Fernando Valenzuela Illness: All you need to know about the former Dodgers star’s health struggles and legacy

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitching icon Fernando Valenzuela died on Tuesday, aged 63. The Mexico-born legend was widely known for helping the club to the World Series title in 1981 and inspiring the cultural "Fernandomania", which changed the makeup of the Dodgers fan base forever.

Working as a radio broadcaster for the team in recent years, Valenzuela stepped away from his role in September without a specific explanation. While some outlets report that he was battling with cancer, the club hasn't announced the reason behind his death.

Fernando Valenzuela was born in Sonora, Mexico and started his professional career in the Mexican League. He was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1979 and made his major league debut with them in 1981.

That season, he was named the NL Rookie of the Year, NL Cy Young and helped the teams to the World Series title, instanty winning the hearts of fans. That led to the rise of "Fernandomania", which drew huge crowds from the Latino community across the country.

Having earned the nickname "El Toro", Valenzuela went on to spend 11 successful seasons with the Dodgers, earning the affection of fans with his unique and flamboyant style.

After being released by the Dodgers in 1991, he short stints with the Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres and the Cardinals. Valenzuela then returned to the Mexican league, where he retired in 2006.

After his playing days with the Dodgers, Fernando Valenzuela returned to the organization as the Spanish language radio commonetator in 2003. That same year, he was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame at Dodgers Stadium. In 2023, the Dodgers retired his jersey number 34.

Valenzuela was never one to discuss his health problems publicly, but there were several reports of him battling cancer in recent years. True to his nature, the legend left his commentary duties without explanation in September this year. While it's clear that he was struggling with his health, the exact reason behind his demise isn't.

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Commissioner Rob Manfred says MLB will honor the memory of Fernando Valenzuela at the World Series

Fernando Valenzuela has been, without doubt, one of the most influential figures in the history of the MLB. Even after his playing days with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he remained an outstanding ambassador of the sport.

After the news of his death, the MLB commissioner released a statement mourning the icon's death and said that his memory will be honored at the upcoming World Series.