In the end, only one player got a spot, and that was former Dodgers infielder Jeff Kent.
Those who support the New York Yankees were quite upset that Don Mattingly didn’t gain a spot. As far as the Dodgers fanbase is concerned, the unfortunate outcome saw Fernando Valenzuela once again posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Players had to reach the 75th percentile to participate, and Valenzuela did not receive enough votes to qualify. Because Valenzuela receives fewer than five votes, he will not be eligible for possible inclusion in 2028. The next time Valenzuela can be voted into the Hall of Fame will be in 2031.
The six-time All-Star won the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award in the same season. Valenzuela won 173 matches over the course of his historic career. He was known for his durability and penchant for delving deep into games. For those in Los Angeles, however, Valenzuela meant much more.
Hailing from Mexico, Valenzuela was someone that much of the fanbase could relate to, given the Spanish-speaking culture that was deeply rooted in the Los Angeles area. He was “my man” to millions of Dodgers fans across North America.
“Fernandomania” took the city by storm and made it cool to be a Dodgers fan. The excitement he brought to the mound on a weekly basis was something that wasn’t quantifiable — and certainly something that wasn’t fully appreciated by those living outside of Los Angeles during Valenzuela’s peak period.
Valenzuela had nine years of double-digit wins. He had a career-high 21 wins in 1986 (while also winning a Gold Glove for good measure).
Once his career ended, Valenzuela still remained strongly associated with the franchise. He joined the team in 2003 as a Spanish-speaking commentator. Valenzuela, who raised his family in Los Angeles, also began making television appearances.
Sadly, Valenzuela passed away in October 2024 due to a battle with cancer.
Although the iconic pitcher has yet to receive his well-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame, there is still a chance for voters to make it happen.
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Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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