Respecting the competition: Dodgers finally retire Fernando Valenzuela's number

[Forever Spinning Vinyl]

Yeah, I know that this is a Reds board but if you lived through Fernandomania, it was awesome to watch even as a division opponent. He was just killing right handed batters with his top of the game screwball. In the strike shortened 1981 season, his true rookie year, he was amazing leading the league with 25 starts and 11 of those were complete games along with 8 shutouts. In 1986, he led the league with 21 wins and completed 20 of 34 starts. He wound up finishing with 113 complete games and 31 shutouts for his career along with a 3.54 ERA while losing his blazing fastball for the last 2/3 of his career.

Here's his yearly ERA with the Dodgers starting with his call up in 1980 - * denotes All Star season
0.00 - 10 games in relief - 17.2 innings pitched - 4 games finished - 1 save
2.48*
2.87*
3.75*
3.03*
2.45*
3.14*
3.98
4.24
3.43
4.59
-----
3.31 career ERA with the Dodgers from 1980-1990 - 141-116 record as a Dodger
2 Silver slugger awards with 10 HRs while hitting .200 for his career
1981 Cy Young winner, Rookie Of The Year winner along with World Series champion
Six straight All Star games, 1981-1986

"Sometimes, you just gotta tip your hat and give credit to the opponent."
I don't know who first said that, but it taught me a lot as a competitor when I was a kid and that's pretty much all that this is.

Congratulations, Fernando.
https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-to-retire-fernando-valenzuelas-number