LOS ANGELES — On an October Friday in Dodger Stadium, just shy of his 21st birthday, Fernando Valenzuela delighted a full house when he gutted his way through a rough outing to beat the New York Yankees and reverse the course of the 1981 World Series.
Whether the fans were the 12-year-old Mexican American kid next to his dad in the top row of the reserved level in seats they were selected to buy in a postcard drawing or the longtime season ticket holders far closer to the action, they were enthralled throughout what turned out to be the final start of Valenzuela’s spectacular rookie season.
On an October Friday 43 years (and two days) later, fans gathered again to pay tribute and say goodbye to one of the most beloved Dodgers before, appropriately, Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees. Valenzuela died Tuesday, at 63 years old after an illness that his family has kept private.
Juan Carlos Gonzalez from Eastvale made sure to get a picture of Valenzuela’s No. 34 at the top deck level entrance to Dodger Stadium among the team’s other retired numbers.
“Fernando was a great representative of our Mexican heritage and was a huge part of why people loved the Dodgers for a long time,” said Gonzalez, who at 43 said he was too young to see Valenzuela play but still understands why he was revered in Los Angeles.
Gonzalez said it was important enough to be at Game 1 with his son, Andre, for the tribute to Valenzuela that he bought tickets on the secondary market late Friday morning.
Her husband Nacho remembered attending the Dodgers’ home opener in Valenzuela’s first season – a last-minute start in place of injured teammate Jerry Reuss – when Avila bought 80 tickets for friends and family to join in the fun.
“So many great memories,” said Nacho Avila, a longtime season ticket holder. “It’s great to be here on a day they’re honoring him.”
The path to Dodger Stadium was easy to follow Friday. One No. 34 jersey after another showed the way, starting in the line for taquitos at Olvera Street’s Cielito Lindo and stopping briefly at the Dodger Stadium sign on Vin Scully Avenue, where the first flowers were placed within an hour of the Dodgers’ announcement of Valenzuela’s death. The memorial on Friday included funeral sprays, balloons, Mexican flags, photos and messages to a local hero.
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The path of No. 34 jerseys picked up again from the parking lots to the admission gates. One of the security guards at the top deck level said he was going to fist-bump everyone who was wearing a Valenzuela jersey, and he stayed busy in the 30 minutes that fans streamed into the stadium.
Eddie Alaniz of Corona sported a twist on the traditional white jersey with blue letters; his was the red, white and green of the Mexican flag.
“I first saw Fernando when he was a reliever at the end of the 1980 season,” Alaniz said. “We didn’t know anything about him at that point, but he was amazing. I was always a fan.”
Sergio Castro from Lake Elsinore walked up to Valenzuela’s retired number and placed flowers on the growing tribute.
“He played baseball the way it’s supposed to be played,” said Castro, who took a picture of his son, Anthony, by the No. 34. “It never seemed to be about the money. It was because he loved it.”
Fernando Valenzuela is honored at Dodger Stadium during game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Valente Quinter, of East Los Angeles who goes by “Mr. L.A. Baseball Head” enters Dodger Stadium honoring Fernando Valenzuela with body paint before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fans including Valente Quinter, of East Los Angeles who goes by “Mr. L.A. Baseball Head” enter Dodger Stadium while honoring Fernando Valenzuela before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Valente Quinter, of East Los Angeles who goes by “Mr. L.A. Baseball Head” enters Dodger Stadium honoring Fernando Valenzuela with body paint before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Baseball fans pass a new Fernando Valenzuela mural at Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fans including Valente Quinter, of East Los Angeles who goes by “Mr. L.A. Baseball Head” enter Dodger Stadium while honoring Fernando Valenzuela before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Baseball fans stop at a Fernando Valenzuela memorial at Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Baseball fans stop at a Fernando Valenzuela memorial at Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Valente Quinter, of East Los Angeles who goes by “Mr. L.A. Baseball Head” enters Dodger Stadium honoring Fernando Valenzuela with body paint before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Baseball fans pass a new Fernando Valenzuela mural at Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Valente Quintero of East Los Angeles with with Fernando Valenzuela body art poses with fans prior to game 1 of a World Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Valente Quinter, of East Los Angeles who goes by “Mr. L.A. Baseball Head” enters Dodger Stadium honoring Fernando Valenzuela with body paint before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Octavio Islas of the Central coast signs a memorial in honor of Fernando Valenzuela prior to game 1 of a World Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Valente Quintero of East Los Angeles with with Fernando Valenzuela body art poses with fans prior to game 1 of a World Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Octavio Islas of the Central coast signs a memorial in honor of Fernando Valenzuela prior to game 1 of a World Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Fans take selfies with a picture of Fernando Valenzuela prior to game 1 of a World Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
A wreath of flowers and Dodger’s Fernando Valenzuela’s number are outside Dodger Stadium.. prior to game 1 of a World Series baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. ..Valenzuela passed away earlier this week. (Photo by Todd Harmonson, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Fernando Valenzuela fans continue to visit a makeshift memorial outside Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fernando Valenzuela fans continue to visit a makeshift memorial outside Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Julian Esco, 12, films his father Gil “DBIT” Esso at the Fernando Valenzuela makeshift memorial outside Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger colored candle wax is left at the Fernando Valenzuela makeshift memorial outside Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Diego Rivera, of South Los Angeles, visits the Fernando Valenzuela makeshift memorial outside Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fernando Valenzuela fans continue to visit a makeshift memorial outside Dodger Stadium before game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Fernando Valenzuela is honored at Dodger Stadium during game 1 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
