What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

______ Passed Away Today, RIP (2 Viewers)

The Dodgers really worked Fernando hard in his first six seasons (age 20-26)

1981 192.3 IP (1st in NL, shortened season)
1982 285.0 (2nd)
1983 257.0 (5th)
1984 261.0 (2nd)
1985 272.3 (3rd)
1986 269.3 (2nd)
1987 251.0 (3rd)
Most IP this year? 208.2.
Last year: 216

Fernando wasn't even the highest in any of those (full) years. Pretty amazing
 
Fernando Valenzuela LHP RIP

I also wanted to say that I was 7 years old when fernandomania started and that moment in time brought people from all walks of life together
People from different races, cultures, it was a treat to watch him pitch and his look up into the sky was something that united everyone

I can think of a few times these things happen but not often and this was on top of the fact that he was just so GD good on the mound throwing a baseball
Hall of Fame level from '81-'85
i was 5 living in so cal, my dad and uncle were big dodger fans and every time Fernando pitched the game was out on no matter what. Mexicans in so cal at the time didn’t have many players to root for in the majors yet and suddenly they had one of the hottest pitchers in the world pitching for their team.
 
The Dodgers really worked Fernando hard in his first six seasons (age 20-26)

1981 192.3 IP (1st in NL, shortened season)
1982 285.0 (2nd)
1983 257.0 (5th)
1984 261.0 (2nd)
1985 272.3 (3rd)
1986 269.3 (2nd)
1987 251.0 (3rd)
Most IP this year? 208.2.
Last year: 216

Fernando wasn't even the highest in any of those (full) years. Pretty amazing
Not as amazing as it seems. It was a different time and 250+ innings was somewhat common (up until 1989 the top 10 in IP were always above 250)
 
My boss spent 9 years in the minors and played winter ball in Mexico. He got to face Fernando and wrote an article about it for SI, which is a cool story in and of itself - he basically waltzed into the SI headquarters, shoehorned his way into the editor's office and left the article on the guy's desk. It got published. It's below for those that might want to read it. @Chaos34 you'll enjoy this one, I think. Right up your alley.

A WINTER-LEAGUER'S ENNUI IS BROKEN BY AN OBSESSION: FERNANDO TONIGHT
March 15, 1982

I shot three lizards this afternoon behind the hotel in Navojoa. They just stood there, tensed, blinking in the Mexican sun. I was surprised to see the red blood, I don't know why. When I was about nine, some kid broke my favorite bat, a black lacquered 29-inch Rocky Colavito model; I was surprised then, too, and in the same way, at the whiteness of the wood exposed by the crack.

Fernando tonight. That thought was a nagging companion all day. It was there between the sights of the Crossman Air Gun, especially when I aimed at the fatter lizards. While my roomie shoots BB's into the hotel room air conditioner that doesn't work, I think: Fernando tonight. Tecate beer cans, most riddled with holes, are next to the bed, nestled in a pile of dirty uniforms. More are on the floor, the desk, the windowsill. No TV. No radio. For two days, we've done almost nothing but sleep, eat and shoot at the room.

My roomie spent most of the morning shaving a bat with a piece of glass. Down here, in winter-league baseball, hitters shave their bats, groove them, cork them—looking for an edge. Pitchers scratch the balls, pine-tar their fingers, Vaseline their pitches—looking for an edge. Now there's quite a pile of shavings on the floor next to his bed. He got four days in the big leagues with Houston after eight years of minor league ball and a year in Vietnam. Now he plays year-round in Mexico. It makes me nervous, his life, especially when he picks up the gun and shoots the air conditioner.

I went to college. I studied Shakespeare, Milton and Chaucer; I dozed through biology, endured finite math. Now, 300 miles south of the U.S. border, staring at a ceiling, I think: Fernando tonight. Strange, surreal, wondrous, amusing, to be 27, single, unmonied, professional yet anonymous, and spend the day thinking: Fernando tonight. But, comfortingly, it's another in an ever-diminishing line of chances to emerge from baseball anonymity.

As I begin the ritual of putting on my uniform, I picture a line drive off his shin, a line drive at his head, a home run to right. I picture the screwball, I see the line drive back up
the middle, his grimace of pain...I hear the phone ring the next morning; I know what I will say:

"Yes, Curt [No Mr. Gowdy or sir—after all, I've arrived], I hit a low, hanging screwball [modesty, the height of conceit].

"Well, I visited him in the hospital last night [David comforts Goliath], and he seemed to be in good spirits considering the multiple fractures of his leg [I can't resist].

"No, Curt, no time in the big leagues [yet]. No, I'm not bitter."

Forget it. Fernando tonight.

There he is, in centerfield, shagging for batting practice, jacketed, looks like he should skip a few meals. I consider calling out. "Hey Fernando, yeah, you—don't be afraid to mix in a diet salad once in a while." I stretch my legs, do pushups and sit-ups. There's adrenaline already—calm down, back off, not too soon. I glance at him out there again, then again. I force my attention elsewhere, but glance once more. His humanity is reassuring, its proximity bothersome, but his gut, it pleases me. It's his banner of weakness.

