This man was the radar gun. Willie Randolph provided John an early lead with a solo homer in the third. In the National League, the Dodgers led the National League West prior to the strike. "Like that,'' Fernando Valenzuela said of the passage of time. Fernando Valenzuela . Hooton scored standing, after which Lemon pulled Davis in favor of Rick Reuschel. The Dodgers swept the World Series in seven games. There Valenzuela led the Texas League with 162 strikeouts, finishing the season with a 139 win-loss record and a 3.10 ERA. It was for that reason, Valenzuela, who sparkedFernandomaniaacross Dodgers Nation, refused to report to Spring Training the following March until he was paid a fair wage. "Watching Fernando Valenzuela force himself into a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform is something like seeing Kate Smith struggling to fit into a pair of Brooke Shields' designer jeans." The Dodgers have apparently found another potential arm for the bullpen, agreeing to terms with Alex Reyes on a one-year contract, per multiple reports. Ron Cey, meanwhile, provided him a 30 lead in the Dodger half with a three-run homer off Dave Righetti. Ron Davis gave up two in the eighth by walking Derrel Thomas and Davey Lopes to lead off. He finished the 1990 season with a 13-13 record and a 4.59 earned run average. They were scouting him in his native Mexico, and they were impressed by his pitching ability. } First of all we were raised by Vin Scully, who in his prime would call the biggest games in sports. He went on to. Valenzuela would pitch eight shutouts in all and win both the National Leagues Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. John managed to strand Guerrero in scoring position to end the seventh and pitched the last two innings, but closer Gossage never got in the game. While he played for six MLB teams, he is best remembered for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was important to me because we got the win, I did a good job and, who knows, if I hadn't played well, maybe I wouldn't have been given other opportunities. New York was victorious three games to two, then went on to sweep the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series. It was a normal day. Valenzuela was the first player from Mexico to play in Major League Baseball. Speaking to ESPN Deportes, El Toro shared some of the stories and feelings from one of the greatest moments of his career -- although, as he says, nothing compares to winning the World Series with the Dodgers. This allowed Bob Lemon to start Tommy John opposite Dodger starter Burt Hooton, and also allowed Ron Cey to be in the Dodger lineup. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Fantasy baseball: Which prospects have fantasy value in 2023? For the first time, there were co-MVP's in a World Series: Cey (.350 avg., 7-for-20, HR, 6 RBIs), Yeager (.286 avg., 4-for-14, 2 HR's), and Guerrero (.333 avg, 7-for-21, 2 HR's, 7 RBIs) shared the award. The popular left-hander demanded a salary increase to $850,000, about $500,000 more than what the Dodgers ended up paying him. The young pitcher eventually threw in the white towel, albeit, $300,000 richer. Fernando's reputation was enhanced with wins in both the 1981 division and league championship series. [18], Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 23:06, Dodger infield of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey, "Stanley Cup Final: Kings vs. Rangers in L.A.-New York Championship Duel", "Fall Classics: The 11 World Series showdowns between the Yankees and Dodgers", "1981 World Series Game 1 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees", "1981 World Series Game 2 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees", "1981 World Series Game 3 New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers", "1981 World Series Game 4 New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers", "1981 World Series Game 5 New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers", "1981 World Series Game 6 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees", "The Fourth Inning Hook (BaseballHistoryShorts.com)", "Yanks Are Now 0-4 on the Brink at the Stadium", "Dodgers' infield of the 1970s had a lasting impact", "World Series Gate Receipts and Player Shares", 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers at baseballlibrary.com, 1981 New York Yankees at baseballlibrary.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1981_World_Series&oldid=1139597486, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 23:06. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Dave Winfield walked and Jackson singled before Goltz gave up a sacrifice fly to Bob Watson. 