![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/31/32/43/23439615/3/1200x0.jpg)
Dodgers to retire Fernando Valenzuela's No. 34
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/t_2x1/t_w1536/mlb/tcsr2wnsjbrireazaksf.jpg)
In 1982, two 20th-inning ejections led Fernando Valenzuela to play
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://people.com/thmb/xnc_k5dMr8EWdUsf9a7etaswSSU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(622x493:624x495)/Fernando-Valenzuela-01-062023-6e66620a517b4223be22e1b9be0e1360.jpg)
Fernando Valenzuela Biography Revisits 'Fernandomania
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://people.com/thmb/JkdAYWvVHTvVxHFcWlsLENRTGOc=/75x75/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GregHanlon13314-574ac087c2a14afe8ff1efc8a5729766.JPG)
Fernando Valenzuela Biography Revisits 'Fernandomania
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DaW3-WqU8AEvenZ?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
SportsNet LA on X: On this day in 1981, 20-year old #Dodgers
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4180c59/2147483647/strip/true/crop/638x335+0+117/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F55%2F36%2F766b2b354cdd9b397c944e110480%2Ffernando-valenzuela-midland.jpg)
The last wave of Fernandomania played out in Texas, where fans
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/plt/1981-Fernando-Valenzuela-1400x788-2305.jpg)
Fernando Valenzuela made me a believer in '81
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://i0.wp.com/www.retroseasons.com/retroimages/fernando-lasorda-hug-dodgers.jpg?ssl=1)
Fernando Valenzuela, Rookie of Year and Cy Young Award - RetroSeasons
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d6e7df5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2948x1959+43+28/resize/1200x798!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F22%2Fd994699d402787d501e979f7aa7d%2Fgettyimages-1401912-1.jpg)
The last wave of Fernandomania played out in Texas, where fans
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/t_16x9/t_w1024/mlb/y4vxa8oq3yvhmgrn8egl)
Fernando Valenzuela dominant as reliever in debut season
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://i0.wp.com/www.retroseasons.com/retroimages/fernando-pithcing-los-angeles-dodgers.jpeg?ssl=1)
Fernando Valenzuela, Rookie of Year and Cy Young Award - RetroSeasons
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://media.bizj.us/view/img/10365993/erik-spanberg-sil*145xx2100-2800-0-0.png)
It's been 40 years since Fernando Valenzuela's dream rookie season
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7NvcUxkXiXH1zlp5XXp0oBcskng=/0x12:1000x679/1400x933/filters:focal(0x12:1000x679):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16160373/20120418_kdl_am8_016.0.jpg)
Dodgers All-Star rookies: Fernando Valenzuela, 1981 - True Blue LA
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](https://razacero.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/P%C3%81G.-8-1..jpg)
Fernando Valenzuela – Periódico Razacero
![When 20-Year-Old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA—and Major League Baseball](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ENufiJSs4zY/TMesHnctOoI/AAAAAAAAAao/4CnpFcKQBtk/s1600/006-fernando-valenzuela-highlight-f.jpg)
LatinoBall: El Toro Fernando Valenzuela