LOS ANGELES — Julia Mendez carefully set up three candles in a neat row beneath a sign that welcomed visitors to Dodger Stadium. Alongside the candles, she placed a foil-wrapped burrito against a post.
“I know he loved burritos his whole life,” shared Mendez, a 70-year-old supporter from North Hollywood, who had made the burrito filled with nopales and scrambled eggs herself.
On Wednesday, the city was in mourning for Fernando Valenzuela, the legendary Mexican-born pitcher whose unique style and impressive performances in the early 1980s sparked “Fernandomania.” He passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 63.
“I arrived in the U.S. in 1976, and he came in 1979. That’s when my pride and joy truly began,” Mendez reflected, noting that she shares her birthplace, Sonora, with Valenzuela. “He elevated our names globally, uniting the community as fans. My admiration for him has lasted all these years.”
Valenzuela’s journey from a modest upbringing as the youngest of twelve children in Mexico to becoming a star on the baseball mound made him a beloved figure, especially within Los Angeles’ Latino community. His legacy drew new fans to Major League Baseball, and this admiration persisted well after he retired.
Across the street, the mariachi band Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar played a tribute, their guitars and trumpets filling the air. The ensemble often performs during Dodger games and remained to honor the pitcher affectionately known as “El Toro.”
The Dodgers, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, were organizing a tribute to Valenzuela in advance of Friday’s Game 1 of the World Series.
Mendez enhanced the blue-and-white sign with a large sombrero and a vibrant serape, adding white butterfly wings above the second ‘D’ in Dodger. This gathering spot was similarly charged with emotion last year when beloved Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully passed away at 94.
Henry Gomez from Gardena brought his 6-year-old daughter, Tianna, to the memorial outside the stadium. She carried a souvenir street sign adorned with their messages, intended to be left for Valenzuela.
“He’s a Hispanic icon for us,” Gomez stated. “He opened doors for many who followed. We take great pride in that.”
In Boyle Heights, not far from the stadium, Robert Vargas was busy painting a mural of Valenzuela on a building’s side. Vargas, known for his large-scale artwork in various outdoor locations worldwide, had gained acclaim for his mural of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, which has attracted tourists at a Little Tokyo hotel.
Back at the stadium, three men shared memories of Valenzuela’s legendary games in the shade. Gomez mentioned he had the chance to shake hands with Valenzuela a few times through the years.
“He was genuinely a good guy,” Gomez recalled. “That’s how you should be when you’re famous—just like Fernando.”
Fans have been congregating outside the stadium since news of Valenzuela’s passing broke late Tuesday evening.
Marcello Ambriz proudly displayed a childhood photograph with Valenzuela from when he was just two years old.
“Without Fernando, we wouldn’t have had so many Mexican Dodger fans,” he expressed.
The land where Dodger Stadium now stands was originally purchased from Spanish-speaking homeowners in the early 1950s by the city. Many residents initially refused to sell, leading to the city using eminent domain to acquire the property from tight-knit Mexican-American families who had been marginalized in other areas of Los Angeles.
“This history brings a lot of sadness,” Ambriz noted. “Fernando seemed to bridge that gap. Today, while many hurt over these past events, he represented unity for so many.”
Valenzuela’s birthday would have been November 1, coinciding with the possibility of the Dodgers hosting Game 6 of the World Series. This date also aligns with Dia de los Muertos, a significant holiday in Mexican culture dedicated to honoring deceased loved ones.
“There’s no reason to feel sad because he lives on forever in our hearts,” Mendez concluded. “He achieved the American dream—no, he surpassed it.”
