The Dodgers will retire the No. 34 jersey Friday night during a pregame ceremony to honor pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, one of the franchise’s most beloved and popular players of all time.
The ceremony at Dodger Stadium will be part of a “Fernandomania” weekend of celebrations surrounding the left-handed legend, who was a member of two World Series starting teams and the 1981 Cy Young and Rookie of the Year Award winner. .
The No. 34 will be the retired Dodgers’ jersey number 12.
“To be part of a group that includes so many legends is a great honor,” Valenzuela said in a statement. “But also to the fans – the support that they have given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is for them as well. I am happy for all the fans and all the people who have followed my career. They will be very excited to know that my No. 34 is being retired.”
Early Friday, the six-time All-Star during his 11 years with the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990 will be at Los Angeles City Hall, where the city will issue a special proclamation declaring August 11, 2023, “Fernando Day.” Valenzuela”.
Friday night’s pregame ceremony will kick off with a Ring of Honor event with various guests. Then, after the Dodgers take on the Colorado Rockies, there will be a drone show to celebrate Valenzuela’s career.
The public hearing to announce the Los Angeles public air rapid transit project, known as “the gondola”, turned into a heated debate between the promoters of the project and residents who oppose its construction.
The festivities continue at Saturday’s game, where the first 40,000 fans will receive a collector’s edition Valenzuela bobblehead. The giveaway item for Sunday’s game is a replica of Valenzuela’s 1981 World Series ring.
“I am incredibly happy that the number 34 Los Angeles Dodgers is retiring forever,” Dodgers Chairman and CEO Stan Kasten said.
“The only question that they continually ask me, more than anything, is about withdrawing Fernando Valenzuela’s number. The city-wide call from our fans to honor him is truly remarkable. What he accomplished during his playing career, not only on the field, but also in the community, is extraordinary. He really ignited the imagination of baseball fans everywhere. It’s hard to imagine a player having a bigger impact on a fan base than Fernando has had,” he added.
Valenzuela is among the Dodgers’ all-time franchise leaders in several categories, ranking fourth in complete games (107), fifth in strikeouts (1,759) and sixth in wins (141). He is the only player in major league history to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season, in the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series campaign.
Valenzuela’s 17-year major league career ended in 1997, after seasons in Anaheim, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego and St. Louis. He retired as the all-time leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) among Mexican-born major leaguers.
The Navajoa, Mexico native is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. His No. 34 has also been retired by the Mexican Baseball League.
Since 2003, Valenzuela has worked for the Dodgers organization as a Spanish-language broadcaster.
“(Valenzuela) created more fans of baseball and of the Dodgers than any other player,” said former Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín. “Thanks to this kid, people fell in love with baseball. Especially within the Mexican community.”
