I'm 70 now and lived in Long Beach back then. Went to many games at Dodger Stadium. My favorite memories of Fernando were in his rookie year. His first 8 starts, he threw 5 shutouts! Give me a break! Who else had that kind of rookie season? Fernandomania was born and will never die! Go Dodgers!
Growing up as a Portuguese immigrant, I hung out and had many Hispanic friends and one of my first memories watching baseball was Fernando. Despite being a Giants fan, I loved that man, he was a true hero. RIP great one! 🫶✌️⚾️✝️🇵🇹🇲🇽
Funny you would say that because I was also a fan of Davey Lopes and when I was a kid I could not figure out why he was a Lopes and not a Lopez until I grew up and understood that he was from Portuguese heritage.
June 1st, 1991, Fernando had a rehab start in Little Rock, Arkansas. Over 12,000 fans packed into tiny Ray Winder Field to see Fernando pitch. Over 2,000 fans stood on the warning track during the game. Fernando allowed just 2 hits and Midland won 4-0. The fans met Fernando with thunderous applause every time he stepped onto the field. Still probably the greatest day in Arkansas sports history despite the fact that everyone in attendance was rooting against the home team.
Grew up in Philadelphia, was a big Fernando fan as a kid.....was thrilled when he briefly played for the Phillies late in his career. I went to each of his home starts for the Phillies.
I feel so sad. My family was Fernando groupies. Yes, ten Mexicanos in a car, driving to San Diego from L A to cheer for our heroe. Fernando brought so much pride to our community. Kids who didn't know him wear his shirt. His story is told to every generation. He was from Sonora. My dad's family is from Sonora. We will always remember Fernando. Fernando siempre vive! Gracias Fernando por el orgullo de ser Mexicanos!
Teresa!!! Que hermoso comentario como ofrenda especial para Fernando , hoy que descansa en Paz en la presencia de Dios, yo… orgullosa de ser de Sonora,,, HUATABAMPO, no muy lejos de Etchohuaquila, cuna de este CAMPEÓN ENTRE CAMPEONES , 👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️ noble, humilde… nunca perdió el piso! Dios bendiga a toda su hermosa familia allá en California y acá en Sonora querida , tierra consentida de Fernando❤️🙏y de los que amamos nuestra tierra❤️
There should be a movie for this guy's life. There have been so many amazing baseball players from Mexico and the Caribbean that a movie needs to be made about at least one of them.
Roberto Clemente was from Puerto Rico would be a good one. How he passed away was sad, but he was on a great mission to help the people of Nicaragua after an earthquake by three time's sending supplies to Nicaragua only to have the supplies stolen corrupt people in the Nicaragua government. He decided to go on the fourth plane trip with the supplies to hope tje government wouldn't steal it if he was there. By chance the plane crashed, and his body was never recovered. I started going to the Pirate games in 1973 through the YMCA, and never got to see him play in person. I have a plaque I had make of him with his picture on it. His batting average was .312 his last season. He reached 3,000 hits in his last season. Truly a great man.
It should be. Great story. I was a young boy playing baseball and EVERYONE was imitating Ferndando's pitching wind-up. He was a sensation. It was cool to see a latino guy make the rise.
I grew up watching the Dodgers in the 70s 80s and forward. My father ,rest in peace ,was a diehard Dodgers fan. He even listened to the games on the radio and he’d be yelling at the radio all the time LOL ,he was so awesome. And I’ve gone to many Dodger games including Fernando Valenzuela games.
I'm from Chicago and a Cubs fan. I started following the Cubs and MLB in the late spring of 1986 as a 12 year old. It took me some time to not only learn all the Cubs players history and stats but other major league teams both National and American league. When the Cubs finally played the Dodgers at Wrigley Field I finally was introduced to Fernando Valenzuela by Cubs announcer Harry Carey describing him. I was amazed at his build, his pitching style and how athletic he was. I also learned that he could hit and handle the bat. One of my favorite early Fernando moments in 1986 was at the All Star game in Houston. As recall, Fernando and Teddy Higuera of the Milwaukee Brewers were both in the game pitching. As I recall, Fernando struck out the three batters he faced and Teddy Higuera also look impressive for the American League. Fernando Valenzuela's story is among the greatest underdog sports stories of all time.
I'm about Fernando's age and my kids were all born during the Fernandomania years. I remember everybody telling me that I looked like Fernando...When Fernando's picture was on the Wheaties box, one day we were in the store and my son saw Fernando's picture on the box of cereal and said "daddy!!" Lol I am actually from the Bay Area and I'm a Giants fan but I loved watching Fernando pitch back in the day. He was a great source of pride for Mexican-Americans everywhere.
