“It’s About Time”: Euphoric Fans Rejoice as 62-Year-Old MLB Icon Has His Name Etched in Los Angeles Dodgers History Forever

As a historic franchise, The Los Angeles Dodgers has seen its fair share of legends and icons over the years. This includes some of the best players the League has ever seen. One of their many legends is none other than Fernando Valenzuela, the iconic pitcher from Mexico. Although he played for multiple teams, Valenzuela is best known for his time with the Dodgers. 

During his time playing in the MLB, Valenzuela picked up numerous accolades and awards. He was a 6-time All-Star, a 1-time Cy Young winner, and even won a Gold Glove. Furthermore, he achieved all this and more while playing for the Dodgers. The Mexican pitcher is now set to be honored by the Dodgers in a huge way. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers are retiring Fernando Valenzuela’s jersey number

Fernando Valenzuela spent 11 of his 17 MLB years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During those years, he achieved immense success for the franchise, even helping them win a World Series title in 1981. Considering his impactful contribution, the Dodgers have finally decided to retire Valenzuela’s #34 jersey, 26 years after he played his last MLB game. The Dodgers’ official Twitter account shared the news. 

In a Tweet, the Dodgers said, “There will never be another 34. Congratulations Fernando Valenzuela on having your No. 34 retired!” This will be a huge moment for the Mexican-born pitcher as he gets recognized for his contributions as a Dodger.

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Fans have reacted to the Tweet with a lot of excitement and hype. Some fans congratulated Valenzuela for the achievement. Others reminisced about his numerous achievements and the passion that he brought to baseball. 

Although Valenzuela played in MLB till 1997, his best years were in the early to mid-1980s. He was at the peak of his prime and one of the best MLB pitchers. But nobody will forget his 1981 season.

Fernando Valenzuela made history in the 1981 MLB season

Although Fernando Valenzuela had some fantastic years, in 1981, he achieved a historic feat. According to Dodger Blue, “Valenzuela became the first pitcher to win both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season”.

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What made this year even more special was the fact that he also helped the Dodgers win the World Series. Fans will always remember Valenzuela for this historic achievement. This is nice positive news for the Dodgers, who were recently connected to Kobe Bryant’s death anniversary through a resurfaced video. What do you think about the Dodgers retiring Fernando Valenzuela’s jersey? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!