Fernando Valenzuela ‘81. $500

Remembering Fernandomania: https://youtu.be/5dqgtpqscT0

Fernando (Anguamea) Valenzuela (Born in Etchohuaquila, Mexico on November 1, 1960-) began his career as an everyday start with a 2-0 shutout of the Houston Astros to kick off the 1981 season, a small snapshot of what was to come with the Los Angeles Dodgers new young ace. Fernando stunned the National League as he began the season 8-0 with five shutouts and a 0.50 ERA, leading the Dodgers to the 1981 World Series title over the New York Yankees, while capturing the National League Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger and the Cy Young Awards. Valenzuela is the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year finishing the year 13-7 a league leading 25 starts, 11 complete games, eight shutouts, 192.1 innings pitches and 180 strikeouts as well as a 2.48 ERA. Valenzuela wowed Latino fans sparking “Feranandomania” as he mowed down National League batters with his dominant screwball, earning six All-Star Games selections and leading the NL in wins and strikeouts once each and complete games three times. He dominated batter throughout the 1980s in Los Angeles winning ten or more game nine times from 1982-1990. Fernando pitched for the Dodgers (1980-1990), the California Angels (1991), the Baltimore Orioles (1993), the Philadelphia Phillies (1994), the San Diego Padres (1995-1997) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1997). Valenzuela was injured and unable to pitch when the Dodgers captured the 1988 World Series title over the Oakland Athletics. Fernando Valenzuela finished his career with a 173-153 record, 113 complete games, 31 shutouts, 2,074 strikeouts and a 3.54 career ERA in 453 games.