Batting and infield practice down here are perfunctory; one isn't trying to get better, only ready. Tonight the ritual seems to go on and on. A band plays a song over and over again up in the bleachers—the lyrics, as best I can discern, consist entirely of the word "Fernando." It's his winter ball debut, and there's a big crowd—10,000?

I sit way back in the dugout during pregame ceremonies, adopting the ridiculous attitude that to be attentive is only to increase his edge. All my teammates on the Mazatlan Venidos are up on the steps. I wish they would move so I could see. The governor of the state of Sonora approaches the plate, beaming at Fernando reverently, resolutely through the boos of his constituents. The man is wearing white shoes and leather jacket. He extends his hand to Fernando while still eight or nine feet away, apparently afraid that the opportunity to shake the hand of the nation's hero will be denied him at the last moment. I feel sorry, embarrassed for the man. All day the poor guy probably was thinking: Fernando tonight.

Valenzuela steps up to the microphone. All I can understand of his speech is "Muchas gracias" which he says a lot. Now a collection of politicians advance, jostling, trying to shake his hand. I see one guy touch him and retreat, content with the contact. The stadium lights go out. The leftfield wall explodes with fireworks and spelled out in the air is BIENYENIDOS FERNANDO. The smoke is carrying toward rightfield. Pull the ball to right, to right.

His first pitch is a fastball. I lean over the plate as it passes; nothing special there. I guess screwball on the next pitch, and I'm right. It will be inside, pull it, pull it! I do, and the first baseman fields it cleanly and steps on the bag. O.K., I'm on him. Next time. I'm on him. It's all right. Next time his first pitch is a fastball and I get under it just a bit. Foul ball behind home. It will go in the stands. The wind, it's bringing it back. The catcher flicks out his glove like a lizard's tongue and the ball disappears. I walk back to the dugout. He's only pitching five innings tonight; I won't have another chance. Wait—I visualize the schedule—yes, we play this team again, we play them again.
 
Fernando Valenzuela LHP RIP

I also wanted to say that I was 7 years old when fernandomania started and that moment in time brought people from all walks of life together
People from different races, cultures, it was a treat to watch him pitch and his look up into the sky was something that united everyone

I can think of a few times these things happen but not often and this was on top of the fact that he was just so GD good on the mound throwing a baseball
Hall of Fame level from '81-'85
Don't think you'll find many, if any, Giants fans who agree with a single word of that.

But damn he was good. Rip to a legend. And I'm shocked hes not in the HoF... Always thought he was there.
 
Fernando Valenzuela LHP RIP

One of my earliest memories of Baseball was Valenzuela and the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

-Back in those days you didn't have social media and he was being talked about on TV shows you never heard mention sports
And then Valenzuela and the Dodgers had an amazing post season run
I believe they capped that with a 4-2 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, these two teams will see each other in the World Series laster this week

'81- He pitched the 1st game of the Division Series vs Nolan Ryan and the Houston Astros , Fernando was 20 years old
Valenzuela pitched 8 innings and allowed 1 run
Nolan Ryan pitched 9 innings and allowed 1 run
A young Dodgers pitcher that was not a starting pitcher yet by the name of Dave Stewart came out to pitch the 9th inning and lost the game 3-1
Houston would go up 2-0 in a 5 game Div Series and end up losing to the Dodgers in 5 games
Stewart would go on to be a starting pitcher in the late 80s and WON 20 GAMES B2B2B2B or 4 seasons in a row...

His passing brought back a lot of memories for me

Stewart and Valenzuela also threw no hitters on the same day. It’s the first thing I thought of when I saw this because that’s a very early memory for me.
I know this is all about Fernando, but I can't think of a pitcher that had a more menacing glare towards homeplate as Dave Stewart had.
 
And I'm shocked hes not in the HoF... Always thought he was there.

He was on a HoF trajectory but all those early career innings took their toll. Throwing a screwball is tough on a shoulder. He was a replacement level pitcher from his age 27 season on.
Sometimes HOF is more than just stats and longevity and there was no one like him in regards to what he meant to MLB in the early 80s. He was the MLB in the early 80s.
 
Fernando Valenzuela LHP RIP

One of my earliest memories of Baseball was Valenzuela and the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

-Back in those days you didn't have social media and he was being talked about on TV shows you never heard mention sports
And then Valenzuela and the Dodgers had an amazing post season run
I believe they capped that with a 4-2 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, these two teams will see each other in the World Series laster this week

'81- He pitched the 1st game of the Division Series vs Nolan Ryan and the Houston Astros , Fernando was 20 years old
Valenzuela pitched 8 innings and allowed 1 run
Nolan Ryan pitched 9 innings and allowed 1 run
A young Dodgers pitcher that was not a starting pitcher yet by the name of Dave Stewart came out to pitch the 9th inning and lost the game 3-1
Houston would go up 2-0 in a 5 game Div Series and end up losing to the Dodgers in 5 games
Stewart would go on to be a starting pitcher in the late 80s and WON 20 GAMES B2B2B2B or 4 seasons in a row...

