Fernando Valenzuela, the iconic pitcher who helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 1981 World Series, died last month from septic shock. Valenzuela died on Oct. 22 at the age of 63, although the cause of death was not determined at the time.
The player’s death certificate from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, obtained by TMZ Sports and confirmed by APlists septic shock as a direct cause. This life-threatening condition occurs when organs malfunction and usually results in dangerously low blood pressure.
On the death certificate, the medical examiner lists decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as the primary causes of septic shock. It also lists “probable” Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease as a serious condition contributing to Valenzuela’s death, which the Dodgers announced when it occurred last month, shortly before the team won the World Series again.
Valenzuela joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1980 and remained largely under fans’ radars until 1981. That season he won his first eight starts – five by shutout – and 0.50 ERA in 72 innings. He became a key player in the Dodgers’ journey to their first World Series title since 1965, and cemented his legendary status by becoming the first and only player in MLB history to win both the National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season.
Over the next five years, he was consistently recognized as one of the best pitchers in the league. His final season with the Dodgers would be in 1990. While he would sign with the Detroit Tigers in the spring of 1992, he never played for the team. His contract was purchased by Jalisco of the Mexican League that summer. Valenzuela returned to the major leagues to sign with the Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres and Cardinals.
Although his number has never been worn by another player since his retirement and has been unofficially kept out of circulation, the Dodgers officially retired his No. 34 jersey during a pre-game ceremony at Dodger Stadium in August 2023.
Valenzuela was buried during a public mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles last week, according to Britain’s Daily Mail. AP. Among those in attendance were former Dodgers Uriel Hershiser, Ron Cey, Reggie Smith, Jerry Royce, Manny Mota, Justin Turner, Rick Sutcliffe, Nomar Garciaparra and Jesse Orosco.
A source