8 Shutouts by Rookie Fernando Valenzuela

October 29th, 2009 @ 10:26am

Fernandomania hit in 1981 when rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela started the season going 8-0 with a mere 0.50 ERA and batters were hitting under the mendoza line against him. He was just 20 years old and the hottest thing in southern California since Sandy Koufax.

When I was little, I imagined this photo was from the day he threw his 8th shutout, setting the rookie record for shutouts in a season, but if you notice the ivy on the outfield wall then you know this photo could only have been taken in one place—Wrigley Field. Valenzuela only started 1 game in Chicago that year, and Fernandomania was put on hold that day, June 6, 1981, less than 2 weeks before the strike put the season on hold. He gave up 7 earned runs and was pulled after 3 1/3 innings.

The Cubs were hitting him hard and had a 4-1 lead by the time Fernando took the mound in the bottom of the 4th, hoping to get a grip on the game and win this thing anyway. Then there was a leadoff triple by Jerry Morales to leftfield. After that, it just got worse— walk, RBI single, flyball (1 out), RBI single, 2 run HR by a pinch hitter, and a walk. At that point, Fernando was done for the day. It was the 2nd start in 10 days that he allowed 7 runs to score and not make it out of the 4th inning.

In fact, he was fading fast just before the mid-season strike that year. After his 8-0 start, he finished the first half of the season going 1-4 with a 6.16 ERA in 6 starts. Makes me wonder how his rookie campaign would’ve been without 2 months off in the middle of it.

Either way, Fernando came back for the 2nd half and added 3 more shutouts to the 5 he threw in the first month of the season, to set the rookie record for shutouts. That year, he was great more often than not. A very valuable part of a Dodgers championship season.

The back of the card says the modern record had previously been made in 1913, but that sounds insane to point out. I mean, who would say that, knowing that it was the deadball era? Shutouts were much easier in 1913, so it really doesn’t compare very well.