2019 The Mexican Baseball League commemorated the great legacy of Fernando Valenzuela on 6 July 2019 and retired his jersey number #34 from the entire league. Here's how WBC offenses stack up with MLB's best. In 11 seasons with the Dodgers, he compiled a 141-116 record with a 3.31 earned run average. The chart below is a comprehensive analysis of the games Valenzuela pitched in, specifically relating to his 1981 pitching statistics. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). on: function(evt, cb) { Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? "You know what I'm thinking right now?" Reuschel walked Steve Garvey intentionally and gave up an RBI force-out to pinch-hitter Derrel Thomas. Fernando 'El Toro' Valenzuela Autograph on a 1981 Fleer Baseball Card (#140), Fernando Valenzuela World Series Pitching Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Hitting Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Fielding Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Miscellaneous Stats, Fernando Valenzuela World Series Miscellaneous Items of Interest. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. This World Series was the last to be called by Jackson in the broadcast booth. } Valenzuela led the National League in complete games in both 1986 (20) and 1987 (12), and led the league in batters faced in 1984, 1986, and 1987. Guidry was sharp through six innings, holding the Dodgers to two singles. Valenzuela. Randolph smashed a two-out solo home run in the second and Rick Cerone batted in a run with a single in the third for a 40 Yankee lead. After Hooton retired the next two batters, he intentionally walked Larry Milbourne to face John (there was no designated hitter in this series). 62 Year Old Baseball Player #2. Make it happen, Dodgers. Post-1988 playing career: Valenzuela returned to health and pitched 400 combined innings in 1989-1990. dark. The Dodgers got to the Series with help from Mexican-born rookie phenom Fernando Valenzuela, who won his first eight games including five by shutout. Ron Guidry held the Dodgers to four hits and a run (on a Steve Yeager homer) through seven innings. He was a six-time All-Star during his 11 seasons in Los Angeles from 1980-90. Valenzuela drew massive attention as a 20-year-old rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, inciting "Fernandomania". But it was in 1981 that fans came out to Chavez Ravine every time he made his start. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Watson led off the fifth with a double, but no one scored as Valenzuela pitched out of it again. Exploring The Mystery Of Magnum P I s Baseball Cap: Is It The Texas Rangers? $69.99. The Dodgers gave Valenzuela the lead back in the bottom of the fifth off Frazier when Pedro Guerrero doubled in Steve Garvey to tie it, and Cey scored on a double play grounder by Mike Scioscia. Valenzuela pitched a shutout in the 1981 World Series and helped the Dodgers win the championship. I'm the kind of person who, when something big happens, I try not to show it, but I do feel it. Blake Williams. Fernando Valenzuela was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. He was voted the NL Rookie of the Year, and won the Cy Young Award in 1981, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win . The early days of the '81 season were dominated by Fernando Valenzuela. He was born in Mexico and came to the United States in 1980. He showed up in the postseason, too. Moments later, Steve Yeager, who was the Dodgers' catcher for 14 seasons and the MVP of the 1981 World Series, stepped out of the dugout and up to home plate. Jackson injured himself running the bases in Game 2 of the ALCS and missed the first two games of the World Series, but was medically cleared to play Game 3. Valenzuela stranded two runners in this inning. Scorpio Baseball Player #17. After the series, Steinbrenner issued a public apology to the City of New York for his team's performance, while at the same time assuring the fans that plans to put the team together for 1982 would begin immediately. Fernando Valenzuela 1981 Topps Traded #850 GMA 8.5 Rookie Card, RC Dodgers NM. NL Rookie of the Year, pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, lasted the entire game despite allowing nine hits and walking seven and constantly pitching out of trouble. He had 10 career home runs and batted .200 over his career. Look at who's throwing out the first ball at the World Series. Meanwhile, Reuss was as effective as Guidry, holding the Yanks to five hits and the lone run and going the distance. - Reza, H.G. 17 October 2007. They signed him to a minor league contract, and he made his way up through the Dodgers farm system. Well, there have been so many, but I think I can narrow the list down to three Opening Days that stand out in my memory. The Series commenced on October 20, making it the latest start of the Series, breaking the previous record by 3 days (1910 World Series, October 17). Back in March, few people even