Cuando Fernando Valenzuela subió al montículo en el Juego 3 de la Serie Mundial de 1981, los Yanquis de Nueva York tenían una ventaja de 2-0 sobre los Dodgers y el equipo de Tommy Lasorda enfrentaba la posibilidad real de una tercera derrota de la Serie Mundial en cinco años ante sus rivales de la Costa Este. Al final, los Dodgers ganaron el juego, 5-4, en gran parte debido a la valiente actuación de su novato zurdo. Valenzuela permitió nueve hits y siete bases por bolas en un juego completo de 146 lanzamientos, lo que llevó al equipo a una victoria en la Serie Mundial y cimentó su legado de pitcheo en Los Ángeles.
Erik Himmelsbach-Weinstein is a former senior video director for features, sports and long-form videos at the Los Angeles Times. The UC Berkeley graduate has been an editor at Spin, Los Angeles Reader, Orange Coast and other publications. His work as a documentary writer and producer has appeared on VH1, ESPN, Food Network, Biography and TLC. His short story, “Fried Chicken,” was included in the anthology “Another City” (City Lights, 2001). He started his career on The Times’ prep sports desk.
Mark E. Potts is the senior editor for video at the Los Angeles Times. A native of Enid, Okla., Potts graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a master’s degree in broadcast journalism. He has created and edited video for DreamWorks, YouTube, Microsoft, Sony and BET.
Jessica Q. Chen is a Chinese American filmmaker and journalist whose work explores stories and change around women’s issues, youth culture and sports. She was the series producer for L.A. Times Short Docs.
