New Los Angeles Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard has long worn No. 34 in his career, choosing it with both the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels.
However, in Dodgers franchise history, No. 34 belongs to Fernando Valenzuela. Although it is not officially retired due to the organization’s unofficial policy of only retiring uniform numbers of players who were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, no player or coach has worn it since Valenzuela left the organization in 1990.
Syndergaard briefly wore No. 43 after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies this past season, and it seems he will continue to don that during his time with the Dodgers. “I think I’m just going to go with 43,” Syndergaard said during a conference call with reporters.
Valenzuela has held out hope of the Dodgers making an exception to retire his number, but he wouldn’t be opposed to another player wearing it. “To me, it would be nice. But, right now I don’t see anyone wearing that number,” Valenzuela said.
“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.”
The Dodgers did make an exception for Jim Gilliam, whose No. 19 was retired two days after his sudden death before the start of the 1978 World Series.
Although Valenzuela is not part of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, he was inducted into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. He was also one of the players named to the inaugural “Legends of Dodger Baseball” class, receiving the honor along with Don Newcombe and Steve Garvey in November 2018.
Noah Syndergaard explains signing with Dodgers
Syndergaard said a few teams were interested in signing him but he ultimately chose the Dodgers because “everything that they touch turns to gold.”
“This is a pretty surreal moment,” the 30-year-old added. “It’s been my dream to play for the Dodgers ever since I was first introduced to Dodger Stadium in 2015. Just the energy and atmosphere that Dodger fans create, the goosebumps I get every time I step on the field as a visiting player, and I feel like my performance is always elevated when I play there.
“Even this year, when I kind of had a down year based off my expectations and my standards, I still feel like the one start I had at Dodger Stadium was some of the best stuff I had. I have the utmost confidence in the staff and organization to help me get back to being the old me.
“I just really am fortunate and blessed to play for such a great organization that the Dodgers are.”
Syndergaard went a combined 10-10 with a 3.94 ERA over 25 games (24 starts) this past season for the Angels and Phillies.
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