Finalistforthe2023CASEYAwardFernandoValenzuelawasonlytwentyyearsoldwhenTomLasordachosehimastheDodgers’opening-daystartingpitcherin1981.BornintheremoteMexicantownofEtchohuaquila,theleft-handerhadmovedtotheUnitedStateslessthantwoyearsbefore.Hebecameaninstanticon,andhissuperlativerookieseasonproducedCyYoungandRookieoftheYearawards--andaWorldSeriesvictoryovertheYankees.Fortyyearslater,therehasn’tbeenaplayersincewhocreatedasmanyDodgersfans.AftertheDodgers’movetoLosAngelesfromBrooklyninthelate1950s,relationswerebadlystrainedbetweentheorganizationandtheLatinworld.MexicanAmericanshadbeenevictedfromtheirhomesinChavezRavine,LosAngeles--someforcibly--forwellbelowmarketvaluesothecitycouldsellthelandtoteamownerWalterO’Malleyforanewstadium.Foragenerationofworking-classMexicanAmericans,theDodgersbecameasourceofgreatanguishoverthenexttwodecades.However,thatbitternesstowardtheDodgersvanishedduringthe1981seasonwhenValenzuelaattractedthefanbasetheDodgershadtriedinvaintoreachforyears.ElToro,ashewascalled,capturedtheimaginationofthebaseballworld.AheroinMexico,alegendinLosAngeles,andaphenomenonthroughouttheUnitedStates,Valenzueladidmoretochangethattensepoliticalenvironmentthananyoneinthehistoryofbaseball.AnewfanbasefloodedDodgerStadiumandballparksaroundtheUnitedStateswheneverValenzuelapitchedinaphenomenonthatquicklybecameknownasFernandomania,whichcontinuedthroughoutaDodgercareerthatincludedsixstraightAll-Stargameappearances.DaybreakatChavezRavineretellsValenzuela’sarrivalandpermanentinfluenceonDodgershistorywhilebringingredemptiontotheorganization’scontroversialbeginningsinLA.Throughnewinterviewswithplayers,coaches,broadcasters,andmedia,ErikShermanrevealsanewsideofthisintenselyprivatemanandbringsfreshinsighttothewayshetransformedtheDodgersandstartedaphenomenonthatradicallyalteredthecountry’sculturalandsportinglandscape.
