Fernando Valenzuela

ABOUT FERNANDO VALENZUELA

Mexican pitcher who won the 1981 National League Cy Young award as a rookie, while helping lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series Championship amidst the era known to Angelenos as "Fernandomania."

He rose to prominence in the Major Leagues quickly, while his age was widely disputed.

He suffered a severe arm injury in 1988, and he could never pitch the same again. In 1997, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals .

He was one of 12 children growing up in Sonora, Mexico.

He was managed by Tommy Lasorda on the Los Angeles Dodgers.