Upon hearing of the passing of Los Angeles Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela, I leafed through my collection of baseball cards to see if I had his card. I found a gem. A 1981 Topps Dodgers Future Stars Baseball card, and boy did they get it right. Listed on the card were future stars of the Los Angeles Dodgers including Jack Perconte, Mike Scioscia, and the late great Fernando Valenzuela. Topps Future Stars cards didn’t always hit a home run with their predictions, but this one did. Fernando Valenzuela brightness as a player and proud Mexican American role model shown far past his ability to throw a baseball and get hitters out.

I found another card produced by Donruss which has an awesome photo of Valenzuela in full stride on the mound. On the back of this 1983 baseball card are Fernando’s stats from 1980 to 1982. I didn’t know that Valenzuela actually came up and pitched in 1980, prior to his historic Rookie of the Year/Cy Young campaign in 1981. Valenzuela appeared in 10 games, did not give up an earned run, had 1 save, 2 wins, and struck out 16 batters. Wow, in 1980 he was just 19 years old. What a player, just incredible stats! Here is that card so you can enjoy the stats, the information, the way we used to get our baseball knowledge before the internet.

I also wanted to share an amazing tribute I saw this morning on mlb.com, narrated by MLB writer Jon Paul Morosi. Very well done…

I will remember the leg kick, the screwballs, and the wicked cool name – Fernando Valenzuela. A Los Angeles Dodger legend, a Mexican American legend, Valenzuela gone too early at the unthinkable age of 63. RIP Fernando.