Ten Years Later, the Mania Resumes

Ten years ago, Jerry Reuss was suffering from a strained left calf muscle and Burt Hooton was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove an ingrown toenail, but the Los Angeles Dodgers still needed someone to pitch opening day, so they handed the baseball to a long-haired, round-bodied 20-year-old rookie from Sonora, Mexico. His name was Fernando Anguamea Valenzuela.

Ten years ago, Fernando won that start on Opening Day, 2-0, over Houston . . . and the start after that . . . and the start after that . . . and the start after that. After eight starts, he was 8-0, with five shutouts, seven complete games, 68 strikeouts and an earned-run average of 0.50.

Ten years ago, Tom Lasorda watched from the steps of the Dodger dugout and wondered, “Who is this guy? Carl Hubbellito?”

Ten years ago, Fernando won games by conventional means and otherwise. In a 1-0 victory at Houston, he had two singles, driving in the only run. In a 5-0 victory against San Francisco, he went three for four. After eight starts, his .360 batting average led the Dodgers.

Ten years ago, Joseph Pane of Buena Park wrote this letter to the editor: “I am convinced that Fernando Valenzuela is a reincarnation of Babe Ruth! Don’t laugh! He is left-handed, a great pitcher, a good hitter and a good fielder. He is pudgy like the Babe--look at his face--and he bears a striking resemblance to the Babe. No man could possibly learn to do so well everything he does. Maybe under hypnosis we can get at the truth.”

Ten years ago, Dodger General Manager Al Campanis was asked to respond to a report that Fernando was really a 48-year-old accountant from Wichita, Kan., who sold his soul to the devil. Campanis had no comment, although he did admit that “I’m catching hell from not bringing him up earlier.”

Ten years ago, the rest of baseball was having a hard time believing Fernando was actually 20. The body, after all, looked 50. “He’s the most poised of anyone I ever saw 20 years old, but first of all, I don’t know if he’s 20 or not,” said outfielder Jerry Martin of the Giants. Grady Hatton, a scout for the Giants, told writers in Philadelphia that Fernando couldn’t possibly be 20 because he’d spotted wrinkle lines on the back of the pitcher’s neck. Ultimately, the Dodgers produced a birth certificate showing a Nov. 1, 1960, birth date, but that failed to convince the doubters. At a press conference in Philadelphia, someone asked to see the back of Fernando’s neck.

Ten years ago, Fernando was still undefeated as a major leaguer--he went 2-0 in 1980 after a September call-up--when he was asked, “Do you think you can go your whole career undefeated?” Through an interpreter, Fernando replied, quite innocently, “It is very difficult, but not impossible.”

Ten years ago, Achilles Johnson of North Hollywood wrote this letter to the editor: “What’s all the fuss about Valenzuela? He’s not so hot. Has he thrown a no-hitter? No. A one-hitter even? No. What kind of a pitcher does he think he is? Winning is OK, but let’s see something interesting ! And all the hoopla about his hitting. Someone even compared him to Babe Ruth. Fat chance. I wanna see a grand slam with ‘Freddy’ pointing to the center-field bleachers first. I mean come on! Is this baseball or is this baseball? Let’s see him really prove himself.”

Ten years ago, the anticipation of a Fernando start at home caused mob scenes at the Dodger Stadium advance ticket booth. By accident, the Dodgers sold out games Fernando didn’t pitch when eager fans looked at their pocket schedules, looked ahead and guessed wrongly about Fernando’s next turn in the rotation. One sellout was all the Dodgers needed to pay for Fernando. At $3 apiece, the 20,000 extra tickets brought in $60,000 more than the Dodgers’ average home gate. In 1981, Fernando earned $42,500.

Ten years ago, free-lance entrepreneurs lined up along Elysian Park Avenue on the way to Dodger Stadium, hawking “The Saga of Fernando” 45 singles (courtesy Screwball Records) and “Viva Fernando” T-shirts. By May, a Fabulous Fernando Fan Club was formed. Membership was $5 and it had its privileges--a three-inch Fabulous Fernando photo button, a Fabulous Fernando bumper sticker, a Fabulous Fernando monthly newsletter, a Fernando fact sheet and a lottery chance for two free Dodger tickets. “Join us,” the entry blank declared, “in celebrating the greatest pitcher in the world!”

Ten years ago, Fernandomania was in the air and on the air. A start against the Mets in New York drew a 47% share of the Los Angeles television audience. A start against the Expos in Montreal drew a 59% share--or 6% more than the Dodgers’ one-game NL West playoff against Houston in 1980. The postgame show after the Mets start--the postgame show --was the most-watched TV program in Los Angeles that week, beating out “Murder in Texas, Parts I and II” and “60 Minutes.”

Ten years ago, contests were held to find a nickname for Fernando. Among the nominees: El Toro, Senor Silent, El Coloso Mexicano, Titan del Pitcheo, El Nevera (Spanish for “icebox”--Fernando predated Refrigerator Perry), Amazing Chief, Fast Freddie and Super Mex. At 8-0, it became apparent that Fernando would be good enough and it was left at that.

Ten years ago, Fernando finally lost in his ninth start, 4-0 to Philadelphia, which Mike Schmidt triggered with a first-inning home run. “Maybe someday when he’s won his 39th Cy Young Award, if he can pronounce my name, maybe he’ll tell someone (about it) while I’m sitting here in my easy chair watching him,” Schmidt said. The winning pitcher was Marty Bystrom, who was immediately nicknamed by his Phillie teammates. They called him “Fernando.”

Ten years ago, Fernando finished his rookie season 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He won the National League Cy Young Award. He helped the Dodgers win the National League pennant and the World Series.

Ten years ago. Much has happened since--consecutive seasons of 285, 257, 261, 272, 269 and 251 innings; a blown-out left shoulder; rehabilitation; his Dodger release. Much hasn’t happened as well--no more Cy Youngs, no more World Series (he was hurt in 1988), no more winning seasons after 1986.

Tonight, Fernando pitches again, in a different uniform and a different league. He pitches for the Angels, who know better than to ask, “What has he done lately?” The Angels know that Fernando’s fans have long memories. If they can’t turn back the clock together, they can still make sweet music together, Fernando and his people, keeping the turnstiles clicking in rhythm, the way they did before, 10 years ago.

Valenzuela’s Brilliant Start of ’81

Date Opponent Score IP H R ER BB SO 4/9 Houston 2-0 9 5 0 0 2 6 4/14 At S.F. 7-1 9 4 1 1 2 10 4/18 At S.D. 2-0 9 5 0 0 0 10 4/22 At Hous. 1-0 9 7 0 0 3 11 4/27 San Fran. 5-0 9 7 0 0 4 6 5/3 At Mont. 6-1* 9 5 1 1 0 7 5/8 At N.Y. 1-0 9 7 0 0 5 11 5/14 Montreal 3-2 9 3 2 2 1 7 Totals 27-4 72 43 4 4 17 68

*10 inning game Following Fernando (attendance figures)

Opponent attendance Houston 50,511 At S.F. 21,790 At S.D. 19,776 At Hous. 22,830 San Fran. 49,478 At Mont. 46,405 At N.Y. 39,848 Montreal 53,906