His passing brought back a lot of memories for me

Stewart and Valenzuela also threw no hitters on the same day. It’s the first thing I thought of when I saw this because that’s a very early memory for me.
I know this is all about Fernando, but I can't think of a pitcher that had a more menacing glare towards homeplate as Dave Stewart had.
Al Hrabosky is probably also up there.
 
Paul Di’Anno 66 - original singer for Iron Maiden on the first two albums, replaced by Bruce Dickenson.

Dang.

I'm seeing them next month. Will be interesting to see what they do.
Bruce paid homage to Paul last night at last night's show in St. Paul. Saw the setlist though and they didn't play anything from the first two albums.

 
Fernando Valenzuela LHP RIP

One of my earliest memories of Baseball was Valenzuela and the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

-Back in those days you didn't have social media and he was being talked about on TV shows you never heard mention sports
And then Valenzuela and the Dodgers had an amazing post season run
I believe they capped that with a 4-2 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, these two teams will see each other in the World Series laster this week

'81- He pitched the 1st game of the Division Series vs Nolan Ryan and the Houston Astros , Fernando was 20 years old
Valenzuela pitched 8 innings and allowed 1 run
Nolan Ryan pitched 9 innings and allowed 1 run
A young Dodgers pitcher that was not a starting pitcher yet by the name of Dave Stewart came out to pitch the 9th inning and lost the game 3-1
Houston would go up 2-0 in a 5 game Div Series and end up losing to the Dodgers in 5 games
Stewart would go on to be a starting pitcher in the late 80s and WON 20 GAMES B2B2B2B or 4 seasons in a row...

His passing brought back a lot of memories for me

Stewart and Valenzuela also threw no hitters on the same day. It’s the first thing I thought of when I saw this because that’s a very early memory for me.
I know this is all about Fernando, but I can't think of a pitcher that had a more menacing glare towards homeplate as Dave Stewart had.
Al Hrabosky is probably also up there.
Bob Gibson would like a word.
 
Sometimes HOF is more than just stats and longevity and there was no one like him in regards to what he meant to MLB in the early 80s. He was the MLB in the early 80s.

Maybe the Rock 'n Roll hall of fame but the BBHOF and BBWAA are very strict gatekeepers.
 
Fernando Valenzuela LHP RIP

One of my earliest memories of Baseball was Valenzuela and the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

-Back in those days you didn't have social media and he was being talked about on TV shows you never heard mention sports
And then Valenzuela and the Dodgers had an amazing post season run
I believe they capped that with a 4-2 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, these two teams will see each other in the World Series laster this week

'81- He pitched the 1st game of the Division Series vs Nolan Ryan and the Houston Astros , Fernando was 20 years old
Valenzuela pitched 8 innings and allowed 1 run
Nolan Ryan pitched 9 innings and allowed 1 run
A young Dodgers pitcher that was not a starting pitcher yet by the name of Dave Stewart came out to pitch the 9th inning and lost the game 3-1
Houston would go up 2-0 in a 5 game Div Series and end up losing to the Dodgers in 5 games
Stewart would go on to be a starting pitcher in the late 80s and WON 20 GAMES B2B2B2B or 4 seasons in a row...

His passing brought back a lot of memories for me

Stewart and Valenzuela also threw no hitters on the same day. It’s the first thing I thought of when I saw this because that’s a very early memory for me.
I know this is all about Fernando, but I can't think of a pitcher that had a more menacing glare towards homeplate as Dave Stewart had.
Al Hrabosky is probably also up there.
Bob Gibson would like a word.
Willie Mays tells a story that one time facing Drysdale he started to dig in with his back foot at the plate and after digging in, he looked up and realized Drysdale was pitching. Mays then called time out, filled up the hole, and stepped out of the batter’s box as if to say, “I made a mistake. I didn’t realize you were pitching,”

There is also the story about Drysdale getting told by his manager to intentionally walk Frank Robinson. He went on to drill him with the first pitch and when asked about he said he didn't want to waste 4 pitches to put him on.
 
Jack Jones, one of the last of the crooners

Will always remember him mainly for the original Love Boat theme.
Even had a cameo performing it.
I remember him on Match Game as well.
 
Jack Jones, one of the last of the crooners

Will always remember him mainly for the original Love Boat theme.
Even had a cameo performing it.
I remember him on Match Game as well.
Yes, I think he had the prime guest of the week spot on the upper left. Next to the happy duo of Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly.
 
Jack Jones, one of the last of the crooners

Will always remember him mainly for the original Love Boat theme.
Even had a cameo performing it.
I remember him on Match Game as well.
Yes, I think he had the prime guest of the week spot on the upper left. Next to the happy duo of Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly.
rosey grier just had that spot when i watched today.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top