Breathe
By Rosa Covarrubias
Once upon a time there was a boy who fell deeply in love with a sport, one that in the region where he was born and grew up, was deeply rooted and practiced by most children, but he was not a common one, he was not like the others, although he would discover it years later.
He was born in Etchohuaquila, Sonora, on November 1, 1960. He was the youngest of 12 siblings.
At the age of 18 he was discovered "by mistake", because the Cuban scout Camilo "Corito" Verona attended a game of the Mexican Baseball League, but not to see him, they were following the infielder Alí Uscanga from Veracruz, when on that occasion for the Leones de Yucatán, a boy named Fernando Valenzuela came out to the mound. Verona was hypnotized by that left-handed pitcher and did not hesitate to pass on to Mike Brito, yes, the Dodgers legend scout, the report of that pitcher who filled his eye. The Angelina ninth had a new pitcher in their ranks.
After his debut, little by little "El Toro" began to gain followers. He was able to paralyze a country with his performances, but he was also able to unite communities around the sport; Valenzuela had in his left arm the gift of unifying and congregating the Latino community with the American community at Dodger Stadium every time he took the mound.
It was in 1981, four decades ago, when the so-called "Fernandomania" was born, along with that Mexican rookie major leaguer. It was a year that was engraved in the history books of sports, not only in Mexico, since the Etchohuaquila-born Fernandomania won 13 victories and pitched 11 complete games in the regular season.
On the afternoon of October 23, 1981, the greatness shown by Fernando Valenzuela was captured in the memory of all those watching the Dodgers-Yankees World Series. Legendary manager Tommy Lasorda, right in the third game, when the New York Yankees were up 2-0 in the series, decided to start the Mexican rookie.
"El Toro" took the mound and, despite conceding 4 runs in the first 3 innings, Lasorda's confidence in him and Valenzuela's confidence in his team continued, allowing the Mexican to pitch the entire 9 innings and from the fourth to the ninth he did not allow a single run, leading the Dodgers to a 5-4 victory, a triumph that lit the light of hope in the fans of the Angelina ninth.
What followed was a story out of a fairy tale. Fernando Valenzuela won the 1981 Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher of the season, the feat was that at the same time he received the Rookie of the Year Award, the cherry on the cake, the World Series ring with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He won in 1988 his second World Series title with his beloved Dodgers, although he was unable to play due to injury, he was named 6 times All Star, 2 times silver glove winner;what never came, was that he was elected member of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The years passed after his retirement and just in 2023, justice came from the Dodgers, Fernando Valenzuela's number 34 was retired, "El Toro" was applauded by the fans that crowded Dodger Stadium, recognizing his work and legacy in baseball.
The ball is capricious... Just a few hours before the 43rd anniversary of that feat in the third game of the 1981 World Series, "El Toro" threw his last ball and the 27th out fell.
His name will never be forgotten, number 34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, rests among the immortals, until forever Fernando "El Toro" Valenzuela.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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