MLB News: Baseball World reacts to Fernando Valenzuela's death

News of Fernando Valenzuela's death at age 63 sent shockwaves through the baseball community on Tuesday.

Valenzuela, who united Los Angeles' Mexican-American community with his exploits on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1980s, was 63 years old. A cause of death was not immediately announced.

More news: The legendary Dodgers pitcher has died

As a 20-year-old in 1981, Valenzuela threw complete games in each of his first eight starts in 1981; five were shutouts. He finished the season 13-7 with a league-leading 180 strikeouts in 192.1 innings.

The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series in October, a match that will be replayed Friday at Dodger Stadium. After the World Series, Valenzuela was named the winner of the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards.

After electrifying the Los Angeles fan base for 11 years (1980-90), Valenzuela played for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1991-97.

Valenzuela's fans in and out of the game took to social media to share their memories of the legendary pitcher on Tuesday.

“All I ever heard growing up in East LA was this man’s name,” retired major league pitcher Ricky Romero wrote on his Twitter/X account. “The reason we grew up as big Dodger fans. The stories in our household were endless. Que en Paz descanse LEYENDA! 🙏🏽”

“RIP Fernando. Great pitcher and an even better person,” Mark Gubicza, a former Los Angeles Angels pitcher and current broadcaster, wrote on his Twitter/X account. “I enjoyed watching you compete and it was an honor to share the same hill as you. 🙏🏼”

“A great thing no matter the uniform,” former New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians pitcher Joba Chamberlain wrote on Twitter/X. “Did so much for the game of baseball #rip_legend”

Los Angeles actor Danny Trejo and avowed Dodger fan also responded to the news of Valenzuela's death by posting a photo of himself with the pitcher on his Twitter/X page.

“God bless Fernando Valenzuela! #Dodgers,” the caption read.

Jessica Mendoza, broadcast analyst for the Dodgers and ESPN, wrote: “My heart is so broken. An absolute legend and one of the many reasons I fell in love with Dodger baseball 💔🥹#Fernandomaniaforever”

“I lived by this mural in New York City,” Angels play-by-play broadcaster Wayne Randazzo wrote on his Twitter/X page. “The power of Fernandomania. RIP to a true baseball icon.”

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