LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers will wear a patch on their uniforms honoring Fernando Valenzuela during the World Series.
Valenzuela died this week at age 63. The patch will feature his uniform number 34 and his first name and will appear on the left jersey sleeve.
MLB has said it will also honor Valenzuela during the World Series. Memorials to Valenzuela are evident at the entrance to Dodger Stadium as well as multiple locations throughout the stadium.
The Dodgers broke from protocol by retiring Valenzuela’s uniform number in August 2023. Previously, they had only retired the numbers of players or managers who were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (with the exception of Jim Gilliam).
Valenzuela pitched 11 seasons for the Dodgers, starting in 1980, and ranks ninth on the franchise’s all-time win list. His rookie season in 1981 sparked the ‘Fernandomania’ phenomenon as he went 8-0 with five shutouts to start the season. He became the first pitcher to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season.
Valenzuela was an All-Star every year from 1981 through 1986 and was a member of World Series championship teams with the Dodgers in 1981 and 1988. He was released by the Dodgers in 1990 and pitched six more seasons with five more teams before retiring.
He joined the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcast team in 2003. He stepped away from the broadcast booth in September due to health problems.
