, was one of the most popular figures in Dodgers history. The 1981 World Series champion and National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award winner rates with Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax among the biggest legends in the Dodgers’ rich history.
After retiring, Valenzuela then became a popular Spanish language analyst with Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin on the Dodgers’ radio broadcasts. Fernando Valenzuela died in October as the franchise marched toward the 2024 World Series championship.
‘We’ll never forget No. 34’
The Dodgers paid tribute to Valenzuela before Game 1 of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Valenzuela was honored again Saturday night. Several of his teammates and coaches from the 1981 and 1988 World Series championship teams were on hand before a crowd of 53,540.
As Steve Garvey, held the Commissioner’s Trophy, Valenzuela’s family was presented with a special jersey as the franchise commemorated the 2024 title. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Jarrin unveiled a gold-trimmed, Dodgers World Series champion’s jersey in a shadow box. Valenzuela and No. 34 were in gold on the white jersey. Longtime ace Clayton Kershaw also was on the field for the presentation.
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The glass on the shadow box holding the jersey had a special message. “Fernando Valenzuela: Forever a Champion. We’ll never forget No. 34, El Toro. A franchise, a sport changed.”
Mariachi music played through the public address as Valenzuela’s family saw the jersey. The crowd cheered loudly during the pregame ceremony.
Garvey, Dusty Baker, Pedro Guerrero, Manny Mota, Jerry Reuss, Burt Hooton and Orel Hershiser were among Valenzuela’s former Dodgers teammates on the field for the presentation. Jay Howell, Joey Amalfitano, Steve Yeager, Dave Anderson, Darrell Thomas were also present. Dodgers broadcaster Jose Mota, the son of Manny Mota, was also present for the mural unveiling.
“It was a wonderful night remembering the great Fernando last night at Dodger Stadium,” Jaime Jarrin said. “Very rewarding seeing Linda Valenzuela, her four daughters and son and several former players like Dusty Baker, Orel Hersisher, Steve Garvey, Jerry Reuss and others invited by the Dodgers to witness the unveiling of a beautiful mural of Fernando Valenzuela in a very prominent wall inside the stadium.
“For me it was a great honor to participate along with the Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts in a very touching ceremony on the mound. Among the invitees was the great actor James Edward Olmos, a very close friend of El Toro.”
Juan Beltran
Contributor
Juan Beltran, who immigrated to the United States from El Salvador at 5 years old, is an experienced broadcast journalist
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