I remember going in 1980 and saw Fernando's call up .. he was awesome. He had pop, nobody knew what he was throwing.. his rookie season was insane.. LA blew up with Fernandomania
Fernando was one of my favorites. I’d run and watched him pitch on TV whenever the Dodgers were on NBC. He was sooo good and that screwball was a marvel to watch. He could hit too! Just an all-around good athlete and a strikeout king when he took the mound.
Here in San Antonio my mom and some friends used to go to the games and they went out to get something to eat and they paid for whatever he wanted to eat and drink. That was a fun and exciting time. He was treated like royalty here. I am glad he was happy here.
Im from Tennessee born and raised and a dodger fan from the time i knew what baseball was i remember when he came up and Fernando mania was born what a great time for baseball and im still a die-hard dodger fan i love to learn anything i can about them.
One more thing. I'm getting older but I lived in a time where to listen to Vin Scully broadcast Fernando's first games. In sports terms it really doesn't get much better than that!
Fernando was my first baseball player infatuation. I was a young kid in San Diego wearing a dodgers jersey all because of Fernando. Love to see this article.
I remember going to go see the dodgers in the 80’s play Fernando pitching everyone loved Fernando Valenzuela to this day I can say was a great Mexican pitcher 80’s were awesome.
I did not met Fernando, but I met Mr. Brito, he used to come to office to pick up his airplane tickets to go to Mexico to look for new 'talents' to sign with the Dodgers. When he mentioned that he discovered Fernando I didn't believe him, until I saw this interview. Unfortunately, Mr. Brito is gone, and sadly today October 22, 2024 Angelinos are stroked with the sad news that our "El Toro Valenzuela" has passed away. Rest in peace Fernando.
Love him or hate him. Fernando was definitely a machine and he deserves that respect . Very glad I was able to see him pitch in the Houston Astro Dome !!!!
He was popular in Canada back in the day. Maybe not so much in 81 when he beat the Montreal Expos to take the NL championship but the rest of the time he well loved.
Wow, he’s become pretty fluent at English over the years. I seem to remember that in the ‘80s, Lasorda always had to have somebody interpreting when he’d go to the mound to talk to Fernando.
He had complete command of the English language..........in baseball terms. Fastball, screwball, curveball, etc,etc, etc. 5 shutouts in his first 8 starts! FERNANDOMANIA was born. I was lucky enough to have attended many of those games back in the 70's and 80's. When Fernando showed up in 1980,you couldn't hardly get seats in the bleachers!
Man I remember going to my first Dodger game in 2011 when I just moved to Los Angeles from Bay City MI and in fact it was on Fernando Valenzuela bobblehead night and when I saw him I felt that he was my friend because growing up I never had any friends because of my race and I lived in a 99% white city and I was the only brown boy, but I followed Fernando Valenzuela legacy by introducing me to baseball and since then I played in my high school years and I enjoying loving for baseball thank you Fernando Valenzuela for everything what you done for the city of LA and for the Chicanos (Mexican American) for bringing them to Dodger Stadium to become Dodger fans 💙🙏🏻⚾️
I got a picture of my dad with Mike Brito and we play baseball in the “Mike Brito league” you’ll see him often casually strolling by the park blasting musica Cubana and with a big ol’ cigar. Cool man really laid back
It was unbelievable. I think it was his first six games where he didn't give up a run (or almost didn't) and I think they were complete games as well ... this as a rookie.
Siempre mostró tener nervios de acero, aunque no tenía experiencia, ésta la superaba por la gran seguridad que reflejaba al momento de enfrentarse a un bateador desde el "montículo". En su debut en LMB en 1979,se enfrentó nada menos que al gran pitcher Ramón Arano, el famoso "tres patines". Encuentro celebrado entre "Leones de Yucatán vs Cafeteros de Córdoba".
There are just some Players especially Pitchers in MLB that capture the eye of the Nation . Even people who don't follow baseball . Mark Fydrich & Fernando Valenzuela are two that just seemed to catch fire . Thankfully one of them Fydrich played for my Tigers . Everyone wanted to see these two when they were in their Rookie Seasons . The late 70s and early 80s were amazing times in baseball .
I went to the first home game that he pitch, I didn't know about him, but something was different, the excitement before the game, sold out crowd, and got to witness an Historic game I'll never forget. I was only 12 and it took some time to realize that..
I was lucky to see Fernando pitch live. He is a great role model. People don't realize how big Fernando was. The dodgers made a fortune on him and his first year he made the league minimum $34K I believe. Fernando was tickled to make so much money.
@@charlesfoutch1132 September call-up when he pitched for one month would be the pro-rated minimum. I played 7 years of pro baseball. I actually used to play against Valenzuela son. He was a damn good hitter...He’s now the coach at LB State.
