Fernando Valenzuela biography
Fernando Valenzuela, in full Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea, byname El Toro (“the Bull”), (born November 1, 1960, Etchohuaquila, Mexico), Mexican skilled baseball participant whose profession spanned 17 seasons within the main leagues of the United States.
Valenzuela was found in 1977 by Los Angeles scout Corito Varona whereas taking part in within the Mexican League. As a 20-year-old, Valenzuela caught the eye of followers when he pitched for the National League (NL) Los Angeles Dodgers within the opening sport of the 1981 season and shut out the Houston Astros. Valenzuela completed the strike-shortened season with a file of 13 wins and seven losses and led the league in full video games (11), shutouts (8), innings pitched (192), and strikeouts (180). He was named NL Rookie of the Year and have become the primary rookie participant to win the Cy Young Award (given to the very best pitcher in every league), whereas main the Dodgers to the World Series title. Valenzuela was so widespread—a phenomenon often called “Fernandomania”—that attendance elevated by a mean of 9,000 followers at any time when he pitched in highway video games. He grew to become a cultural icon within the Latino group within the United States and a hero in his residence nation. Following the 1981 season, Valenzuela returned residence to play the winter season with Navojoa within the Mexican Pacific League close to his hometown, and Mexican followers stuffed the stadiums all through the league to welcome him.
Valenzuela had a profession file of 173 wins and 153 losses. His greatest seasons have been 1981, his rookie 12 months, and 1986, when he led the National League with 21 wins and had a league-leading 20 full video games. Valenzuela performed 11 of his 17 years within the main leagues with Los Angeles. He additionally had transient stints with the American League (AL) California Angels and with the NL St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, one season with the AL Baltimore Orioles, and nearly three full seasons with the NL San Diego Padres. In August 1996 Valenzuela was the beginning and profitable pitcher for the Padres in opposition to the New York Mets in Monterrey, Mexico, within the first regular-season main league sport performed exterior the United States and Canada; from the ovation he obtained, it was clear that he was nonetheless a nationwide hero in Mexico.
In addition to his U.S. main league profession, Valenzuela pitched for 3 seasons within the Mexican League and several other extra throughout the winter within the Mexican Pacific League. He joined the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcast crew in 2003.