This story, by Dodgers correspondent Gordon Verrell, first appeared in the Feb. 21, 1981, issue of The Sporting News, under the headline, “Dodgers to Beer Man: ‘This Bud’s for You’”, introducing TSN readers to rookie lefthander Fernando Valenzuela, who was about to embark on a record-breaking season in Los Angeles, igniting “Fernandomania.”
LOS ANGELES — If the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking for a spokesman for their beer commercials this season, they already have a pretty good one.
Fernando Valenzuela.
“Cerveza de Budweiser! Mucho bueno!” Or something like that.
The Dodgers’ new relief whiz does like his beer. If you don’t think so, check out his boiler sometime.
There have been pitchers over the years who found a bulging waistline no handicap. Remember Mickey Lolich?
But in the case of Valenzuela, there is a catch: He’s only 20 years old.
Through an interpreter, Valenzuela explains:
“It’s so hot in Mexico, you need lots of liquids. I like beer.”
Valenzuela arrived at Dodger Stadium last September. At 19, he appeared in 10 games, did not allow an earned run and he won two games and saved one.
Bobby Castillo, who taught Valenzuela to throw his devastating screwball, practically overnight, said of the unabashed Valenzuela, last fall, in the midst of the heated pennant fight with Houston, “I just hope he doesn’t learn how to read the standings.”
Apparently he didn’t. Or if he did it didn’t matter. He continued his impressive work over the winter in Mexico. Pitching for his hometown team, Navajoa, Valenzuela struck out 154 batters in 147 innings, won 12 of 17 decisions and had a 1.65 earned-run average.
In fact, since last July, when he was pitching at San Antonio (Texas), Valenzuela’s overall ERA is 1.22. He did not allow an earned run his last 35 innings at San Antonio, none in 17⅔ innings with the Dodgers and only 27 in 147 innings at Navajoa.
Valenzuela arrived at a time when Steve Howe, the National. League Rookie of the Year, encountered his one trouble spot of the season. And the newcomer impressed the opposition and teammates alike.
“If he’s only 19.” Dave Lopes said at the time, “he’s the smartest 19-year-old I’ve ever seen. Wherever the catcher puts his glove, that’s where he throws the ball. He’s not afraid to shake off the catcher, and he’s sneaky, too.”
Ducky LeJohn, Valenzuela’s manager at San Antonio, noted, “By the end of the season, nobody was hitting him.”
Dodger scout Corito Verona spotted Valenzuela working in Mexico, before he learned the screwball, and then another scout, Mike Brito, was sent to Mexico to watch him some more. Finally, Vice-President Al Campanis worked out a deal, for $120,000.
Valenzuela was sent to the Arizona Instructional League in the winter of ’79, where Castillo was asked to teach him the screwball. He mastered the pitch in less than a year.
“I’ve never heard of anyone learning the screwball that quickly,” said Red Adams, ex-Dodger pitching coach.
Valenzuela was a starter at San Antonio and, being lefthanded, he may be asked to take over the spot in the starting rotation left by the departed Don Sutton.
“All I’m worried about.” Adams said late last season, “is that someone will make him lose 25 pounds … and he’ll be the most physically fit pitcher at Lodi.”
Dodger Dope: Rick Sutcliffe, the 1979 N.L. Rookie of the Year, who slumped from 17-10 to 3-9 and a 5.56 ERA last year, took his contract flap to arbitration. Three others who filed — Castillo, Howe and Bob Welch — signed before their cases were hear. … Jay Johnstone, a member of the Dodgers’ speakers bureau, appeared at a clinic recently and went on at length about batting while the next speaker, Howe, waited in the wings. Finally, out of patience, Howe went on stage and slapped Johnstone — in the face with a pie. It was merely a payback for an incident last summer when Johnstone interrupted a TV interview involving Howe by tossing a pie in his face. … The Reggie Smith 10K Run will be held February 15, around the Forum and Hollywood Park in Inglewood. The run will benefit the Centinela Hospital Medical Center.