I love that this all happened the year I was born … 4 -5 years later I was at my first Dodger game and he was pitching , Tommy was coaching, and Vince Scully was talking 🎙️⚾️… these were the GOLDEN YEARS ✨✨✨✨✨💔🙏🏽
After the actions of the Dodgers Organization and Los Angeles City Officials at Chavez Ravine, they did not have many Latino fans...Fernando changed ALL of that, pretty much single-handedly.
Fernando was an amazing pitcher. I liked his pitching style, and he was a good at hitting. Every exciting to watch. When he left baseball for it was disappointing, but then I remember hearing he was coming back. They bounced him around too much he did pretty good at San Diego then he was on three team his last year. I personally think he would have been good relief pitcher, and kept on one team instead of playing on seven teams in his last seven years after the Dodgers let him go.
...such is why I prefer national league baseball... pitchers have to step up to the plate he had thrown at previously innings. Payback sometimes can be a beach. When dusted off the homepage likewise.
Growing up my father shared his love of baseball with me and watching Fernando Valenzuela on tv and in person are some of the happiest moments of my life
1. Not a baseball fan 2. Never heard of fernando valenzuela 3. Lived and work in LA/OC 30 years The title of the video got me to watch and I can't stop watching the series. Such a great story and even better man.
You missed out on watching a superstar pitcher in Fernando. Man the dodgers were loaded back in 1980 to 1990's with many super stars like Fernando and Oral Hershiser mowing batters down as starting pitchers for the dodgers.
So many great Spanish baseball players over the years. Can not understand how in last 20 years they produce the best catchers. Everybody in Philly loved " Chooch" as our catcher. Was the best philly catcher in my life time and a really nice guy.
Here in the Yucatan we can proudly say that our team "Leones de Yucatán" was the team who saw Fernando's potencial and recruited him and debuted him in the Mexican Baseball League and thanks to that Mike Brito saw him and took him to LA. Aquí en Yucatán podemos decir con orgullo que nuestro equipo “Leones de Yucatán” fue el equipo que vio el potencial de Fernando y lo reclutó y debutó en la Liga Mexicana de Beisbol y gracias a eso Mike Brito lo vio y lo llevó a Los Ángeles.
Yeah...I remember some announcers in the ‘80s making a connection between him and Babe Ruth, cuz, like a young Babe, Fernando was a good hitting pitcher, and they looked a lot alike.
Love Fernando. A friend said that at Tiger Stadium, that he saw someone say something in Spanish about his mom. The big guy Fernando turned around, gave him a finger and shouted something back in Espanol. Hahaha
Remember when I was young we was playing Baseball at high school in Sinaloa Mexico. I was 16 then our coach told us than a dodger scout will be watching the game, looking for new talents, and he was there behind the catcher, the man with the lil' hat, a big cuban cigar and whit a radar gun checking every pitch. We all climb the mound and took our chance to show him the skills of everyone, unfortunately I don't impressed him but three of my partners did It. One was called to training at Dominican Republic Atlanta Braves school. Another to Arizona and a couple more to Summer Mexican league. That was a exciting moment to us. And can to see close at Man who discovered to El Toro de Etchouaquila... The Best Mexican Player in MLB.
Aun que un poco más atrás también Rafael el pelón Osuna - Único mexicano en ganar grand slam - Llevo a Mexico a una final de copa Davis - Único mexicano en ser rankeado número 1 a nivel mundial - Único mexicano en el salón de la fama del tenis 🎾
Fernando was a threat at the plate too. I remember Lasorda using Fernando on his off-pitching days to pinch hit for that day's starting pitcher at times.
In 1979, the Dodgers' pitching was really weak, this after two straight trips to the World Series. So they signed a free agent named Dave Goltz for 1980, back in the infancy of free agency. With three games left in the 1980 season, the Dodgers were three games behind the Houston Astros, with three games left to play. The Dodgers won all three games, each on a home run, by Joe Ferguson, Steve Garvey, and Ron Cey, in that order. Then for the single game tiebreaker, the Dodger fans, including myself, were screaming, "Start Fernando in the playoff game!" We were all enjoying the onset of Fernando Mania. In September, 1980 Fernando pitched 17 2/3 innings, struck out 16, won 2, saved 1, and didn't allow an earned run. So who did Tommy Lasorda start that crucial game? Dave Goltz! Goltz had won 7 and lost 11 that year, with an ERA of 4.31. And what happened? Gotz went 3 innings, allowed 4 runs, and lost the game that would have sent the Dodgers back into the playoffs again. Fernando Mania was very real, as he dominated baseball in 1981. It's been 40 years, and I can remember it like it was yesterday. God bless Fernando Valenzuela, and thank you for an amazing video!
I think not only statistics should be important to induct great players into the Hall of Fame, I think charismatic players like Fernando should be admited into HF, for the great impact they caused on the MLB world society at his time. I wish one day during Fernando's life, we can receive the good news that he is in the Hall of Fame...
