Fernando Valenzuela, the driving force behind “Fernandomania” when he won the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year as the Los Angeles Dodgers captured the world championship in 1981, has died at the age of 63.

The Dodgers announced the news, saying Valenzuela died Tuesday evening at a Los Angeles hospital. They did not provide a cause or other details.

After pitching in the Majors for 17 seasons, Valenzuela served as the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcaster since 2003. The team retired his number 34 jersey in August 2023.

Born in Navojoa, Mexico, Valenzuela was called up as a reliever late in the 1980 season and took the baseball world by storm in the strike-shortened 1981 season. After Jerry Reuss was injured the day before Opening Day, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda handed the ball to 20-year-old Valenzuela, who had never started a Major League game in his career.

He responded with a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros to start the season with an 8-0 record, including five shutouts, and an ERA of 0.50.

“Tommy Lasorda came up to me and said, ‘Are you ready to pitch tomorrow?’ I said, ‘I’m ready,'” Valenzuela recalled in 2023. “That’s what I was looking for, the chance to show what I can do.”

In addition to his Mexican roots, Valenzuela’s throwing motion (the portly figure looking skyward at the top of each windup) was also a hit. His signature pitch was the Screwball, which was taught to him in 1979 by teammate Bobby Castillo. During his warm-ups, ABBA’s hit “Fernando” blared from the speakers. Latino fans came in droves – both at home and on the road – to see “El Toro,” the bull.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are mourning the passing of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. pic.twitter.com/MXeBlDzDWJ

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 23, 2024

“His charisma was incredible,” Hall of Fame Dodgers Spanish-language announcer Jaime Jarrin, who served as Valenzuela’s interpreter early in his career, said in 2023. “The fact that he came here to the major leagues (in September 1980 ) after only a few weeks in San Antonio at Double-A – and from the start he was just great And people fell in love with him… He was only 19 years old, a little chubby, long hair, Yaqui-. Indian These things really cultivated the people and they fell in love with Fernando within a few weeks.”

Valenzuela finished the 1981 season with a 13-7 record, 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games and 8 shutouts. He led the National League with 192⅓ innings pitched and led the majors with 180 strikeouts, becoming the first player to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award.

That season marked the start of six straight All-Star appearances for the left-hander. Valenzuela finished third in the Cy Young voting in 1982, fifth in 1985 and second in 1986 before a shoulder injury hampered him for the remainder of his career. He won another World Series title with the Dodgers in 1988, as well as Silver Slugger awards in 1981 and 1983.

“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore among franchise heroes,” Stan Kasten, president and CEO of the Dodgers, said in a statement. “He strengthened the fan base during the 1981 Fernandomania season and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a presenter. He left us far too soon. Our deepest condolences go to his wife Linda and his family.”

Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990, including a no-hitter on June 29, 1990. From 1983 to 1987, Valenzuela averaged 262 innings and 13 complete games for the Dodgers. He had a streak of 255 consecutive starts that ended in August 1988. He had 20 complete games in 1986, when he won 21 games in the league and had a 3.14 ERA. He played 96 complete games in his first seven seasons.

He retired in 1997 and remains one of the franchise leaders in wins (141), strikeouts (1,759), innings pitched (2,348 2/3), starts (320), complete games (107) and shutouts (29).

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred called Valenzuela “one of the most impactful players of his generation” in a statement Tuesday night before noting his post-retirement accomplishments.

“…Fernando was an excellent ambassador for baseball,” Manfred said. “He consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events in his home country. As a member of the Dodger broadcast team for more than 20 years, Fernando helped reach a new generation of fans and cultivate their love of the game.

“Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired.”

Valenzuela was unceremoniously released by the Dodgers in March 1991, days before the season started. He pitched for five other teams over the next seven seasons – the California Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997) – before retiring with a 173-153 record, 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts over 17 seasons.

Six years after his playing career ended — and 14 years after he threw his last pitch for the Dodgers — Valenzuela returned as a member of the Dodgers’ broadcast team in 2003.

The Dodgers, breaking with their tradition of only retiring the numbers of Hall of Famers, retired his number 34 during a pregame ceremony at Dodger Stadium in August 2023. The number was unofficially retired and never worn by another player since Valenzuela was loaned out. go by the team 32 years earlier.

In October 2024, Valenzuela, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015, paused his broadcasting duties prior to the start of the playoffs to “focus on his health,” the team said.

The news of Valenzuela’s death came days before the Dodgers were set to open the World Series in Los Angeles against the Yankees. In his statement, Manfred said the league will “honor Fernando’s memory” during the series.

Valenzuela is survived by his wife Linda, a teacher from Mexico whom he married in 1981, his sons Fernando Jr. and Ricky, who worked for a Mexican League team partly owned by their father, as well as daughters Linda and Maria. like seven grandchildren.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.