What became known as Fernandomania began with an opening-day shutout by Mexican rookie Fernando Valenzuela 30 years ago, reports Dylan Hernandez:
He said he didn’t notice more Latinos in the seats at Dodger Stadium. Or that he was helping ease long-standing ethnic and cultural tensions in the city. Or that he was drawing the attention of businesses to the growing Latino market. Or that because of him teams were increasingly looking outside the country for players.
“The impact he made not only in Southern California but in all of the country, it was really great for the game,” said Bud Selig, commissioner of baseball.
Photo: Valenzuela salutes the crowd after pitching a three-hit shutout for his eighth consecutive victory to start the 1981 season. More photos on Framework. Credit: Rob Brown / Herald Examiner Collection
There was something in the air that night…
(Source: Los Angeles Times)