In the late 80s my best friend's mom and dad took us to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play the Dodgers. We stayed at the same hotel across from Busch Stadium that the Dodgers were staying. My friend and I went down to the lobby hoping to get an autograph from any of the players. When Fernando walked in my friend ran up to him with pen and paper in hand. Fernando looks at him, shakes his head, and says "Outta my way, kid!" Nice fella!
He did the same thing to my friend an me. We tried to say hello to him at a golf course in Montebello, California. Years later Valenzuela and l were in an elevator together. I didn't sat shit to him.
When I was a young boy playing babe ruth baseball the Los Angeles dodgers had both Fernando and oral hershiser as starting pitchers. They were both two of my MLB pitching superstar role models as I also pitched for my baby ruth team.
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm 70 now and lived in Long Beach back then. Went to many games at Dodger Stadium. My favorite memories of Fernando were in his rookie year. His first 8 starts, he threw 5 shutouts! Give me a break! Who else had that kind of rookie season? Fernandomania was born and will never die! Go Dodgers!
You lucky dog, you.. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. ✌🏽
RIP Mike Brito. Without you, there would have never been Fernandomania.
Growing up as a Portuguese immigrant, I hung out and had many Hispanic friends and one of my first memories watching baseball was Fernando. Despite being a Giants fan, I loved that man, he was a true hero. RIP great one! 🫶✌️⚾️✝️🇵🇹🇲🇽
Funny you would say that because I was also a fan of Davey Lopes and when I was a kid I could not figure out why he was a Lopes and not a Lopez until I grew up and understood that he was from Portuguese heritage.
I'm 52. It was so exciting to experience Fernandomania as a teenage Dodger fan. I met him twice and he was very nice too. Such great times!
June 1st, 1991, Fernando had a rehab start in Little Rock, Arkansas. Over 12,000 fans packed into tiny Ray Winder Field to see Fernando pitch. Over 2,000 fans stood on the warning track during the game. Fernando allowed just 2 hits and Midland won 4-0. The fans met Fernando with thunderous applause every time he stepped onto the field. Still probably the greatest day in Arkansas sports history despite the fact that everyone in attendance was rooting against the home team.
Thats badass!
Ot rd screerreut😊yÿuoyyy Yuhhh y y the boys have
The first time you 🎉😢ov🎉yt🎉gin
Would have loved to have been in attendance!
Grew up in Philadelphia, was a big Fernando fan as a kid.....was thrilled when he briefly played for the Phillies late in his career.
I went to each of his home starts for the Phillies.
I felt the same when he came to the Padres. I was geeked! lol
Netflix we all want a series about Fernando Valenzuela
better yet his Story belongs in a movie
I feel so sad. My family was Fernando groupies. Yes, ten Mexicanos in a car, driving to San Diego from L A to cheer for our heroe. Fernando brought so much pride to our community. Kids who didn't know him wear his shirt. His story is told to every generation. He was from Sonora. My dad's family is from Sonora. We will always remember Fernando. Fernando siempre vive! Gracias Fernando por el orgullo de ser Mexicanos!
Teresa!!! Que hermoso comentario como ofrenda especial para Fernando , hoy que descansa en Paz en la presencia de Dios, yo… orgullosa de ser de Sonora,,, HUATABAMPO, no muy lejos de Etchohuaquila, cuna de este CAMPEÓN ENTRE CAMPEONES , 👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️ noble, humilde… nunca perdió el piso! Dios bendiga a toda su hermosa familia allá en California y acá en Sonora querida , tierra consentida de Fernando❤️🙏y de los que amamos nuestra tierra❤️
There should be a movie for this guy's life. There have been so many amazing baseball players from Mexico and the Caribbean that a movie needs to be made about at least one of them.
We need to get Edward Olmos behind this
Roberto Clemente was from Puerto Rico would be a good one. How he passed away was sad, but he was on a great mission to help the people of Nicaragua after an earthquake by three time's sending supplies to Nicaragua only to have the supplies stolen corrupt people in the Nicaragua government. He decided to go on the fourth plane trip with the supplies to hope tje government wouldn't steal it if he was there. By chance the plane crashed, and his body was never recovered. I started going to the Pirate games in 1973 through the YMCA, and never got to see him play in person. I have a plaque I had make of him with his picture on it. His batting average was .312 his last season. He reached 3,000 hits in his last season. Truly a great man.
There Will be one, trust me
He’s not black Hollywood is focusing on black movies only so forget it lol 😂
@@Mertens310 Exactly !!
Regards 🇲🇽🤝
Why isn't this a movie this man is incredible
Mike Brito reminds me of Don Corleone from the Godfather
It should be. Great story. I was a young boy playing baseball and EVERYONE was imitating Ferndando's pitching wind-up. He was a sensation. It was cool to see a latino guy make the rise.
