fernando valenzuela hall of fame voting

If you look at that video, everybody in that stadium is of the same mind and thinking, She might have kissed him, but we all kissed him, too. We all wanted to get close to him and hug him. The screwball that swept side to side out of the strike one was best against free swingers. Don Newcombe, Steve Garvey, Fernando Valenzuela, Kirk Gibson and Maury Wills were previously enshrined as "Legends," whose plaques are displayed at the top of the stadium behind home plate. 24), Sandy Koufax (No. Reflecting on his rookie season, Valenzuela spoke of the importance of the emergency start he made on opening day. His numbers were impressive to me, but he just didnt do it long enough and that was his only drawback as far as I was concerned.. His screwgi wad unique, his defense won him gold gloves his hitting silver bats. But the team alienated the city's large Hispanic population from the start. But they could not have been sweeter. Bob Uecker received the Ford C. Frick Award honoring a baseball broadcaster. The Dodgers won each. He is part of a group of players once considered outsiders and who changed the games landscape upon their entry. I think after that, there were more opportunities. When we see managers, commissioners, and front office personnel elected to the Hall of Fame with sketchy contributions to the game, and players like Fernando Valenzuela are not, then something is wrong. Candidates who were eligible for the first time are indicated here with a dagger (). 173153 and a 3.54 earned run averagethose are HOF numbers? He was a breath of fresh air as a youngster with a mans knowledge on how to play the game.. We have Jackie Robinson, and we know his status in popular culture. If Selig hadnt supported the home run surge of the late 1990s by looking the other way when players started injecting themselves with steroids, who knows whether baseball would have ever recovered from its last work stoppage? If you click on the tweet at the top of the article you can see how much Fernando meant to them and their families. Mexican-Americans Lalo and Mark Guerrero, a father-and-son songwriting team, got into the act with tribute songs, Fernando, El Toro and Ol! Baseball Reference uses a list of 10 similar players for each major leaguer-none of Fernandos comps are HOFers. Im not going to speculate, but it is safe to say that he could have averaged 15 wins per season up until 1996, cementing his bid to the hall of fame. They went to the stadium to see him.. The only left-handed pitchers in the Hall of Fame with an ERA as high as Valenzuelas are Herb Pennock (3.60), whose career began in 1912, and Tom Glavine (3.54), who pitched through the steroid era. The last played in the majors during 1980 or 1981. The field included four Rookies of the Year (Murray, Valenzuela, Vince Coleman and Todd Worrell), as well as one MVP (Sandberg) and two Cy Young Award winners (Valenzuela and Mark Davis). Dodgers: The Hall of Fame Case for Fernando Valenzuela. He placed in the top 5 in Cy Young voting 4 times in 6 years. He would have won over 25 wins every year with dodgers last 6 seasons for sure and 5 world series, He also won 21 games in 86 with a fifth place dodger team and was robbed of his second cy young awards given to Mike Scott of the Astros with only 16 wins big time robbery, I agree with the fact that he was overused. OMalley once wished out loud for a Mexican Sandy Koufax, a pitcher who could capture fans imaginations the way the Hall of Famer had. How many strikeouts did Fernando Valenzuela have? / George Rose/Getty Images, Latino, Hispanic, Latinx, Chicano: The History Behind the Terms, https://www.history.com/news/fernando-valenzuela-fernandomania-los-angeles-dodgers, When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LAand Major League Baseball. He won the Rookie of the Year award and Cy Young award, given annually to the best pitcher in each league. People have always been very patient with me, Valenzuela, 60, says in Spanish one recent morning from his home in Los Angeles. Kellogg's Corn Flakes put him on a box of cereal. This guy had some unbelievable talent, but for me, the key to Fernando was that he just wanted to be treated like the 24 other players and not get any special treatment. And in the ultimate sign of fame and ubiquity, he became recognized by his first name only. On opening day on April 8, 1981, scheduled starting pitcher Jerry Reuss suffered an injury while warming up. The two candidates who received at least 75% of the vote and were elected are indicated in bold italics; candidates who have since been selected in subsequent elections are indicated in italics. For some, his middling 173-153 won-loss record makes him an unworthy Hall of Fame candidate. The fact that he was Mexican and that he was so good, and so humble while on such an incredible run was inspiring, Lopez says. If not for Fernando Valenzuela's incredible rookie performance and "Fernandomania" taking the sport by storm, Raines would've easily won the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year