By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 34 jersey retired by the Dodgers as part of a three-day celebration in August. New York, Quill, 1982. vs. ATL 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER, Last Game: Fernando Valenzuela was born in Etchohaquila, in the Mexican state of Sonora, about 350 miles south of the Arizona border. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"lmbBXESyKfPrRe_tsbrkEncgra1U.48A9OMC2Rk5RgA-86400-0"}; Few baseball players have captured the popular imagination as Fernando Valenzuela did in the summer of 1981, when the word "Fernandomania" came into the English lexicon, as the young lefthander with the incredible screwball astounded the baseball world by tossing five shutouts during an eight game winning streak to start the season. That was the word for the spectacle and excitement surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who made his first start for the team 40 years ago this month. Valenzuela will have his jersey retired on Aug. 11 during the Dodgers season. Professional baseball player How many strikeouts did Fernando Valenzuela have? The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of His best seasons were 1981, his rookie year, and 1986. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Decades later, he remains a Mexican American icon. Please try again. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. mx, High School: Navajoa (Navajoa, Mexico), Debut: Forty years later, Valenzuela's otherworldly performance in that . Fans were immediately captivated by the portly pitcher from Sonora, Mexico. Gibson, Bob 1935 All rights reserved. September 15, 1980 Theyd line up at the stadium to watch his dramatic windup, Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano says. He rose to prominence in the Major Leagues quickly, while his age was widely disputed. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. What position did Fernando Valenzuela play? Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Fernando Valenzuela had 2,074 strikeouts over his career. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Mexican pitcher who won the 1981 National League Cy Young award as a rookie, while helping lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series Championship amidst the era known to Angelenos as "Fernandomania.". Shohei Ohtani set for WBC in Japan, but Angels future murky DODGERS STAR MOOKIE BETTS: IT SUCKS TO LOSE KEY MEMBERS OF 2020 WORLD SERIES TEAM. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. Arellano is part of the newspapers Fernandomania @ 40 documentary series. . (Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images). Fernando Valenzuela will have his No. At 62 years old, Fernando Valenzuela height is 5' 11" (1.8 m) . Rawlings Storm Baseball Softball Glove RHT ST12GWM 12" Basket-Web Leather Gray. Mexican professional baseball pitcher Fernando Valenzuela played in the U.S. major leagues for 17 seasons, many of them for the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of his most appealing features was his durability, as he led the league in complete games in three seasons and twice in innings pitched. His age also kept people guessing, as many observers supposed that he was significantly older than his twenty years. Rookie of the Year (1981) Cy Young Award (1981) Silver Slugger Award (x2) six-time All-Star Rookie of the Year Award Gold Glove Cy Young Award 1 World Series championship. He suffered a severe arm injury in 1988, and he could never pitch the same again. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. 14,404th in major league history) Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 12:52AM. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Who Is Fernando Valenzuela's Wife? (Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images). We are sorry. But Arellano says hes skeptical of saviors because Mexican Americans must find confidence within to navigate life in the United States. "To be part of the group that includes so many legends is a great honor," Valenzuela told Dodgers Insider. Do you have a blog? ." The Dodgers haven't retired Fernando Valenzuela's number, but his impact on baseball, especially among Latinos in L.A., makes him Hall of Fame worthy. He was one of 12 children growing up in Sonora, Mexico. ", CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM, Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. DODGERS LEADERSHIP ADDRESSES TREVOR BAUER'S RELEASE, SAYING DECISION WAS UNANIMOUS, "What he accomplished during his playing career, not only on the field but in the community, is extraordinary," Dodgers team president Stan Kasten said. Family Life He was one of 12 children growing up in Sonora, Mexico. Fernando Valenzuela was born in Navojoa, Sonora. 23 Feb. 2023 . You can try, How Jackie Robinson's Legacy Beyond Baseball Resonates Today, Bianca Smith Becomes 1st Black Woman Coach In Professional Baseball. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. Valenzuela played a key part in bringing the Dodgers their fifth franchise title in 1981, defeating the New York Yankees in six games. Valenzuela would move on to the then-California Angels in 1991, but he did not do well in two starts. Fernandomania began in Los Angeles soon after the screwball-throwing lefthander started the season with a shutout, and it spread across the North American continent as Valenzuela managed to notch seven more victories (including four more shutouts) before registering his first loss. Amazon has encountered an error. American baseball player Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960 in Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico. SUMMARY Career WAR Specifically for Mexican Americans, we take him to heart more than anyone, he says, because for the first time and maybe ever in the United States, everyone wants to be a Mexican.. Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has described the frenzy around the star pitcher as a religious experience.. Jos Canseco: 1964: Baseball player Valenzuelas first start for the Dodgers in April of 1981 was a shutout win against the Houston Astros a moment that marked the start of Fernandomania. Los Angeles went wild. At 62 years old, Fernando Valenzuela height Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. "I am incredibly happy that No. Fernando Valenzuela, MLB's first Mexican superstar, was a phenom who changed the game when he led the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1981. . By continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our. Im happy for all the fans and all the people who have followed my career. He was born on November 1, 1960. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. Fernando Valenzuela was born in Navojoa, Mexico. Do you have a sports website? He would play in Mexico in 1992 before returning to MLB the next year with the Baltimore Orioles. Fernando Anguamea Valenzuela was a star left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, first rookie to win the Cy Young Award. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Valenzuela was the seventh son and last of 12 children born to a humble family, on a farm not as big as a baseball infield, in the tiny village of Etchohauquila in Navojoa, sometime between 1955 and 1960 . That season he led the league in complete games (11), shutouts (8), innings pitched (192), and strikeouts (180). Fernando Valenzuela will be honored over a three-day weekend on August 11-13. All rights reserved. In addition to his U.S. major-league career, Valenzuela pitched for three seasons in the Mexican League and for several more during the winter in the Mexican Pacific League. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. His years with the Dodgers were capped by a no-hitter on June 26, 1990, but his career was thrown into doubt after the Dodgers released him the following spring. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Fernando ValenzuelaFernando Valenzuela's April and May in 1981 were something you felt inside you, like a superpower. Valenzuela will join Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale with retired. Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela throws the ceremonial first pitch during the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Fernando-Valenzuela, 34 (1997-1997, St. Louis Cardinals) 34 (1995-1997, San Diego Padres) 33 (1994-1994, Philadelphia Phillies) 34 (1993-1993, Baltimore Orioles) 36 (1991-1991, California Angels) 34 (1980-1990, Los Angeles Dodgers). We present them here for purely educational purposes. Choose a language from the menu above to view a computer-translated version of this page. As a teenager he began playing baseball professionally in Mexico. Along the way he received baseball's first million-dollar salary arbitration award in 1983. Please use a different way to share. November 1, 1960 In 1986 he led the National League with 21 wins and 20 complete games. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. In a career that lasted from 1980 to 1996, Valenzuela was known almost as much for his burly physique and unorthodox windup as for his effectiveness and durability. Fernando Valenzuela played for 6 teams; the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. Its hard to envision a player having a greater impact on a fan base than the one Fernando has had. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Associated With He was managed by Tommy Lasorda on the Los Angeles Dodgers. So, how much is Fernando Valenzuela worth at the age of 62 years old? We have estimated LOS ANGELES Inside Dodger Stadium, the man who triggered Fernandomania snapped his fingers. who was the youngest of 12 children in a family . Fernando Valenzuela struck out 2,074 batters during his career. At the same time, the Dodgers had failed to produce a World Series win since 1965 and werent actively embraced by the Mexican American community, he explains. . ." 34. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. One of the best hitters to ever don a baseball uniform, Rod Carew finished his 19-year Major League car, Gibson, Josh 19111947 Littwin, Mike. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. The children of Valenzuela's fans, and now even their children, have become Dodgers fans. is 5'11"(1.8m) . His wife is Linda Margarita Burgos Metri (29 December1981 - present)( 4 children). Data Provided By 5 ft 11 inches, 180 lb . https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/valenzuela-fernando-1960, "Valenzuela, Fernando (1960) In his first full season in the major leagues, the boy from Mexico had led his team to a World Series championship, while being recognized as both the National League's Rookie of the Year and its Cy Young Award winner. A new, third level of content, designed specially to meet the advanced needs of the sophisticated scholar. Linda Margarita Burgos Metri (29 December1981 - present)( 4 children). Fernando Valenzuela was born in Etchohaquila, in the Mexican state of Sonora, about 350 miles south of the Arizona border. (Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images), Fox News Flash top sports headlines for February 5. Total Baseball. Past month; Pretty Torrid . All rights reserved. Valenzuela finished the strike-shortened season with a record of 13 wins and 7 losses. In 1981, twenty-year-old rookie Fernando Valenzuela exploded on the baseball scene. Forty years ago, he was the 20-year-old rookie, bursting on the scene as Major League Baseballs first Mexican superstar. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Fernando Valenzuela is a MLB baseball player. (born 1960). Fernando Valenzuela Popularity Most Popular #47312 First Name Fernando #11 November 1 Baseball Player #2 62 Year Old Scorpio #16 Baseball Player Born in Mexico #1 Scorpio Baseball Player #17 He, Maddux, Greg Improved homework resources designed to support a variety of curriculum subjects and standards. (February 23, 2023). (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/valenzuela-fernando-1960. Im happy. "In sports, you win and you lose," he recalled telling the children. Fernando! Fernando Valenzuela's net worth Fernando Valenzuela had a career earned run average of 3.54. Although his comebacks always seemed to draw a fair amount of attention, they were rarely successful (a 13-8 record in San Diego in 1996 being the only exception), as Valenzuela managed to compile a meager record of only 32 wins and 35 losses during his post-Dodger career. In his 11 years with the Dodgers, Valenzuela owned a 3.31 ERA in 331 games, striking out 1,759 batters over 2,348.2 innings. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960. Four decades have passed since a 20-year-old screwball-throwing left-hander from Etchohuaquila, Mexico, named Fernando Valenzuela captivated the baseball world when he began the 1981 season by winning his first eight starts for the Dodgers. "Valenzuela, Fernando (1960) who was the youngest of 12 children in a family . Valenzuela retired from baseball after the 1997 season. His nickname was El Toro (the Bull). Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals lineup for nearly twenty years. The following year, Valenzuela made his debut with the Dodgers, pitching eighteen scoreless innings during the season's final weeks. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Legal Statement. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. He came to Boston from KJZZ in Phoenix. "Valenzuela, Fernando (1960) At 30 years old, Valenzuela went to spring training with the Dodgers in 1991 but was cut at the end of camp an emotional decision cemented by more struggles in the exhibition season.. Like that, Fernando Valenzuela said of the passage of time. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps, St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. With 173 career victories, Valenzuela retired as the leading Mexican-born pitcher in Major League history. Find out more. Rawlings RBG 4 12" FERNANDO Valenzuela FastBack Right Handed RHT Baseball Glove. Valenzuela capped the season by leading the Dodgers to the World Series title. Alex Ashlock produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Todd Mundt. The children . We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 1 November. But good enough to win 19 games in 1982 and register a league leading 21 victories in 1986. Although Valenzuela went on to have a successful career with the Dodgers, Fernandomania faded by season's end; afterwards he was just a very good pitcher. Market data provided by Factset. McNeil, William F. Dodger Chronicles. He was named NL Rookie of the Year and became the first rookie player to win the Cy Young Award (given to the best pitcher in each league). Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. However, "Fernandomania" deserves more than just one night. Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Getting to know Fernando Valenzuela is like getting to know the poster-child of "Who is who" in education in Latin America. Height/Weight. Valenzuela was discovered in 1977 by a scout from the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team in the U.S. National League (NL). Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. During the 1980s he was also one of the league's most consistent strikeout pitchers, finishing among the top five for seven years in a row. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 62 years old group. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Saturday that legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela will have his No. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. He mastered the screwball, a pitch that very few players can perfect because of how taxing it is on the throwing arm, Arellano says. The L.A. Dodgers: The World Champions of Baseball. Column: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Forty years later, Fernando Valenzuela still a Mexican American icon. Baseball player, coach Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela throws a pitch on his way to a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Friday, June 29, 1990 in Los Angeles. As a teenager he began playing baseball professionally in Mexico. Led the National League in Complete Games in 1981 (11), 1986 (20) and 1987 (12). [10] Early life [ edit] Fernando Valenzuela, the youngest of twelve children, was born in Etchohuaquila, a small town within the municipality of Navojoa in the state of Sonora, Mexico. In 2003, he returned to the Dodgers as a broadcaster. As a young Mexican American in Southern California at the time, practicing Valenzuelas delivery became a ritual in the community, Arellano says. 34 retired this season. Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960. career began to be hobbled by shoulder sorenessan ailment no doubt caused by a decade of subjecting his arm to the strain of throwing his famed screwball. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Con goles de Aravena y el goleador argentino, los Cruzados se lo dieron vuelta a los Diablos Rojos. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Many thanks to him. "Hetruly lit up the imaginations of baseball fans everywhere. Thank you! April 7, 2021 Updated 5 AM PT. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. But he fondly recalls how Valenzuela's special season impacted baseball in Los Angeles and Mexican. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Born. 34 for the Los Angeles Dodgers will be retired forever," Kasten said. Serena McMahon Twitter Digital ProducerSerena McMahon was a digital producer for Here & Now. New York, Bantam, 1981. Market data provided by Factset. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He joined the Spanish-language broadcast team of the Dodgers in 2003. Fernando Valenzuela page at the Bullpen Wiki, Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Fernando Valenzuelas income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. . Professional basketball player, sports administrator Peter O'Dowd Twitter Senior Editor, Here & NowPeter ODowd has a hand in most parts of Here & Now producing and overseeing segments, reporting stories and occasionally filling in as host. [1] Fernando Valenzuela has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. 