George Lopez can play him!
Because he's Mexican
❤his unhittable screwball
I remember Fernandomania back in 1981. Fernando looked so fearless out on the mound, and I remember him striking out George Brett in the all star game
I grew up watching the Dodgers in the 70s 80s and forward. My father ,rest in peace ,was a diehard Dodgers fan. He even listened to the games on the radio and he’d be yelling at the radio all the time LOL ,he was so awesome. And I’ve gone to many Dodger games including Fernando Valenzuela games.
Dodgers fan cause of my father too. And always mentions Fernando! Was born just right after Fernandomania and was named Fernando lol
@ - that’s awesome👍🏼
He definitely was a fan because he named you after Fernando .
I'm from Chicago and a Cubs fan. I started following the Cubs and MLB in the late spring of 1986 as a 12 year old. It took me some time to not only learn all the Cubs players history and stats but other major league teams both National and American league. When the Cubs finally played the Dodgers at Wrigley Field I finally was introduced to Fernando Valenzuela by Cubs announcer Harry Carey describing him. I was amazed at his build, his pitching style and how athletic he was. I also learned that he could hit and handle the bat. One of my favorite early Fernando moments in 1986 was at the All Star game in Houston. As recall, Fernando and Teddy Higuera of the Milwaukee Brewers were both in the game pitching. As I recall, Fernando struck out the three batters he faced and Teddy Higuera also look impressive for the American League. Fernando Valenzuela's story is among the greatest underdog sports stories of all time.
I'm about Fernando's age and my kids were all born during the Fernandomania years. I remember everybody telling me that I looked like Fernando...When Fernando's picture was on the Wheaties box, one day we were in the store and my son saw Fernando's picture on the box of cereal and said "daddy!!" Lol I am actually from the Bay Area and I'm a Giants fan but I loved watching Fernando pitch back in the day. He was a great source of pride for Mexican-Americans everywhere.
Rest in peace our Mexican hero what a wonderful man it was a pleasure to watch him from the beginning
Fernando Mania!!! He was definitely one of my favorite Dodgers of all time...And Pedro Guerrero 🙌🏾
Guerrero was like Serrano from Major League movie.
I remember going in 1980 and saw Fernando's call up .. he was awesome. He had pop, nobody knew what he was throwing.. his rookie season was insane.. LA blew up with Fernandomania
the only thing more famous In L.A. than Fernando was the NIghtStalker. And both of them were uncircumcised
THE SCREWBALL MASTER!
God gave us Fernando.. made us all proud. Fernando Valenzuela.. jugador de todo a todas..mexicano de verdad.. nacido en navojoa..
Lol, hardly. God is better than that.
@@20alphabet nope. you were born, so..
@@JohnnyVee007
Go build that wall, dummy.
Nacio en Etchohuaquila lo vi varias veces en la liga central y en la del pacifico el gran gran Fernando Valenzuela 🇲🇽✌😎
Fernando was one of my favorites. I’d run and watched him pitch on TV whenever the Dodgers were on NBC. He was sooo good and that screwball was a marvel to watch. He could hit too! Just an all-around good athlete and a strikeout king when he took the mound.
God bless brother me too!
RIP Fernando. Can someone please make a movie about this man’s life.
I’m a Giants fan . Tommy , Fernando and Garvey . Legend!
I was able to skip school opening day 1981and was fortunate to see Fernandos first career start against the Astros.
Here in San Antonio my mom and some friends used to go to the games and they went out to get something to eat and they paid for whatever he wanted to eat and drink. That was a fun and exciting time. He was treated like royalty here. I am glad he was happy here.
Im from Tennessee born and raised and a dodger fan from the time i knew what baseball was i remember when he came up and Fernando mania was born what a great time for baseball and im still a die-hard dodger fan i love to learn anything i can about them.
One more thing. I'm getting older but I lived in a time where to listen to Vin Scully broadcast Fernando's first games. In sports terms it really doesn't get much better than that!
Fernando was my first baseball player infatuation. I was a young kid in San Diego wearing a dodgers jersey all because of Fernando. Love to see this article.
🤮
@@Padre619 im sure thats everyones reaction when they see you
I remember going to go see the dodgers in the 80’s play Fernando pitching everyone loved Fernando Valenzuela to this day I can say was a great Mexican pitcher 80’s were awesome.
Great info on this man. I was a casual ball fan in my teens and he was a perfect personality for the Chicanos!
I did not met Fernando, but I met Mr. Brito, he used to come to office to pick up his airplane tickets to go to Mexico to look for new 'talents' to sign with the Dodgers. When he mentioned that he discovered Fernando I didn't believe him, until I saw this interview.
Unfortunately, Mr. Brito is gone, and sadly today October 22, 2024 Angelinos are stroked with the sad news that our "El Toro Valenzuela" has passed away.
