October 23rd, 2024 at 7:30 am 
by Ron Cervenka The Dodgers and entire baseball world continue to mourn the passing of beloved Dodger great and Spanish radio broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela, who passed away on Tuesday evening.
The heartbreaking news came shortly after 8 PM PDT on Tuesday via social media, generating a flood of heartfelt replies and personal stories about the popular Navojoa, Mexico native who would have turned 64 on November 1.
As Dodger fans well know, the crafty left-hander, who is credited with bringing the screwball to Major League Baseball, was a huge favorite of Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, who famously said:
“Fernando Valenzuela has pitched a no-hitter at 10:17 in the evening of June the 29th, 1990. If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”
Those who were blessed to have spent any time with the man affectionately and simply known as Fernando know that he was one of the kindest and most gracious human beings on the planet with a witty sense of humor. He also always had time for everyone, regardless of the circumstances.
As fans also know, the Dodgers retired Fernando’s famous number 34 this past season which, at the time, seemed a bit unusual, as it was a longstanding tradition of the franchise to only retire the numbers of Dodgers who had been enshrined in the sacred Halls of Cooperstown. This suggests that team officials were aware Fernando’s heath issues but respectfully kept them private.
The former Dodger great accomplished this during his remarkable 17-year MLB career:
As a tribute to the former Dodger great, the team liilluminated Dodger Stadium in blue on Tuesday night.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, former teammates, and collegues of Fernando Valenzuela.
Rest in Peace, number 34.
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What a sad day for the Dodgers and all of baseball. Fernando was a great Dodger and a baseball legend. We will not see his like again.
I was fortunate to be in attendance on June 29, 1990 for his no hitter against the Cardinals.
Rest In Peace El Toro. You will never be forgotten.
The Dodgers have had many star players, but some were set apart from the others not only by their skill, but their charisma — as if there was something magical about to happen when they performed. Koufax had IT, as did Maury Wills, Clayton Kershaw, Vin Scully, and now Ohtani (I may soon add Betts to my list). As Vinny said when Valenzuela finished his no-hitter — let’s “throw our sombrero’s to the sky” in respect and memory.
Being a veteran (i.e. ‘old’) Dodger fan, I was so very blessed to have personally witness all of those former Dodgers that you mentioned play, and then some (Jim Gilliam, Jim Brewer, Wes Parker, Wally Moon, etc, etc, etc), but Fernando, like Koufax and Drysdale, was in a league of his (their) own.
It’s going to take a while for this one to stop hurting.
You forgot my favorite
Willie Davis.
Dodgers need to do a statue of Fernando and his classic windup on the plaza at Dodger Stadium.
I remember in 1980 Dodgers swept the Astros and had that Monday playoff game and my dad a loyal Dodger fan since the 40s he turned to me and said they should pitch Valenzuela not Goltz who struggled all yr.