It’s time to celebrate the legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, Fernando Valenzuela! The Dodgers recently announced that they will be retiring his number 34 in a three-day celebration from August 11-13. This will be an amazing weekend for Valenzuela and all of his fans, as the Dodgers honor one of their greatest players of all time.
Fernando Valenzuela had an incredible career with the Dodgers from 1980-90. During this time, he was a part of two World Series championship teams, won the 1981 Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, and was selected to six All-Star teams. He even won two Silver Slugger Awards in 1981 and 1983. His success made him an icon in the city of Los Angeles and a fan favorite.
The Dodgers will retire his number 34, which will join the other numbers previously displayed on the left field club level. This includes Pee Wee Reese’s number 1, Tommy Lasorda’s number 2, Duke Snider’s number 4, Gil Hodges’ number 14, Jim Gilliam’s number 19, Don Sutton’s number 20, Walter Alston’s number 24, Sandy Koufax’s number 32, Roy Campanella’s number 39, Jackie Robinson’s number 42 and Don Drysdale’s number 53.
The festivities for Valenzuela’s number retirement will kick off with a Ring of Honor ceremony on Friday night, followed by a collector’s edition bobblehead on Saturday night and a replica Valenzuela 1981 World Series ring on Sunday. Stan Kasten, Dodgers president & CEO, said, “The citywide call by our fans to honor him is truly remarkable. What he accomplished during his playing career, not only on the field but in the community, is extraordinary. He truly lit up the imaginations of baseball fans everywhere.”
This is a momentous occasion for the Dodgers, their fans, and Fernando Valenzuela. It’s a reminder of the impact that Valenzuela had on the team and the city of Los Angeles, and it’s an opportunity to celebrate his accomplishments. The three-day celebration will be a fitting tribute to one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
Source: abc7.com