recognized his name. The Dodgers tied it in the fourth on an RBI single by Game 5 hero Steve Yeager. (function() { Los Angeles won that contest 5-4 and went on to take the Series in six games. The franchise would not reach the postseason again until 1995, which included nine different managers at the helm for Yankees (such as Billy Martin, who was re-hired and re-fired three times from 1983 to 1988) despite worthy play from Winfield and Don Mattingly, who debuted in 1982 (incidentally, Steinbrenner's growing irritation with Winfield would soon lead to a three-year punishment). In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela pitched a three-hitter in the third game of the World Series as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees. He is the only player in baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the same year. How do you remember the double play that finished off the game? by Jessy Williamson | Nov 4, 2022 | Dodgers. update=copyright.getFullYear(); According to Johnstone's book Temporary Insanity (1985), Steinbrenner confronted Davis in the Yankees' locker room after the game and demanded, "Why did you throw Johnstone a fastball?". forms: { This is the online home for all things baseball. It was fate that enabled me to throw that no-hitter. Valenzuela will have his jersey retired on Aug. 11 during the Dodgers' season. After Dusty Baker reached on an error by Nettles, loading the bases again, Guerrero singled in two more runs. Key Dodger losses included Reggie Smith (who signed with the San Francisco Giants after the season), Davey Lopes (traded in the off season), Ron Cey (traded in 1982), Steve Garvey (who departed for the San Diego Padres in 1983). And in that scenario, when they told me that Dave Stewart had already thrown a no-hitter, I was happy, because I know him, he had played for us, for the Dodgers, and after playing for a few other teams he had finally ended up in Oakland, which was who he threw that no-hitter for. First Name Fernando #11. The Los Angeles Dodgers won their fourth World Series in a row in 1981 when they defeated the New York Yankees in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium. We again have the honor of having our announcer call the biggest game. As ABC cameras showed during the broadcast, John paced the Yankee dugout in disbelief after being pulled.[11]. After leading the majors with 192 innings in a strike-shortened rookie campaign en route to the Cy Young Award and a World Series win, Valenzuela pitched no fewer than 251 innings each year from 1982-1987. He was on the Dodgers 1988 World Series championship team, but he did not play in the playoffs because of an injured shoulder. They would also appear in the World Series in 2018 against the Boston Red Sox, which they also lost. The Dodgers play the Royals in their spring training game at Surprise Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Here's everything you need to know about Houston's win over L.A. Astros win first World Series title Visit his page for comprehensive The Dodgers have an unofficial policy or only retiring uniform numbers of players and managers in the Hall of Fame, with Jim Gilliam the only exception. [15] With a stronger farm system and adding valuable players via trade or free agency, they did win division titles in 1983 and 1985, while narrowly missing in 1982. What did your teammates say to you? "It went so fast." Forty years ago, he was the 20-year-old rookie, bursting on the scene as Major League Baseball's first Mexican . Graig Nettles led off the inning with a double. Notes: The Date / Box field has a link to the box score from the game being described. In the beginning of the season, I needed more time to warm up, but I didn't feel anything until the last start.". This was the latest-ending World Series by calendar date up to that time (surpassing the 1911 Series, which ended on October 26). 1988 stats: At $2.05 million, Valenzuela was baseball's highest paid pitcher. WelchHooton (87-91). Pinch-hitter Bobby Murcer flied out to end the inning. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin. "I feel like I'm almost defiling the mound," Scully said as he handed the ball over to Valenzuela. Signed as a pitcher, El Toro shocked fans by showing some pop. Elsa/Getty Images. The All-Star label/link in the final section only shows whether or not Fernando Valenzuela was an All-Star during the season where he appeared in the World Series (Dash=Not an All-Star | Stats=An All-Star and the link leads to the All-Star Game). Was that the greatest moment of your career? I've kept the ball, it's there. That year, he would also help the Los Angeles Dodgers win their first World Series since 1965, throwing a complete game and getting the win in Game 3 against the New York Yankees. Why Adam Wainwright, Cardinals aren't worried about low velocity readings 24 in San Francisco, when Valenzuela pitched 7 scoreless innings to beat the Giants. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. It's time for Dodger baseball! 8) Jack Morris. Visit the main page for Fernando Valenzuela for his comprehensive regular season statistics and All-Star data. Year Team League; 1981: Los Angeles Dodgers: NL: NL Cy Young. Focus on Sport/Getty Images The next season, when he was. LOS ANGELES - Inside Dodger Stadium, the man who triggered Fernandomania snapped his fingers. As Scully prepared to throw the pitch, he stopped midway through to reveal a curveball. But by the end of the season, Valenzuela was forced to watch from the dugout as his team won it all. Their success culminated with a world championship in 1988, becoming the only team to win two World Series between 1978 and 1990, and the only team to win more than one World Series title during the 1980s. Jackson was not even allowed to pinch-hit. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. "It's not my arm. Fernando Valenzuela throws out ASG first pitch. Joining Valenzuela in the rotation were veterans Burt Hooton (116, 2.28) and Jerry Reuss (104, 2.30). Fernando Valenzuela World Series Stats The Fernando Valenzuela World Series stats seen below include his World Series year-by-year hitting stats, World Series fielding stats, and World Series pitching stats (where applicable). It's hard to fathom just how good Valenzuela was to start his career. If so, please send it to us, and we'll update this page immediately." He was 87 when he died. Where he is now: Valenzuela still counts Dodger Stadium as his office, as 2013 will be his 11th season as an analyst on the Dodgers' Spanish language radio broadcast, alongside Jaime Jarrin and Pepe Yniguez. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Gonzalez has already made an impact on the Dodgers organization, and he has already had an impact on the Dodgers. Winfield's throw typified his struggles in this, his first World Series. Do you still have any souvenirs from that game? 1981 World Series (42): Los Angeles Dodgers (N.L.) dark Valenzuela would eventually get his big payday in 1986 when he became the highest paid pitcher in baseball by signing a three-year, $5.5 . The arrangement resulted in teams with the best overall record in either their division or league that year being left out of the postseason, in particular the Cincinnati Reds, who had the best overall record in the majors, and the St. Louis Cardinals, who finished with the best overall record in the NL East. Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea (born November 1, 1960 in Novojao, Mexico) is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher who pitched for six different teams during his Major League Baseball career, most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he pitched for eleven seasons, from 1980 to 1990. Frazier would take the loss and become the first pitcher to lose three games in a best-of-seven World Series and second pitcher to lose three times in any World Series (the first being Lefty Williams, a member of the Chicago White Sox in the best-of-nine 1919 World Series). Valenzuela additionally. Keith Jackson and Al Michaels shared play-by-play duties, with Michaels replacing Jackson when the latter deferred to his primary role as ABC's lead college football announcer. The Yankees cut it to 32 in the second on a Bob Watson homer and a Larry Milbourne RBI single. Next. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [1][2] This remains the most recent meeting between the Dodgers and the Yankees in the World Series, which has been the most frequent matchup in World Series history.[3]. ! The Dodgers goal is to have Gonzlez contribute to their post-season chances. He was given more than 28 times the $35,000 minimum salary, which is more than four times his annual salary. Valenzuela was the first player in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Fernandomania did not yet exist. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; After the series, Johnstone, Yeager, Reuss, and Rick Monday of the Dodgers recorded a cover version of Queen's "We Are the Champions" under the name "Big Blue Wrecking Crew". Michaels became ABC's lead baseball play-by-play announcer (and exclusive World Series announcer) by the time the network next aired the World Series in 1983. He seemed to be in trouble every inning, but somehow managed to pitch a complete game, giving up. He was 23-26 with a 4.02 ERA, an 89 ERA+ over those two seasons, but authored a no-hitter on June 29, 1990 against the Cardinals. Cey had to be helped off the field with a concussion, but was cleared to play Game 6 after it was delayed one day by rain. Valenzuela was a trailblazer for Latin American players and his induction was a watershed moment for the sport.