Rest in peace Fernando.
Fernandomania was awesome!!!!!
The Dodgers fan base is what it is today because of this man- Fernando Valenzuela.
Love him or hate him. Fernando was definitely a machine and he deserves that respect . Very glad I was able to see him pitch in the Houston Astro Dome !!!!
Nobody hated him. He was great in every way!
Who's gonna hate on Fernando?
He’s loved by soooo many folks still! Just a great guy!
He was popular in Canada back in the day. Maybe not so much in 81 when he beat the Montreal Expos to take the NL championship but the rest of the time he well loved.
Love Fernando. I was a big time Dodger fan back then. Lasorda was the Best Manager, he built so many great squads
Wow, he’s become pretty fluent at English over the years. I seem to remember that in the ‘80s, Lasorda always had to have somebody interpreting when he’d go to the mound to talk to Fernando.
Mexicans who stay in the US and love it will try their best to learn
He had complete command of the English language..........in baseball terms. Fastball, screwball, curveball, etc,etc, etc. 5 shutouts in his first 8 starts! FERNANDOMANIA was born. I was lucky enough to have attended many of those games back in the 70's and 80's. When Fernando showed up in 1980,you couldn't hardly get seats in the bleachers!
40 years later...
Didn't Tommy send coach Amalfotano out to the mound early on to communicate w/ Fernando,. Before relief or in a tight spot ⚾️
@@joekurtz8303 That’s entirely possible...I don’t remember exactly.
Man I remember going to my first Dodger game in 2011 when I just moved to Los Angeles from Bay City MI and in fact it was on Fernando Valenzuela bobblehead night and when I saw him I felt that he was my friend because growing up I never had any friends because of my race and I lived in a 99% white city and I was the only brown boy, but I followed Fernando Valenzuela legacy by introducing me to baseball and since then I played in my high school years and I enjoying loving for baseball thank you Fernando Valenzuela for everything what you done for the city of LA and for the Chicanos (Mexican American) for bringing them to Dodger Stadium to become Dodger fans 💙🙏🏻⚾️
Fernando is a great role model. He seems to be a very good person.
I got a picture of my dad with Mike Brito and we play baseball in the “Mike Brito league” you’ll see him often casually strolling by the park blasting musica Cubana and with a big ol’ cigar. Cool man really laid back
My grandpa was a diehard Dodgers fan...miss You
Diyey adony
I remember the Fernandomania craze. His games were so dramatic.
What a nice feeling to see all these Dodger exmembers still ticking.
Fernando is looking rough for being 61
It was unbelievable. I think it was his first six games where he didn't give up a run (or almost didn't) and I think they were complete games as well ... this as a rookie.
He won his first 8 starts and 5 of them were complete game shutouts and had a .050 era as a rookie, that's crazy!
I'll always remember how he use to look up before delivering the pitch.
He's alive!!!
They say he was pitching in Mexico like at age 45, still striking people out.
Unhittable screwball
I believe it.
What I remember about Fernando is his glance towards heaven every time he delivered a pitch.
yeah,he did that on cue,unbelievable!!
Gracias a dios
Siempre mostró tener nervios de acero, aunque no tenía experiencia, ésta la superaba por la gran seguridad que reflejaba al momento de enfrentarse a un bateador desde el "montículo". En su debut en LMB en 1979,se enfrentó nada menos que al gran pitcher Ramón Arano, el famoso "tres patines". Encuentro celebrado entre "Leones de Yucatán vs Cafeteros de Córdoba".
Love listening to the Doders on my dad's radio! With my dad in the back yard while BBQing.
As a kid. Me and my friend Jose used to have contest on who pitched the most like Fernando Valenzuela. Used to be 1 of my favorite pitchers 😎
I am a righty, but I tried to pitch lefty and looked up at the sky just before I threw the ball. Just like Fernando!
When I was young I always wondered who that guy behind the plate was. The hat, the radar gun. I'm now 34 years old and now know.
Who
A 34 year old geezer with a radar gun lol. Jk 😅😂
Aldo Cella
So did I. To me he was "Panama Hat Guy With the Radar Gun."
There are just some Players especially Pitchers in MLB that capture the eye of the Nation .
Even people who don't follow baseball .
Mark Fydrich & Fernando Valenzuela are two that just seemed to catch fire .
Thankfully one of them Fydrich played for my Tigers .
Everyone wanted to see these two when they were in their Rookie Seasons .
The late 70s and early 80s were amazing times in baseball .
Fidrych sorry
Wow 40 years ago. Like it was yesterday. Thank You Fernando for being part of L.A. Dodgers!
Torito descansa en paz!!!! Dios te reciba en su gloria!!! Greatest Mexican pitcher ever!!!!!! Viva Sonora 😢😢
I was a Giants fan and hated the Dodgers, but I loved Fernando! Ok, Steve Garvey, too-a solid, humble ball player
Fernando was the greatest uncircumcised pitcher to ever play for the dodgers!
