On May 8, 1981, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie left-hander Fernando Valenzuela tossed a shutout to defeat the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, 1-0, marking his seventh straight victory to begin the season.
Valenzuela allowed seven hits, issued five walks and struck out a then-season high 11 batters, lowering his ERA to 0.29 in the process. The start was Valenzuela’s seventh-straight complete game and fifth shutout to begin the season.
Valenzuela was left one shy of tying Dave Ferris’ Major League record, set 36 years prior, for most consecutive starts won by a rookie.
Through his first eight starts in 1981, Valenzuela went 8-0, throwing eight complete games (five shutouts) with a 0.50 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
He went on to finish the season 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games and the eight shoutouts. Valenzuela led all pitchers with 180 strikeouts that season. He was named the 1981 National League Rookie of the Year, and also took home the NL Cy Young and he also won a Silver Slugger Award.
Valenzuela became the first pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same season. The Mexican native began his historic run on April 9, 1981, when he tossed a complete-game shutout against the Houston Astros in his first career MLB start.
Over parts of 11 full seasons with the Dodgers, Valenzuela went 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA and was named an All-Star six times. He was with the team during their 1988 World Series title, though was injured and unable to pitch during the postseason.
Valenzuela retired from baseball in 1997 and has spent the last 14 years as a Spanish-language color commentator for the Dodgers.
