Fernando Valenzuela visited Van Nuys store two months before his death – NBC Los Angeles

The late Fernando Valenzuela made perhaps one of his very last public appearances at a sports memorabilia store in Van Nuys, leaving fans and store managers with lifelong memories of his star power and humble nature.

The Dodgers' All-Star pitcher, who died last weekend, spent more than two hours at Cardboard Legends, chatting with fans, signing autographs and appearing in photos.

The store's Instagram account features video clips and stills from the event, which took place in August 2024.

“We’ve been trying to get him for five years,” owner Mike Sablow said. “He didn’t do a lot of public autograph signings.”

Valenzuela looked a little thinner than Sablow remembered and appeared tired. He patiently signed jerseys, official 1981 World Series baseballs and photos – and even posed for photos with members of Sablow's family and his staff.

“They were able to hang out, take photos and meet and greet each other. It was great,” Sablow said.

No one could have predicted that the Dodgers' superstar, adored by millions, would disappear within three months.

Store manager Adrian Flores spent most of his time with the famously mild-mannered Valenzuela, speaking to him in his native Spanish.

Flores said that in all of his conversations with the Cy Young winner, he rarely discussed his own career and accomplishments or even the Dodgers themselves.

Instead, he preferred to talk about his fans, whom he appreciated.

“He always said, 'Hay mucha linea?'” – meaning, “Was there a long line?” Flores said.

He added that Valenzuela was a “ray of hope” for Latinos of his generation and showed them with his Fernando-mania in the 1980s and 1990s that “damn, we could do it too.” It was great.”

Sablow said fans who purchased autographed collectibles that day saw huge returns on their investments following Valenzuela's untimely death. Baseballs that sold for $200 each with a signature are now retailing for “$500 to $1,000.”

But he believes a true fan would choose not to sell now that Valenzuela is gone.

And the memories they collected while interacting with him that morning? Priceless.