I went to the first home game that he pitch, I didn't know about him, but something was different, the excitement before the game, sold out crowd, and got to witness an Historic game I'll never forget. I was only 12 and it took some time to realize that..
I love him for how he played and represent the good people of mexico
I fondly remember Fernandomania. Those were some great times.
I was lucky to see Fernando pitch live. He is a great role model. People don't realize how big Fernando was. The dodgers made a fortune on him and his first year he made the league minimum $34K I believe. Fernando was tickled to make so much money.
League minimum was $150k then... his bonus may have been $34K
@@daylonmonette1847 min was 21K average was 124K
@@charlesfoutch1132 September call-up when he pitched for one month would be the pro-rated minimum. I played 7 years of pro baseball. I actually used to play against Valenzuela son. He was a damn good hitter...He’s now the coach at LB State.
My dad Gonzalo Luna knew Mike Brito, when he lived in Hobbs, New Mexico. Mike Brito's family member, Carlota Garza was a very good friend of ours!!!!
I love that this all happened the year I was born … 4 -5 years later I was at my first Dodger game and he was pitching , Tommy was coaching, and Vince Scully was talking 🎙️⚾️… these were the GOLDEN YEARS ✨✨✨✨✨💔🙏🏽
After the actions of the Dodgers Organization and Los Angeles City Officials at Chavez Ravine, they did not have many Latino fans...Fernando changed ALL of that, pretty much single-handedly.
News articles at the time said he only knew one word of English: Millions
glorp
I remember Johnny Carson saying the first word he learned is renegotiate. That was hilarious and after his year.
The 30 for 30 "Fernando Nation" was a really good documentary about Fernando also.
Fernando was an amazing pitcher. I liked his pitching style, and he was a good at hitting. Every exciting to watch. When he left baseball for it was disappointing, but then I remember hearing he was coming back. They bounced him around too much he did pretty good at San Diego then he was on three team his last year. I personally think he would have been good relief pitcher, and kept on one team instead of playing on seven teams in his last seven years after the Dodgers let him go.
...such is why I prefer national league baseball... pitchers have to step up to the plate he had thrown at previously innings. Payback sometimes can be a beach. When dusted off the homepage likewise.
Love the accent when he isn’t speaking such eloquent english
Great doc on a legend. Thanks for sharing!
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright,
Fernando
Growing up my father shared his love of baseball with me and watching Fernando Valenzuela on tv and in person are some of the happiest moments of my life
And you still don't understand what being American is like.
Such a shame he missed out on 88 world series because of injury.
Thanks for this post! Grateful for TH-cam!
1. Not a baseball fan
2. Never heard of fernando valenzuela
3. Lived and work in LA/OC 30 years
The title of the video got me to watch and I can't stop watching the series. Such a great story and even better man.
You missed out on watching a superstar pitcher in Fernando. Man the dodgers were loaded back in 1980 to 1990's with many super stars like Fernando and Oral Hershiser mowing batters down as starting pitchers for the dodgers.
I bet Mike Brito knows where Hoffa is.
He probably where that missing Malaysian airlines is too
😂😂
One of the better baseball moments, ever.
Mexico City sits at ~7,300ft even more than a Mile High city like Denver at ~5,280ft.... 2,000ft difference. Impressive
Amazing pitcher and a genuine person.
I saw him pitch for the San Antonio Dodgers right before they brought him up. He went right from AA to the bigs....
So many great Spanish baseball players over the years. Can not understand how in last 20 years they produce the best catchers. Everybody in Philly loved " Chooch" as our catcher. Was the best philly catcher in my life time and a really nice guy.
Jerry Reuss is awesome guy too! Amazing photographer
Here in the Yucatan we can proudly say that our team "Leones de Yucatán" was the team who saw Fernando's potencial and recruited him and debuted him in the Mexican Baseball League and thanks to that Mike Brito saw him and took him to LA.
Aquí en Yucatán podemos decir con orgullo que nuestro equipo “Leones de Yucatán” fue el equipo que vio el potencial de Fernando y lo reclutó y debutó en la Liga Mexicana de Beisbol y gracias a eso Mike Brito lo vio y lo llevó a Los Ángeles.
The video didn't even mention for a pitcher, he was a pretty good hitter too...
Yeah...I remember some announcers in the ‘80s making a connection between him and Babe Ruth, cuz, like a young Babe, Fernando was a good hitting pitcher, and they looked a lot alike.
Oh yeah I remember he was a real good hitter especially against the early/mid 80s Braves .... Bob Walk , Rick Camp and the rest ....
