[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FERNANDO VALENZUELA'S JERSEY RETIREMENT

  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today as a proud, lifelong Los 
Angeles Dodgers fan to recognize the achievements and legacy of 
Fernando ``El Toro'' Valenzuela, whose jersey will soon be retired by 
the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  Fernando Valenzuela stunned the baseball world, captured the hearts 
of millions of Californians, and inspired Little League baseball 
players, future Major League Baseball Hall of Famers, and Mexican 
Americans across the country to dream big.
  The youngest of 12 children, Valenzuela was born and raised in the 
small town of Etchohuaquila, in Sonora, Mexico. His parents Avelino and 
Maria were poor farmers who worked the land with their children. 
Valenzuela learned to play baseball from his older brothers and started 
pitching professionally in Mexico at the age of 17. Discovered by 
legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito, Valenzuela soon made his Major 
League debut at the age of 19. In 1980, his first season, he pitched in 
relief in 10 games and did not surrender a single earned run.
  The 1981 season saw the cultural phenomenon of ``Fernandomania,'' 
which brought one of the best stretches of pitching in Major League 
Baseball history. He was on the mound for the Dodgers as their opening 
day starting pitcher and proceeded to win his first eight starts--at 
that time, the longest such streak since World War II. He finished the 
season with 11 complete games, 8 shutouts, and a 2.48 ERA. His 
sensational pitching brought packed crowds to Dodger Stadium as he 
captured the hearts of Los Angeles' Mexican-American community, and 
brought record crowds to every stadium he pitched in across the 
country.
  During the deciding game 5 of the 1981 National League Championship 
Series against the Expos, Valenzuela locked into a grueling pitching 
duel for over eight innings and helped the Dodgers win the National 
League pennant. In game 3 of the 1981 World Series, Valenzuela pitched 
a complete game against the Yankees and jumpstarted a four-game Dodgers 
winning streak on their way to winning the World Series title.
  On a personal note, as a kid growing up playing Little League 
baseball in the San Fernando Valley, I remember watching Fernando 
pitch, his iconic wind-up with his leg sweeping up chest high, his 
quick glance toward the heavens, and suddenly, El Toro would deliver a 
devastating screwball.
  Valenzuela would go on to pitch for the Dodgers for 11 seasons, play 
for several other MLB teams, and even pitch in the Mexican Pacific 
League when he was nearly 44 years old. He ended his career as a World 
Series Champion, a six-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger winner, 
and a Gold Glove winner. He also became the first player--and remains 
the only player--ever to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards 
in the same season for his remarkable 1981 season. And today, he 
remains part of the Dodgers organization as the color commentator for 
the team's Spanish language television broadcast.
  More than 40 years later, Fernandomania lives on. Valenzuela 
continues to bring immense joy and pride to the Mexican-American 
community in Los Angeles and around the country. I am proud that the 
Dodgers will be retiring Valenzuela's No. 34 jersey, and I am proud to 
recognize his many years of dedication to the Los Angeles community and 
for inspiring generations of Latinos to pursue their dreams and be 
champions in their own right.
  So now, enshrined in Dodger Stadium alongside names like 
``Robinson,'' ``Koufax,'' ``Drysdale,'' ``Hodges,'' and ``Snider,'' 
finally, a new number will hang forever--34, for Valenzuela.

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