Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela passes away at 63 days before Los Angeles' return to World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers fable Fernando Valenzuela has passed distant astatine property 63, days earlier his beloved squad returns to the World Series to look the New York Yankees. 

The Dodgers announced the quality precocious Tuesday evening with nary origin of decease given. 

Valenzuela went from obscurity to superstardom successful 1981 during a play known arsenic 'Fernandomania' erstwhile helium became the lone subordinate to triumph a Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year successful the aforesaid season. 

The Dodgers station announcing Valenzuela's passing had 2 phrases connected it, 1 successful Spanish and 1 successful English. 

'Fernandomania por siempre' and 'Fernandomania forever.' 

Valenzuela played successful the large leagues from 1980 until his status successful 1997. 

During his archetypal 8 starts of the 1981 season, Valenzuela allowed lone 4 earned runs and had a complete-game triumph each clip helium took the mound. 

He was named the Opening Day successful 1981 by manager Tommy Lasorda aft Jerry Reuss got wounded a time earlier. He responded with a 2-0 triumph implicit Houston, opening the play with an 8-0 record, including 5 shutouts, and an 0.50 earned-run average. 

'Tommy Lasorda came up to maine and said, "Are you acceptable to transportation tomorrow?" I said, "I’m ready,"' Valenzuela recalled. 'That’s what I was looking for, the accidental to amusement what I tin do.'

Valenzuela stayed adjacent to the franchise aft retirement. He was the colour commentator connected the Spanish-language broadcasts for its SportsNet LA cablegram transmission until earlier this month. 

The Dodgers had announced Valenzuela had been hopeful to instrumentality to the booth adjacent season, arsenic helium stepped speech to absorption connected his health. 

The Etchohuaquila, Mexico autochthonal is credited  for drafting ample numbers of Latino fans to Dodger Stadium and they nicknamed him “El Toro” — the Bull. He proved a immense gully connected the roadworthy arsenic well. 

Valenzuela’s pitching question — glancing skyward astatine the apex of each windup — was a hit, too. His signature transportation was the screwball, taught to him by teammate Bobby Castillo successful 1979.

During his warmups, ABBA’s deed 'Fernando' blared from the speakers.

Valenzuela spent the archetypal 11 of his 17 years successful the majors with Los Angeles. He helped the Dodgers triumph the 1981 World Series, winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year aft helium went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA successful 25 starts.

The six-time All-Star won astatine slightest 10 games and made astatine slightest 25 starts successful 9 seasons with the Dodgers. He went 21-11 with a 3.14 ERA successful 1986, throwing 20 implicit games and finishing 2nd to Mike Scott successful balloting for the NL Cy Young Award.

Valenzuela appeared successful his past large league crippled with St. Louis successful July 1997. He finished his playing vocation with a 173-153 grounds and a 3.54 ERA successful 453 games, including 424