Fernando Valenzuela Biography: Uncovering The Cause of Dodgers Pitcher Death.

WWhat comes to mind when you hear the name Fernando Valenzuela? I guess you are thinking what I am thinking: the former legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher. But why is he making headlines?

Contents

Unknown Facts About Fernando Valenzuela Early Life and Education Quick Biography Career Net Worth and Career Earnings Legacy and Influence Personal Life Illness and Death Frequently Asked Questions

Born on November 1, 1960, in Mexico, this legendary athlete paved the way for Latin American players to excel in Major League Baseball. He began playing professional baseball in 1977, pitching for many teams in the Mexican Central League.

Fernando rose to stardom as a pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His distinctive pitching style and charisma cemented his fame in Mexico and the United States. During his rookie season, Fernando won the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award, becoming the first player to secure both honors in the same season.

However, after leaving behind a massive impact on the sports industry, Fernando shocked the world with his death.

Read on as we explore the fascinating life of Fernando Valenzuela, including his early life, education, career beginning, rise to fame, net worth, personal life, death, and more.

Unknown Facts About Fernando Valenzuela

In 1986, Fernando Valenzuela led the Dodgers to 21 wins in the National League.
He was married to Linda Margarita Burgos Metri.
His full name is Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea.
Fernando died on October 22, 2024, at age 63.

Early Life and Education

The youngest of 12 children, Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea, was welcomed into the world by Avelino and María on November 1, 1960, in Etchohuaquila, a small town in Sonora, Mexico. Per his date and month of birth, he was born under the Scorpio astrological sign. His parents were poor farmers who worked the land with the help of their kids.

Quick Biography

Quick Biography	Answers
Birthday	November 1, 1960
Full Name	Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea
Hometown	Navojoa, Mexico
Lives In	N/A
Net Worth	Scorpio
Horoscope/Birth Sign	Scorpio
Age (dead)	63 years old
Stage Name	Fernando Valenzuela
Profession	Professional baseball pitcher
Father’s Name	Avelino
Mother’s Name	María
Number of Children	4
Children’s Name	Fernando Valenzuela Jr., Maria Fernanda Valenzuela, Ricardo Valenzuela, and Linda Valenzuela.
Husband/Boyfriend	N/A
Wife/Girlfriend	inda Valenzuela (m. 1981)
Birth Year	1960
TikTok	N/A
Facebook Handle	N/A
YouTube Handle	N/A
Twitter/X Handle	N/A
Instagram Handle	N/A
Snapchat Handle	N/A
Height	N/A
Body Measurements	N/A
Feet/Shoe Size	N/A
Color of Eye	N/A
Movies Starred	N/A
References	Wikipedia, Celebrity Net Worth, & IMBD

Career

Fernando Valenzuela made his MLB debut in 1980, and he quickly made a name for himself by winning his first eight games and helping lead the Dodgers to the World Series. He became the first player to take home the Cy Young Award, the Rookie of the Year Award, and the first Rookie to lead the league in strikeouts.

From 1981 to 1986, Fernando was named a National League (NL) All-Star each season. Fernando took home an NL-leading 21 games in 1986, despite Mike Scott of the Houston Astros narrowly beating him in the Cy Young Award voting. During his era, he was also one of the better-hitting pitches. In 1986, Fernando inked a 3 years contract worth $55 million, the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. However, the remainder of his career at Dodger was diminished by nagging shoulder problems. After being part of the Dodgers’ 1988 World Series championship team, Fernando left the postseason with a shoulder injury.

On June 29, 1990, during his final season as a Dodger, Fernando threw his only MLB no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals, leading Los Angeles to a 6–0 home victory. Following this, the Dodgers released Fernando before the 1991 season. He spent the remainder of his Major League career playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals. During his 40s, he played a few seasons in Mexico and retired. From 2003 until he died in 2024, Fernando returned to the Dodger organization and served as a broadcaster. In 2023, The Dodgers retired his No. 34. His 41.5 career wins above replacement is the highest of any Mexican-born MLB player.

Net Worth and Career Earnings

How rich was Fernando Valenzuela? From his MLB career, Fernando accumulated a massive fortune. At the time of his death, Fernando had a net worth of $6 million. Fernando’s contract with the Dodgers, which spanned many years, helped him generate considerable wealth. In 1987, he signed the wealthiest contract for a pitcher in league history, worth $55 million with the Dodgers. He also made a record with his yearly salary of $1.83 million and 1988’s $2.05 million for a pitcher. Throughout his 17-year tenure, Fernando earned around $17.3 million in salary alone. In addition, he generated some of his wealth from sponsorships and endowments.

Legacy and Influence

Fernando’s 41.45 career wins above replacement is the highest for a Mexican player in the history of MLB. On August 23, 2003, he was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. He was named among three starting pitchers on MLB’s Latino Legends Team two years later. In 2013, he was re-installed into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also installed in the 2006 Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals.

Fernando Valenzuela’s legacy expands beyond baseball. His influence on Latino culture and his role as a pioneer for Mexican players in Major League Baseball propelled him to iconic status. His net worth and successful career made him a symbol of success and pride for many.

Personal Life

In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela tied the knot with Linda Burgos, a schoolteacher from Mexico. The couple had four children: Fernando Valenzuela Jr., Maria Fernanda Valenzuela, Ricardo Valenzuela, and Linda Valenzuela. His son, Fernando Jr., played in the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox organizations as a first baseman. In 2015, Fernando became a neutralized American citizen.

Illness and Death

On October 1, 2024, it was disclosed Fernando was hospitalized for an undisclosed illness. It was later reported he had liver cancer. Suddenly, he was pronounced dead on October 22, 2024 in Los Angeles. He died at the age of 63.