The Los Angeles Dodgers will honor one of their franchise legends during the World Series against the New York Yankees and throughout the 2025 campaign.

Los Angeles announced Thursday ahead of Friday’s Game 1 of the Fall Classic that players will wear patches to recognize Fernando Valenzuela on their jerseys:

Valenzuela, who pitched for the Dodgers for 11 seasons from 1980 to 1990, died this week at the age of 63.

The Dodgers’ update comes after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred made a statement Tuesday read in part: “We will honor Fernando’s memory during the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium.”

Valenzuela was a beloved figure within the Dodgers organization beyond just his status as a former player. He also served as a host for the team’s Spanish radio and television simulcast for 22 seasons.

Los Angeles brought one statement on October 2, it said he was “leaving the Dodger broadcast booth for the remainder of this year to focus on his health.”

NBC 4 in Los Angeles reported on October 1 that he had been hospitalized “with an unspecified health issue”.

Valenzuela first appeared in a game during the 1980 campaign, but it was 1981 when “Fernandomania” swept the baseball world. He started the season with an 8-0 record and a 0.50 ERA and parlayed that into a 2.48 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a league-best 180 strikeouts in a league-best 192.1 innings pitched during the year.

He was awarded National League Rookie of the Year and NL Cy Young that season, and his Dodgers eventually defeated the Yankees in the World Series.

Valenzuela also pitched for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals before retiring after the 1997 campaign as a six-time All-Star.

But he will forever be best known for his days with the Dodgers, and the team retired his number 34 in August 2023:

Now his former team will try to beat the Yankees in the World Series, just like he did during his playing days. And he’ll recognize it on the road with these jersey patches.