On Saturday, August 3rd, the Los Angeles Dodgers honored one of their most beloved players, Fernando Valenzuela, with a jersey retirement ceremony at Dodger Stadium. Valenzuela, who played for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990, was one of the most popular players in baseball history and was a key part of the Dodgers’ success during that era.
The ceremony began with a video montage of Valenzuela’s highlights from his time with the Dodgers. The video was followed by a speech from Dodgers’ President and CEO Stan Kasten, who praised Valenzuela’s contributions to the team and to the city of Los Angeles. Kasten then presented Valenzuela with his retired number 34 jersey, which will be displayed in the stadium’s outfield.
Valenzuela then addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support over the years and expressing his gratitude for being honored by the Dodgers. He also thanked his former teammates and coaches, and spoke about how much he enjoyed playing in Los Angeles.
The ceremony concluded with a performance of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Valenzuela’s former teammate, Orel Hershiser. The crowd erupted in cheers as Valenzuela waved to the fans and took a lap around the field.
The jersey retirement ceremony was a fitting tribute to one of the most beloved players in Dodgers history. Valenzuela’s number 34 will now be displayed in Dodger Stadium for all to see, a reminder of his contributions to the team and to the city of Los Angeles.