Wow, I live in Tecate and when they mentioned Tecate it gave me.chills
World Series Champion Fernando
I remember everybody was naming their kid Fernando
Love Fernando. A friend said that at Tiger Stadium, that he saw someone say something in Spanish about his mom. The big guy Fernando turned around, gave him a finger and shouted something back in Espanol. Hahaha
Fernando was awesome, really enjoyed this video.
Remember when I was young we was playing Baseball at high school in Sinaloa Mexico. I was 16 then our coach told us than a dodger scout will be watching the game, looking for new talents, and he was there behind the catcher, the man with the lil' hat, a big cuban cigar and whit a radar gun checking every pitch. We all climb the mound and took our chance to show him the skills of everyone, unfortunately I don't impressed him but three of my partners did It. One was called to training at Dominican Republic Atlanta Braves school. Another to Arizona and a couple more to Summer Mexican league. That was a exciting moment to us. And can to see close at Man who discovered to El Toro de Etchouaquila... The Best Mexican Player in MLB.
Loved watching him pitch when I was younger
I am sad to hear,Thank You for the memories ✝️🕊️
Back in those days Mexico had three of the best players in three sports.. fernado, julio cesar chavez and hugo Sanchez.
The late Salvador Sanchez.
Aun que un poco más atrás también Rafael el pelón Osuna
- Único mexicano en ganar grand slam
- Llevo a Mexico a una final de copa Davis
- Único mexicano en ser rankeado número 1 a nivel mundial
- Único mexicano en el salón de la fama del tenis 🎾
South America had the Formula 1 Driver
@@MrRourk Ayrton Senna 🙂
They should've kept them over there.
My favorite pitcher of all time.
Fernando was a threat at the plate too. I remember Lasorda using Fernando on his off-pitching days to pinch hit for that day's starting pitcher at times.
In 1979, the Dodgers' pitching was really weak, this after two straight trips to the World Series. So they signed a free agent named Dave Goltz for 1980, back in the infancy of free agency.
With three games left in the 1980 season, the Dodgers were three games behind the Houston Astros, with three games left to play. The Dodgers won all three games, each on a home run, by Joe Ferguson, Steve Garvey, and Ron Cey, in that order.
Then for the single game tiebreaker, the Dodger fans, including myself, were screaming, "Start Fernando in the playoff game!" We were all enjoying the onset of Fernando Mania. In September, 1980 Fernando pitched 17 2/3 innings, struck out 16, won 2, saved 1, and didn't allow an earned run.
So who did Tommy Lasorda start that crucial game? Dave Goltz! Goltz had won 7 and lost 11 that year, with an ERA of 4.31. And what happened? Gotz went 3 innings, allowed 4 runs, and lost the game that would have sent the Dodgers back into the playoffs again.
Fernando Mania was very real, as he dominated baseball in 1981. It's been 40 years, and I can remember it like it was yesterday.
God bless Fernando Valenzuela, and thank you for an amazing video!
Great to see Manny Mota. Dominican pride.
Fernando Valenzuela para siempre!
🔥⚾️🇲🇽💙🇺🇸⚾️🔥
Too bad he was injured in 88’ season. It would have been awesome to see him pitch in a real World Series Title Win 😉
Fernando and the Dodgers won the World Series in 1981!
@@rickkinki4624 The ‘81 season was shortened by 50+ games due to a strike. I think that’s what Blanco150 is referring to.
So what does that make the ‘20 World Series title?
@@Jonathan-gz1cp Fake WS title.
@@Jonathan-gz1cp it's a participation award
man this just takes you back.. the LA Times writers, Brito, Campanis, Mota.. Halcion Days indeed..!!!
I think not only statistics should be important to induct great players into the Hall of Fame, I think charismatic players like Fernando should be admited into HF, for the great impact they caused on the MLB world society at his time. I wish one day during Fernando's life, we can receive the good news that he is in the Hall of Fame...
RIP. Dodgers always had an eye for overlooked talent in Latin America and what a great person this man was
San Antonio worshiped Fernando!
In the late 80s my best friend's mom and dad took us to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play the Dodgers. We stayed at the same hotel across from Busch Stadium that the Dodgers were staying. My friend and I went down to the lobby hoping to get an autograph from any of the players. When Fernando walked in my friend ran up to him with pen and paper in hand. Fernando looks at him, shakes his head, and says "Outta my way, kid!" Nice fella!
He did the same thing to my friend an me. We tried to say hello to him at a golf course in Montebello, California. Years later Valenzuela and l were in an elevator together. I didn't sat shit to him.
Papa pinoy would love this.
When I was a young boy playing babe ruth baseball the Los Angeles dodgers had both Fernando and oral hershiser as starting pitchers. They were both two of my MLB pitching superstar role models as I also pitched for my baby ruth team.
That’s bad assss he’s came from nowhere a nobody from across the boarder to being one of the most respected famous baseball players in history