LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fernando Valenzuela was on the minds of the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees hours before Friday’s opener of the World Series between the storied franchises. An informal memorial at a sign welcoming fans to Dodger Stadium that popped up soon after the pitcher's death on Tuesday was still going strong three days later. Large blue-and-white floral arrangements, including "34" representing his jersey number, were propped on the corner near the entrance to the stadium.
A moment of silence was planned before the first pitch. “If there’s two people that probably impacted this organization most, I think you would say Jackie Robinson and Fernando Valenzuela,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “No disrespect to anyone else, but if you’re talking about currently the fan base, there’s a lot of people that are here and support the Dodgers south of the border because of Fernando.
” Roberts was just 9 years old when Valenzuela and his unique eyes-to-the-sky delivery led to “Fernandomania.” In 1981, the Mexican-born left-hander won the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year, still the only player to do so. He had worked on the team's Spanish-language broadcasts for a couple decades.
“His legacy continues to live on,” Roberts said. “He was a friend of mine, and so to not see him up in the booth or to say hello is sad for me and his family. But Fernando was a gentleman, a great Dodger, and what a humble man.
” Valenzuela w.