34 is retired. Beating out the Yankees by half a step, the Los Angeles Dodgers bought the lefthander's contract . The youngest of twelve children, by the age of sixteen Fernando was earning $80 a month as a pitcher in the Mexican leagues. [CDATA[ Named one of the top 100 Influencers by EdTech Digest (2018), Fernando is a visionary thought leader in all things related to digital education. ." vs. CIN 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 SO, 6 BB, 3 ER, L, Rookie Status: The same safe and trusted content for explorers of all ages. (Ron Vesely / Getty Images / File). In the early 1980s, Mexican Americans started to become the biggest ethnic group in Southern California, but were still kind of seen as strangers despite living in the area for generations, he says. Beating out the Yankees by half a step, the Los Angeles Dodgers bought the lefthander's contract from Puebla for $120,000 in 1979. Now, more than 40% of the team's fans are Latino. Los Angeles will make it an entire weekend, with a collectors edition bobblehead given out to fans on Aug. 12 and a replica 1981 World Series ring given out on Aug. 13. El local termin con tres hombres menos por las rojas a Zalazar, Rebolledo y Leiva. Valenzuela played 11 of his 17 years in the major leagues with Los Angeles. Fernando Valenzuela receives the Outstanding Americans by Choice recognition award during a special naturalization ceremony at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. What was Fernando Valenzuela's earned run average (ERA)? Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. . All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. He is from Mexico. , money, salary, income, and assets. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Arellano: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Fernando Valenzuela remains a Mexican American icon April 7, 2021 The children of Valenzuela's fans, and now even their children, have become. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Born: Valenzuela had a career record in the U.S. major leagues of 173 wins and 153 losses. ", Fernando Valenzuela receives the Outstanding Americans by Choice recognition award during a special naturalization ceremony at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. "But also for the fans the support theyve given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them. Fernando Valenzuela, MLB's first Mexican superstar, was a phenom who changed the game when he led the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1981. . Valenzuela finished his career with six All-Star nods, two Silver Slugger awards and a Gold Glove. Fernando Valenzuela Position: Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Left 5-11 , 180lb (180cm, 81kg) Born: November 1, 1960 in Navojoa, Mexico mx More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Cy Young Rookie of the Year 6x All-Star 1981 World Series Gold Glove 2x Silver Slugger ML PoY 34 36 34 33 34 34 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela throws the ceremonial first pitch during the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19, 2022. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Fernando is survived through his wife, Linda; his 3 children, Fernando Jr. "Fernie", Clarissa "Clare" (Jorge) and Ricardo "Ricky"; his 7 grandchildren, Georgie, Celeste, Joseph, Matthew,. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Accessible across all of today's devices: phones, tablets, and desktops. Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers for eleven seasons, during which he won 141 games while losing 116. Arellano, who grew up in Southern California, was a toddler during the summer of Fernandomania. Champaign, Illinois, Sports Publishing, 1997. Books - Children; Books - Young Adult; Books- Teens; Seller feedback (2,991) l***1 (614) - Feedback left by buyer l***1 (614). However, the date of retrieval is often important. Four decades after "FernandoMania" mesmerized Los Angeles, the Dodgers will retire Valenzuela's No. Josh Gibson, one of the most mysterious and revered figures of the Negro Leagues baseball era, wa, Canseco, Jos: 1964 Please try again. But Fernando, for those first couple of years, he was like Zeus, he says, throwing thunderbolts down to home plate and just slaying all the competition.. By Gustavo Arellano Columnist. Awards And Honors. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Today is the 30th anniversary of Fernando Valenzuela's first start in the majors, the 2-0 Opening Day shutout that launched Fernandomania.But I'm going to take this occasion to focus on a . There was his screwball, at times virtually unhittable as it spun out of Valenzuelas left hand. , If you were a baseball fan in the '80s, you knew about "Fernandomania.". It went so fast.". The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Did not play in major or minor leagues (Mexico), Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses, Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). As a player, Valenzuela spoke regularly at Los Angeles-area elementary schools, many of them in heavily Latino areas. Jim Gilliam (19), Don Sutton (20), Walter Alston (24), Sandy Koufax (32), Roy Campanella (39), Jackie Robinson (42), Don Drysdale (53) and Hall of Fame broadcasters Vin Scully and Jarrn. He was then only 20 years old. At 30 years old, Valenzuela went to spring training with the. As the American League's Rookie of the Year in 1986 and the first player to hit forty home, Erving, Julius 1950 So much has been written and said about Julius Erving over the years that i, Valenzuela, Alfred A.: 1948(? Professional baseball player New York, Warner, 1989. Valenzuela, who was nicknamed "El Toro" as he took the Dodgers by storm at 20 years old in 1981 on his way to his only Cy Young Award of his career, was present at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.