Fernando Valenzuela was more than just baseball

Rick paid tribute to former teammate and fellow Dodgers broadcaster on Monday Fernando Valenzuela, who died at the age of 63 of an undisclosed illness three days before the World Series.

For those not there or aware, Valenzuela started 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA in 1981 and created Fernandomania, it was bigger than even Shohei Ohtanimania or basically anything baseball has ever seen.

“We knew it was coming, but it still doesn’t take away the emptiness of Fernando not being there. He meant so much,” Monday told The Post. “He brought cultures together, not just here in LA, but he brought cultures together in other cities.”

Valenzuela – the only one to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young in the same season and one of only two non-Hall of Fame Dodgers to have his numbers retired (alongside Jim Gilliam) – excited the crowds but always remained calm , reminded on Monday.

“There were times when he took the mound and it was like he had been through that game before,” Monday said. “I never saw Fernando nervous on the mound. I saw him get nervous on a golf course, but never on the mound.

Valenzuela looked like an Everyman. But it was built differently, Monday said.

“To see him in public, where you see children looking up to him and you see adults mesmerized meeting this young man from a remote area of ​​Mexico,” Monday said. “He had a regal presence. He never considered himself royal.

“He didn’t want to attract attention. But everywhere he went, people looked up to him. And they were fascinated by him.”