by Cary Osborne
When fans drive into Dodger Stadium through Vin Scully Avenue on Friday for Game 1 of the World Series, they will notice a shrine at the entry with flowers, cards, jerseys, signs and flags dedicated to Fernando Valenzuela.
Some fans will walk into the stadium after their ticket is scanned and see a massive tribute to the iconic pitcher on the left field high wall.
And the 50,000-plus fans there to watch the game will feel the spirit of the incredible pitcher and transformational human being during pregame ceremonies.
Since Valenzuela passed away on Tuesday, at 63 years old, there has been an outpouring of grief from the baseball world. And there have been memories shared of a man who dominated hitters, invigorated a fan base and brought cultures and nationalities together to share the love of a game and a team.
Dodgers and Yankees shared words about Valenzuela during World Series Game 1 Media Day on Thursday. And Dodger greats — teammates of Valenzuela — have also remembered the man, and the pitcher.
Here are their words:
Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman
“I got to know him a little bit over the last three years. But my stepmom is Mexican. She grew up in Downey, massive Dodger fan. I know what he meant to so many people in this community, especially to the Dodger fanbase. You saw it last year when we retired his number and all the people that came out. I’ve never seen my stepmom be so excited to see someone in person than she was to see Fernando, because that was her era.
“He traveled with us because he did the Spanish broadcast, and he was always with us, and it’s amazing how nice of a man he was. And he tried to not come around us he didn’t want to bring so much attention around, but he was just so lovely to be around. I haven’t spoken to my stepmom in two days, and I kind of figured she’s probably one of the saddest people there is. He just meant so much to so many people and reached so many lives and brought so many people back to the Dodgers and be fans of the Dodgers again.”
Dodger pitcher Walker Buehler:
“Obviously devastating news for our whole organization and our extended family here. We’re all mourning Fernando in some way, and obviously the fans here really connected with him. And hopefully we can use that as some sort of energy.”
Dodger manager Dave Roberts (in Spanish)
“Fernando Valenzuela was my friend first. I feel that Fernando was like an older brother. He was an incredible player. A person who is very important to me. I’m going to miss him for life. I hope for happiness for his family.”
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge
“He definitely inspired a generation of players, especially out here in California. What an unexpected loss. Definitely going to be feeling it this whole series, and especially
the big games he played in here. Definitely going to be missed, not only for Dodger fans, but everybody in baseball is going to be mourning the loss.”
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole
“I was really sad to read about it the other day. I think I had met him in passing maybe once or twice, and I had heard that there was maybe a bit of an issue a few weeks ago, but I didn’t know much about it. So I was taken off guard, and I was deeply saddened. He’s one of the great Dodgers of all time, one of the great Mexican players of all time, and he’s a legend. It’s just sad he won’t be here for this series, but he’s probably got a great seat for it upstairs.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone
“I moved here in 1983, so kind of right after Fernandomania began in ’81. But certainly lived through and knew what he meant to the Dodgers, to Southern California, to Mexico, and just how popular and how impactful that he was on the field, but certainly what he meant to so many people around the world.”
Legend of Dodger Baseball and teammate Steve Garvey
“More than anything with sports and how demanding it is, it’s how you learn over time to slow the moment down. He was a mature pitcher right from the beginning. He had the maturity, and he had the charisma right from the beginning that you could see was going to be enduring and lasting and historical.”
Dodger great and teammate Bill Russell
“The thing that really sticks out with Fernando was his first few games that he pitched — just the way that he was greeted by the fans. We had good teams at the time and drew 35–40,000. But when he pitched, he sold it out. And I was just in awe of watching him pitch. What a master of pitching. His first eight starts — five shutouts. He was just an artist there, just a guy that you just admired.”
Dodger great and teammate Steve Sax
“He was like a meteor. He was just like this fast flash of brilliance, and then he’s gone. We all know just how super special he was as a player and what he could do. The thing I most admire about Fernando was him as a person. All he talked about was his family and his kids and wife, Linda. He was just such a grounded family man. He was never, ever, ever affected by the bright lights and all the stuff that he did. He was just kind along for the ride, and he was not affected at all — and that’s why he had ice water in his veins. Because it probably wasn’t the most important thing to him. His family and the way he grew up and how grounded he is is what really comes through a lot when I think about him.
“There will never be another Fernando.”
World Series: ‘There will never be another Fernando’ was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.