One of the most beloved players to ever play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fernando Valenzuela finally had his No. 34 jersey retired.
Valenzuela didn't have many words for the crowd, but he got choked up in his speech, thanking everyone from the Dodgers, his family and the fans that followed him throughout his career.
Valenzuela walked down the left field line alongside his family to see No. 34 be unveiled in the Dodgers' ring of honor, saluting the crowd in what he called"a very emotional day."“Fernandomania” ran wild in the 11 seasons the Sonora, Mexico, native spent with the Dodgers.
He finished the season 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and won both the NL Cy Young and NL Rookie of the Year awards − the first player to do so − as the Dodgers won the 1981 World Series. He finished his Dodgers career with a 141-116 record and a 3.31 ERA, ranking ninth in franchise history in wins. To cap off his accomplishments, he threw a no-hitter in 1990, his final year with the club.
That’s why, despite decades of fans calling for Los Angeles to retire the jersey, Valenzuela recalled all he could say was “really?”But to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the honor was"long overdue," and he believes he has a case to be in the Hall of Fame.
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