A Major League Baseball legend and six-time MLB All-Star Fernando Valenzuela will be given one of baseball's highest honors as the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that they will be retiring his number 34, never to be worn by another Dodger again.
Valenzuela, the Mexican pitching icon, will have his number retired during a three-day celebration in August. In his career with the Dodgers, Valenzuela was a star, endearing himself to fans and producing at an incredible rate.
From 1980 to 1990, he was an MLB All-Star six times, also winning Rookie of the Year in 1981 and the Cy Young Award that same year.
Valenzuela will join Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, and Don Drysdale with retired numbers. Jackie Robinson's 42 is retired by all of baseball.
"To be a part of the group that includes so many legends is a great honor," Valenzuela said. "But also for the fans, the support they've given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them."
The decision to retire Valenzuela's number is a departure from the Dodgers' previous policy, which stated that a player must be in the Hall of Fame in order to be bestowed the honor. However, given his connection to the franchise and the large Mexican population in Los Angeles, the organization decided to allow it.
Over the course of his career, Valenzuela went 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA and compiled 2,074 strikeouts. In addition to the Dodgers, he also appeared for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals.
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