Due to problems with his wife, a vital Los Angeles player has announced his retirement.
Retired pitcher and current broadcaster Orel Hershiser and retired Dodger Manny Mota lifted off a blue cloth to reveal Valenzuela’s number high above the field.
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He held hands with wife Linda as they walked down the left-field line to watch the unveiling. Earlier, a mariachi band broke out in music and song as Valenzuela was introduced and walked from the dugout to the stage set up in front of the mound.
Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, Valenzuela’s catcher Mike Scioscia, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín and current Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías were among those on hand.
The 87-year-old Koufax didn’t address the crowd. Valenzuela and Scioscia appeared on a Topps baseball card in
which they were labeled future stars. After his playing career, Scioscia managed the Los Angeles Angels. ADVERTISEMENT “It seems like yesterday when this little pudgy kid who was 20 years old started opening day for us and lights the whole world on fire,” Scioscia told the crowd.
“What you couldn’t see was the ice water in his veins. He proved how spectacular and magical everything was.” After the ceremony, Valenzuela tossed a first pitch to Scioscia, who bobbled the catch and buried his face in his glove.
The Rockies watched from the railing in the visitor’s dugout, while some of the Dodgers were on the field warming up and a few looked on from the dugout.
Earlier in the day, the 62-year-old Valenzuela was in downtown Los Angeles, where the city council declared it “Fernando Valenzuela Day.” The activities were part of a weekend-long celebration of one of the most enduring and popular players in Dodgers history. Valenzuela was the theme of the postgame drone show.
