Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Dodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Dodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Podcasts > DodgerHeads: “They Bled Blue” Author Jason Turbow Reflects On Tommy Lasorda, Fernando Valenzuela
Podcasts

DodgerHeads: “They Bled Blue” Author Jason Turbow Reflects On Tommy Lasorda, Fernando Valenzuela

Staff Writer
April 2, 2020
3 Min Read
Tommy Lasorda, Fernando Valenzuela
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
SHARE

When discussing Los Angeles Dodgers franchise history, the conversation often touches on some combination of Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run in the 1988 World Series, former manager Tommy Lasorda, Sandy Koufax and Fernando Valenzuela, among other baseball icons.

Perhaps because it still resides as the franchise’s last World Series title and has a highlight that can be recalled by young and old, the 1988 Dodgers vastly overshadow the championship team from 1981.

So when author Jason Turbow set out to write about the Dodgers, his focus went to the team that doesn’t garner nearly as much attention by producing “They Bled Blue: Fernandomania, Strike-Season Mayhem, and the Weirdest Championship Baseball Had Ever Seen.”

It first released last June but as of Tuesday is now available in a paperback version as well. That Turbow would elect to write about the 1981 Dodgers — not the underdog darlings of 1988 — isn’t the biggest surprise, however.

He grew up a San Francisco Giants fan. Turbow joined Jeff Spiegel and Matthew Moreno on DodgerBlue.com’s “DodgerHeads” to explain rooting for the Giants yet developing an interest to write on their longtime rival.

Turbow highlights Valenzuela’s improbable rise to becoming the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter in 1981, which of course marked the beginning of ‘Fernandomania.’ The Mexican native inspired the fanbase as he threw a complete-game shutout against the Houston Astros and went on to log nine innings in each of his first eight starts that season.

Seven of those were complete games; the lone exception saw Valenzuela hold the Montreal Expos to one run over nine innings and get credited with a win when the Dodgers exploded for five runs in the 10th.

Although Valenzuela is a central figure in “They Bled Blue,” as much if not more of the spotlight goes to Lasorda. As Turbow recounts in the interview with DodgerBlue.com, the fiery Hall of Fame manager was potentially heading toward being fired.

Instead Lasorda oversaw a Dodgers team that endured a strike-shortened 1981 season, had some good fortune on its side and resiliency in the postseason.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram! It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:1981 World SeriesDodgerHeadsFernando ValenzuelaJason TurbowLos Angeles DodgersTommy Lasorda
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Brusdar Graterol, Dodgers win, Dodgers flag, 2024 NLDS
Dodgers News

Dodgers Poke Fun At Padres With 2025 Dodger Stadium Giveaways

February 10, 2025
February 10, 2025
Hyeseong Kim, 2025 Spring Training
Dodgers Minor LeaguesDodgers News

Dodgers News: Hyeseong Kim Beginning Season With Triple-A Oklahoma City

March 12, 2025
March 12, 2025
Omar Estevez during Los Angeles Dodgers photo day
Dodgers Minor LeaguesDodgers News

Projecting Which Dodgers Prospects Are Likely To Be Selected For 2019 Arizona Fall League

August 18, 2019
August 19, 2019
Dodger Dog double bobblehead, FOCO
DodgerBlueFeatured

FOCO Selling New Dodger Dog Bobblehead

April 29, 2024
April 29, 2024

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어