Award. The same applies. A new Historical Overview Committee comprising ten baseball writers nominated 200 players and 60 managers, umpires, and executives. He could hit, he could bunt, field his position. The 2002 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot Results are detailed in full by Baseball Almanac. Fernandomania @ 40 is a multi-episode documentary series that examines star pitcher Fernando Valenzuelas impact on the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and the Latino community in Los Angeles 40 years ago. Fernando was the cover boy on the May 18, 1981, edition of Sports Illustrated, with "UNREAL!" The audience that was won over by Valenzuela remains. Dodgers rookie Zach McKinstry, known as Z-Mac to teammates, hits a two-run home run and doubles in a run in a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals. The only left-handed pitcher in the Hall of Fame with a WAR lower than Valenzuelas is Rube Marquard (32.5), who began pitching in 1908. Only three players led by Gil Hodges (61%) tallied more than fifty percent support. The Los Angeles Times couldnt stop writing about Valenzuela, and The Los Angeles Herald Examiner even had a nickname contest and voted El Toro as the winner. In the early '80s, theres still this huge migration wave from Mexico that brought up my parents, brought up all of my friends and the parents of my friends, Arellano says. They are ethnic heroes. Valenzuela had a solid career, finishing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997. No ifs or butts about it!!! Nonetheless, Jarrn said, logically, the talent would have emerged sooner or later.. There are several [mound conversations] that I dont remember, but to stay in the game and to not be taken out, I was always trying to evade him and give him the runaround or go someplace else to avoid having him approach me and have that conversation.. First of all, Valenzuela was on the HoF ballot for the first time in 2003 and fell off in 2004. He was the Mexican who made it and was destroying all of the competition. The program is trying to recapture its traditions while building new ones in the modern era. That wasnt a Dodgers shirt. Longtime Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrn has often talked of how OMalley wanted to find a Mexican Sandy Koufax to attract Los Angeles growing Mexican and Mexican American populations. In 10 games as a relief pitcher, he allowed zero earned runs. He is in the most important HOF- my heart and mind. For me, it was about what you did for the game and how you impacted the sport. Or he could be elected to his rightful place in the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee, which considers candidates who are no longer eligible to be voted in by the Baseball Writers Association of America. When manager Tommy Lasorda handed Valenzuela the ball after scheduled starter Jerry Reuss was scratched with a calf injury, it became the first time that a rookie started on Opening Day in Dodgers history. Several artifacts from his illustrious career are housed in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, but he has not received the call for enshrinement. The screwball is hard to learn, even harder to throw and risky because it puts so much stress on the arm. If they could have fit a million people into Dodger Stadium, there would have been a million people there, actor Danny Trejo, the son of Mexican American parents, told the Los Angeles Times. Yes, I totally agree that Fernando Valenzuela should be in the HALL OF FAME 100 percent. 53). 34 from their jersey rotation. 34 Dodgers jersey with LOPEZUELA stitched across the back of his shoulders when he threw out a ceremonial first pitch before a Dodgers home game in 2012. You can make a case that there are a handful of modern pioneers that have helped open the door for baseball in a lot of different ways and should be full members of the Hall of Fame.. The screwball relies on movement and lots of feeling. Among 85 eligible voters, 79 cast ballots so 60 votes were the minimum to elect a candidate. The broad and controversial debate about the increase in Latino immigrants served as the backdrop, while anti-Mexican sentiment, in some cases pitting Mexican-Americans against new Mexico-born arrivals, was on the rise. Leading up to the celebration Sunday of Valenzuelas landmark rookie season, there were renewed pleas for the franchise to make an exception to its arbitrary policy of retiring only the numbers of Hall of Famers. Not elected to 2023. He knew what I could do, and I think thats one of the reasons why he let me finish that game in the World Series.. He is part of a group of players once considered outsiders and that changed the games landscape upon their entry. But, hey, the 50-year anniversary of Fernandomania is only a decade away. Dodgers fans, especially Mexican Americans, were eager to see the kid for a full season. The Dodgers won the next three contests to clinch the World Series title in six games. 