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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast-1pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“FERNANDO-MANIA-NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN”
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We remember greatness on the mound.
The legendary bully on the mound Nolan Ryan.
The mad scientist that was Greg Maddux for nearly two decades.
There have been so many brilliant pitchers from all types of backgrounds.
Think Tom Seaver-Steve Carlton-Jack Morris.

And then there was the Dodgers’ lefthander, Fernando Valenzuela, a comet who shot thru the sky over a dominant 8-year span with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who passed away 48-hours ago after a battle with cancer.

His career spanned so many accomplishments, on the mound, in the community.

A workhorse like few have ever seen.  A (173-153) record with a (3.54ERA).  The last of the great warriors,113-complete games in 453-starts.  A composite (2,930-innings) to go with (2,974-strikeouts) and a volume of bases on balls (1,151-walks).

He put together a 6-year run of dominance with the Dodgers after his amazing rookie season.  In that 6-year span, his innings pitched totals were between (251-285) innings per season.

And then there was the rookie season in 1981, the then 20-year old phenom took the ball and won his first 8-starts.  Not just going (8-0) but throwing 8-complete games in a row and tossing 5-shutouts in that span.  To top it off, his rookie ERA in those outings, (0.50)….can you believe that-can you top that?

The story of his discovery is amazing.  Cigar smoking-white jacketed-Panama hat wearing Mike Brito-the Dodgers elite scout, was looking at a shortstop in the back- woods of rural Mexico, when he saw Fernando-at age 17-dominate men in the Mexican Summer League.

He came from a family of 12-kids in a farming community, and never lost his humble beginnings despite his celebrity status and his money.

A year later after Brito first saw him, he was signed, and rocketed thru the farm system, as a two pitch-pitcher, fastball, curveball, and a desire to finish what he started.

Brito knew he needed another pitch, and sent him to journeyman pitcher Bobby Castillo, who taught him the ‘screwball’.  And the physical tools Valenzuela took to the mound were a perfect pitch no one had seen in years, and no one knew how to hit.

That was on the field.

Off the field, here came ‘Fernandomania’ and it ignited a global following that exists to this day.  The Dodgers became not only LA’s team, but became the team of the Latino Community, from San Francisco-thru LA-into Orange County and in San Diego.

The interest in Mexico came immediately where that country’s fans re-embraced baseball like never seen before.  Valenzuela starts became ‘Must-See TV’ from Tijuana to the Yucatan Peninsula, at resorts, to dirt floor bars in every backcountry community.

Dodgers flags and Mexican flags went hand in hand.

There had been a select few Mexican players who starred in MLB.  The 1950’s Cleveland Indians 2nd baseman Bobby Avila was as well known as anyone.

The windmill windup, as wild a delivery as Juan Marichal had, became his signature delivery.  What the kid lefthander did against men at bat-was stunning.

Valenzuela-screwball and all-became the Mexican Sandy Koufax.

Wearing a sombrero to Dodgers Stadium on the nights he pitched became the thing to do.  Listening to Vin Scully describe all things Fernando-was such joy.

The workload and wear and tear shortened his career, and like a comet in the sky he flamed out.  But before he left, he authored a no hitter in his final season in LA.

In the Dodgers Hall of Fame, his uniform #34 retired, the stories about Valenzuela are everywhere a this hour.

And as the Dodgers open the World Series on Friday against the Yankees, we cannot forget how Fernando, in 1981, his first full year in the majors, as a 20-year old, beat the Yankees in his first Fall Classic start, using a 150-pitch effort in the win, that led LA to wipe out a (2-0) deficit and the road to victory.  By the way, it’s the last time the Dodgers beat the Bronx Bombers in the Series.  Now they renew the rivalry at Dodgers Stadium.

The Dodgers should wear a ‘black armband’ to signify Fernando’s fire-desire-dedication to Dodgers Blue.  Paint #34 behind home plate.  Look forward to the video they will play remembering his delivery, his smile, his portly stance on the mound, and his screwball.

Friday, as the Dodgers play,  is also the ‘Day of the Dead’ in Mexico, and he will be honored-remembered as all loved ones who have passed in that country.

Fernandomania.  We saw it.  Baseball should never forget it.  The Dodgers should dedicate this series to all he was, all he represented, as a player-a broadcaster, and a man who relinked the Latin-Hispanic baseball fan to the Grand-Old American Pastime.

Gone-but never to be forgotten.  El Toro they called him.  So special to baseball.

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