The Los Angeles Dodgers will again celebrate the career of Fernando Valenzuela during his bobblehead giveaway night at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they are inviting fans to help.
Fans are encouraged to record themselves answering two questions and upload them to Greenfly for a chance to have their answers shown on social media and at the stadium.
The last day to submit a video is on Sunday, Sept. 12.
The questions ask fans to recall what they remember or have heard about Valenzuela’s debut season and what they thought when they saw Julio Urias holding the Mexican flag after the 2020 World Series.
Celebrating Fernandomania.
Submit a video of yourself answering the questions below for a chance to be featured on Dodgers social and in-stadium on Fernando’s bobblehead night on 9/15. Upload your video here: https://t.co/rlah1ikM6A pic.twitter.com/MJbz5zHprF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 10, 2021
Valenzuela was a six-time All-Star and part of two World Series teams in his 11 seasons with the Dodgers, but his biggest impact came off the field, which comedian and longtime fan George Lopez highlighted for MLB.com:
“The fact that he was Mexican and that he was so good, and so humble while on such an incredible run was inspiring,” Lopez says. “It didn’t give us a shot in the arm, it gave us a shot in the heart because he gave us somebody to love forever. Especially in L.A., this guy still inspires us. He still moves the needle. He changed our lives.”
During his career, Valenzuela simply became known as Fernando and Fernandomania, and inspired a new generation of fans with an impact that still lives on 40 years later.
Valenzuela understands why Dodgers haven’t retired No. 34
Although Valenzuela is one of the most influential and important Dodgers of all-time, his No. 34 has not been retired due to the organization’s unofficial policy of only doing so for uniform numbers of players who were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
However, it has not been worn since he departed the team after the 1990 season. Valenzuela is still holding out hope of the Dodgers making an exception, but wouldn’t be opposed to another player wearing the No. 34.
“To me, it would be nice. But, right now I don’t see anyone wearing that number,” Valenzuela said this year.
“If anybody wants to wear it, it’s fine. If somebody is asking for that number, no problem. I know it’s going to happen sooner or later, but who knows? I don’t know what the Dodgers are thinking, but I’d be happy if somebody was wearing that number.”
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