Dodgers retire Fernando’s No. 34: ‘I didn’t assume this could occur’

n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},”__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Well, that weekend lastly got here and now it’s official. No Dodgers participant will ever put on Valenzuela’s No. 34, as “El Toro’s” quantity was formally retired by the group, becoming a member of Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale.nn“Honestly? I would rather have the bases loaded with no outs,” Valenzuela laughed, when requested how nervous he was earlier than his jersey retirement ceremony. “I think it’s something really important for me and my family. It’s something I never imagined would happen. But here we are.””,”kind”:”textual content”,”__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-08-12T02:29:44.113Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL(“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”)”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/11/f2e9fd3c-f981e48d-492a2a9f-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Fernando Valenzuela throws out the primary pitch to his outdated catcher Mike Scioscia on the day the group retires his No. 34″,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”period”:”00:00:09″,”slug”:”fernando-valenzuela-s-first-pitch”,”tags”:[“__typename”:”GameTag”,”__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-119″,”title”:”Los Angeles Dodgers”,”team”:”__ref”:”Team:119″,”type”:”team”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”ceremonial-first-pitch”,”title”:”ceremonial first pitch”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”],”thumbnail”:”__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/formatInstructions/mlb/i0i5x4kufistaol3spfx”,”title”:”Fernando Valenzuela’s first pitch”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/fernando-valenzuela-s-first-pitch”,”__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”For years, it was one thing no person thought would occur. Fans, particularly Latino followers, have been constant in saying they wished to see Valenzuela’s quantity retired. Three days earlier than FanFest, Dodgers president Stan Kasten known as Valenzuela to interrupt the information that the second was lastly occurring.nnInitially, Valenzuela stated he was stunned. But after a number of seconds, he realized how particular this present day was for him and particularly for the Mexican neighborhood that has supported him for many years.nn“They’ve always been supporting,” Valenzuela stated. “You don’t notice that until after you stop playing. It’s hard when you’re an active player. But I want to thank those fans because there was always a lot of support from them.””,”kind”:”textual content”,”__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-08-12T01:40:53.665Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL(“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”)”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/11/4847c2fc-88ca146b-d311dd98-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Fernando Valenzuela talks concerning the honor of getting his quantity retired previous to the Dodgers’ recreation towards the Rockies”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”period”:”00:03:24″,”slug”:”valenzula-talks-number-retirement”,”tags”:[“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-119″,”title”:”Los Angeles Dodgers”,”team”:”__ref”:”Team:119″,”type”:”team”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”press-conference”,”title”:”press conference”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”tune-in-daily”,”title”:”TuneIn daily”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”send-to-news-mlb-feed”,”title”:”Send To News MLB feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”],”thumbnail”:”__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/formatInstructions/mlb/shrmuleydzjuqnk0oxzq”,”title”:”Valenzula talks quantity retirement”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/valenzula-talks-number-retirement”,”__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”While Valenzuela didn’t have the required longevity to make a robust case for Cooperstown, the height of Fernandomania is one thing the game probably might by no means see once more.nnHis rise in the course of the ’81 season has been well-documented and it’s one of the crucial profitable stretches of any participant in Major League historical past. The Mexican left-hander was a member of two World Series groups throughout his profession, gained the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, was chosen to 6 All-Star groups and took house two Silver Slugger Awards as he turned one of many best-hitting pitchers within the Majors.nnBut Valenzuela’s impression prolonged effectively previous the diamond. He served as the proper connection between the Dodgers and the big Mexican inhabitants in Los Angeles, creating a brand new wave of baseball and Dodgers followers all through his profession.”,”kind”:”textual content”,”__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”

August 11, 2023.

It’s formally Fernando Valenzuela Day within the metropolis of Los Angeles! pic.twitter.com/HPYti3pFTE

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 11, 2023

nn”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”,”__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”“It’s an enormous day. I feel it’s definitely lengthy overdue,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “His legacy, impact, is going to last forever. It’s lasted such a long time, not only for the Dodgers, but all of Major League Baseball. He’s been an inspiration for many people. Just to be able to break barriers, be so humble while doing it and so accomplished. I consider him a friend and I don’t think he’s going to be too emotional with this.”nnTo everybody’s shock, nonetheless, Valenzuela did acknowledge his nerves and made certain to take all of it in. It’s a second he by no means anticipated, however definitely deserved. At final, his jersey hangs at Dodger Stadium, the place it belongs.nn“I didn’t think this would happen, because first of all you have to be in Cooperstown,” Valenzuela stated. “It never crossed my mind that this would ever happen.””,”kind”:”textual content”],”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”abstract”:”LOS ANGELES – Despite it not being retired for over 30 years, no Dodgers participant has worn the No. 34 since Fernando Valenzuela donned it from 1980-90.nThat resolution was made by the Dodgers with a view to nonetheless honor Valenzuela with out formally retiring his quantity. Remember, the Dodgers have an”,”tagline(“formatString”:”none”)”:null,”tags”:[“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”,”__typename”:”GameTag”,”slug”:”gamepk-717032″,”title”:”2023/08/11 col@la”,”type”:”game”,”__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”,”__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”juan-toribio”,”title”:”Juan Toribio”,”type”:”contributor”,”__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-119″,”title”:”Los Angeles Dodgers”,”team”:”__ref”:”Team:119″,”type”:”team”,”__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-123619″,”title”:”Fernando Valenzuela”,”person”:”__ref”:”Person:123619″,”type”:”player”],”kind”:”story”,”thumbnail”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/formatInstructions/mlb/rfmtw2yjgjdqbapmofzz”,”title”:”Fernando Valenzuela’s quantity retired by Dodgers”}},”Team:119″:”__typename”:”Team”,”id”:119,”Person:123619″:”__typename”:”Person”,”id”:123619}}
window.adobeAnalytics = “reportingSuiteId”:”mlbglobal08,mlbcom08″,”linkInternalFilters”:”mlb”
window.globalState = “tracking_title”:”Major League Baseball”,”lang”:”en”
window.appId = ”
/*–>*/