Fernando Valenzuela would have been 64 on Friday.
The left-handed pitcher who sparked “Fernandomania” and helped the Dodgers defeat the New York Yankees in the 1981 World Series died Oct. 22. Eight days later, the 2024 Dodgers clinched another World Series title by beating the Yankees. The team’s victory parade was also Friday in downtown Los Angeles, followed by a celebration at Dodger Stadium.
Valenzuela is not in the Hall of Fame, but he is a Dodgers legend. Coming from a small town in Mexico, Valenzuela helped expand the Dodgers’ fan base to include a large portion of L.