Fernando Valenzuela played 17 MLB seasons, from 1980 to 1991 and 1993 to 1997. While he played for six MLB teams, his longest tenure was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Historically, there is no match to Valenzuela’s 1981 season. Only one pitcher in Major League history has won the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same season — Valenzuela. Add to that, he was the National League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game that season, and he won a World Series championship.
His six-season span from 1981–1986 will forever be regarded as one of the elite runs by a Dodger pitcher — six All-Star selections, three top-three finishes in the Cy Young Award balloting, two Silver Slugger Awards and a Gold Glove Award, 97 wins, 84 complete games, 1,258 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. In eight postseason starts, he was 5–1 with a 2.00 ERA
Valenzuela's no-hitter on June 29, 1990, is regarded as one of the greatest performances ever at Dodger Stadium.
Career highlights:
6× All-Star (1981–1986)
World Series champion (1981)
NL Cy Young Award (1981)
NL Rookie of the Year (1981)
Gold Glove Award (1986)
2× Silver Slugger Award (1981, 1983)
NL wins leader (1986)
MLB strikeout leader (1981)
Pitched a no-hitter on June 29, 1990
Los Angeles Dodgers No. 34 retired
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