34 to the list of 11 current . Jarrn said his favorite memory of the 1981 season was of the time he accompanied Valenzuela to a luncheon at the White House that was staged in honor of then-Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo. Note: With the Mexico Series taking place this weekend (April 29 and 30) between the Padres and Giants, we wanted to highlight some of the great Mexican players and stories from baseball's past. A total of 3272 individual votes were cast, an average of 6.60 per ballot. One thing is certain: Valenzuela broke barriers. Valenzuela is not the first Mexican or Mexican-American big leaguer in baseball. The thing that I remember the most on those games that Fernando Valenzuela pitched, he threw the minimum of 120 to 140 pitches and he had several complete games every year. Fernando Valenzuela. He was stellar in the 1981 playoffs including his World Series game 3 start. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Fernando Valenzuela's screwballand unique deliveryoften baffled hitters in 1981. Fernando Valenzuela capped his 1981 season by winning the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), In the strike-shortened 1981 season, rookie Fernando Valenzuela won 13 games and pitched eight shutouts. My slider wasnt very good. 34. I cant remember one player who captured the fantasy of the fans and the media the way Fernando did. To his point: The Dodgers have fielded some bad teams over the last 20 seasons and all but one of them finished the season with an annual home attendance of more than 3 million fans. It would be really great if they remembered me as someone who always tried his best to always give them a good show, so that they could have fun with this beautiful game.. And it turned out that this young rookie became arguably the key piece.. I always think twice about what I want to do or say, and I think its the only way to achieve certain things in life. The children of Valenzuelas fans, and now even their children, have become Dodgers fans. Fernando Valenzuela went on to pitch 11 years for the Dodgers (1980-1990). 2002 Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Results. (The award was voted at the December 2002 meeting of the BBWAA, dated 2002, and conferred in the summer 2003 ceremonies.). The comedian still chuckles when he recalls an unscheduled mound visit and the cheers it elicited to the sold-out stadium. Walk-up sales increased from 8,000 to 12,000 fans on nights Valenzuela pitched. The Dodgers were down 2-0 after the first two games and he pitched a complete game to help the Dodgers win 5-4. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB and Facebook. What position did Fernando Valenzuela play? 34 since he was released by the club in 1991, although the number is not officially retired. They didnt have to wait long. The confidence that we had in him, along with what Tommy and the coaching staff had in him was very real and we just knew that, somehow, he was going to get it done.. Didnt . She just threw her arms in the air and embraced him, Lopez says. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! He still moves the needle. In terms of player comparisons, over the last 25 years guys like Bruce Sutter, Jack Morris, Bill Mazeroski and Jim Rice have all been elected. He was only 20 years old in 1981 when he won the NL Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year, 5th in MVP voting, Silver Slugger and went 13-8 while leading the NL in SHO (8), CG (11), IP (192.1) and K (180). Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, 1974 Dodgers Cy Young winner Mike Marshall and Mets and Phillies icon Tug McGraw also threw screwballs. Thats why for me, that game at the start of the season was really important for my career.. Decades before he starred on screens and on stages across the globe, comedian George Lopez was a young Dodgers fan. I said it from the beginning, and I believe it. The mission of the Seneca Valley School District Sports Hall of Fame is to recognize the outstanding athletic contributions of Seneca Valley Alumni in their respective athletic endeavors and to promote pride in the athletic heritage of the Seneca Valley community as a whole. For road games, attendance increased by 5,000 to 10,000 for his starts. During his six-year peak run from 1981-86, he sported a 2.97 ERA in 1,537 innings with 84 complete games and 26 shutouts. But he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball for a 6-year span and a true Dodger legend. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Four decades later, the ordinary-looking man with extraordinary talent remains a cultural hero, a baseball legend and a mythical figure because of his feats on the field, and his humble nature off of it. Long before we got here, they established a policy, which I agree with, and that is that we'll just use Hall of Fame people for retired numbers. If a pitcher had it or looked like he could have it, the Dodgers were a little bit more experimental in the pitching area back then. Its almost always easier for a lefty pitcher to throw those kinds of pitches.. He worked 18 years at the Philadelphia Inquirer and four years at ESPN. Valenzuela wasnt the first to throw the screwball. But even Jaffe, a seasoned analyst who relies on hard numbers to make Hall of Fame cases, has a soft spot for Valenzuela. the May 18, 1981, edition of Sports Illustrated, when he threw out a ceremonial first pitch. It didnt give us a shot in the arm, it gave us a shot in the heart because he gave us somebody to love forever. After Fernando, fathers were trying to make their kids into lefthanders even if they were righthanders., READ MORE: Latino, Hispanic, Latinx, Chicano: The History Behind the Terms. Valenzuela played 11 of his 17 years in the major leagues with Los Angeles. During a videoconference he participated in with Valenzuela over the weekend, Jarrn spoke of how El Toro helped immigrants find their place in this city. ?subscriber: (@TimRogers2080) August 7, 2016. Through it all, Valenzuelas teammates marveled at his poise and his athletic ability. It is too bad that his arm injury ruined what was a sure-fire Hall of Fame career in 1986. The new committee would comprise all living members of the Hall of Fame, recipients of the Spink Award (broadcasters), recipients of the Frick Award (writers), and members of the old committee until expiration of their terms. He made being a lefthander cool, says Gustavo Arellano, a Los Angeles Times columnist of Mexican heritage. You can also follow SVHS athletics on twitter and Instagram @svhsathletics or at screamingeagleathletics on Facebook. Voters were instructed to cast votes for up to 10 candidates; any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots would be honored with induction to the Hall. Arduino rgb led module Rc kunstflug torquene. But its entertainment for the fans. They are culture heroes. His second home start on April 27 against the Giants was yet another shutout, his fourth in five starts. As an encore, the 20-year-old from rural Mexico helped pitch the Dodgers to their first World Series title in a generation. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Dodgers dont need the long ball to finish sweep of Cardinals, Clayton Kershaw adds to his Dodgers legend with another pitching gem, With Miguel Vargas at second base, Dodgers have an expectation he will get better, Celebrating the legacy of Fernandomania 40 years later, Arellano: The Gospel of Fernandomania: Fernando Valenzuela remains a Mexican American icon, Rookie Zach McKinstry continues his torrid start as Dodgers sweep Nationals. This story was originally published on April 16, 2021. This page was last edited on 25 March 2023, at 02:41. Comedian George Lopez reacts after his ceremonial first pitch during the 2009 NLDS. When he came up in 1980, you saw there was a composure that he had, a poise that sometimes players have to work into. Instead Fernando went the whole way (he probably threw more than 140 pitches) and helped get the Dodgers on the path to winning the 1981 World Series. Fernando Valenzuela was one of MLB's most beloved players over his 17-season career. Results of the 2003 election by the BBWAA were announced on January 7. Eliminated from annual BBWAA consideration by poor performance or expiration on this ballot. [40] . Valenzuela played 17 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, from 1980 to 1991 and 1993 to 1997. Sheriffs deputies literally dragged Mexican Americans out of their Chavez Ravine homes to clear the land on which Dodger Stadium was later built. Dodgers pitcher Bobby Castillo taught Valenzuela the screwball in the winter of 1979 at the urging of legendary scout Mike Brito, who signed both of them. Large homemade Viva Fernando signs in the bleachers were all the rage. Opening day of 1981 launched "Fernandomania," a phenomenon in Los Angeles and then the nation named after the Mexican-born pitcher. Valenzuela won his sixth start with a nine-inning effort in Montreal, though he was denied a complete game when the contest went to a 10th inning. Im open to the idea that baseball should be recognizing more of these cultural figures in the Hall of Fame, Jaffe says. I think a lot of baseball media not on the west coast forget about Fernando. Phil Sheridan spent more than 30 years reporting and writing on sports for Philadelphia-area newspapers. I threw well -- nine innings, nine zeros. The Dodgers won the title in seven games. This articleby Jos M. Alamillo tells his amazing story of how Fernando impacted him. What he accomplished from 1980 to 1987 ranks atop any pre steroid performer like Roger Clemens. If you have any questions please feel free to email Athletic Director Jesse Irvin or call 240-740-6415 anytime. Weak case, asburd argument. Todays Fernando is a fun-loving grandfather with a dry sense of humor and perfect comedic timing. In 2019, Valenzuela joined Don Newcombe and Garvey in the inaugural class of the Legends of Dodger Baseball in recognition of their impact on the franchise on and off the field.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance Should I Kill Black Peter, Short Dramatic Monologues For Females, Articles F