Lifelong Dodger followers Manny Acosta, 59, and his brother, Jose Acosta, 60, sit on Vin Scully Avenue, simply toes away from the shrine on the Dodger Stadium signal devoted to the lifetime of Fernando Valenzuela.
The siblings are parked of their “Dodger Dodge” — a truck wrapped in Dodger blue with a picture of Valenzuela pitching on the facet.
Carrying their World Collection gear, they parked at midday and sat for hours watching as tons of of mourners arrived all through the day to drop off flowers, Mexican flags and different presents whereas paying their respects to a Dodger legend.
The Acostas have been born in Sonora, Mexico, the identical state the place Valenzuela was born, coming to Boyle Heights in 1972.
Manny Acosta sits in the “Dodger Dodge,” his truck wrapped in Dodger blue that includes the staff’s emblem and a picture of Fernando Valenzuela pitching.
(Anthony De Leon)
“I’m an immigrant like he was,” Manny Acosta mentioned of Valenzuela. “He came over here and surpassed the American dream. He was such an icon and literally changed the profession of baseball and its connection with Hispanics.”
He heard false rumors Valenzuela died just a few weeks in the past, making his demise on Tuesday much less startling. Nevertheless it nonetheless had a big impact.
“I’m just glad he’s resting,” Acosta mentioned. “It’s too bad he’s gone, but it’s good that he is no longer suffering.”
Acosta felt moved to bodily be at Dodger Stadium to mourn, utilizing the expertise “as a way to combat the pain, the loss and the fact he is gone.”
He met Valenzuela a number of instances throughout Dodger fan occasions, describing him as not solely an ideal participant however an ideal particular person.
“He didn’t talk much. He wasn’t social,” Acosta mentioned. “But what he did quietly as an individual, a human being, an immigrant and a family man — he succeeded to the fullest.”
A baseball participant from Boyle Heights, Montalvo grew up listening to tales about Valenzuela’s pitching prowess from his father, who usually wore a Valenzuela jersey.
“You couldn’t have grown up in L.A. without knowing who he was,” Montalvo mentioned whereas visiting Grand Central Market Wednesday. “It’s impossible. … You can’t drive down Sunset Boulevard without seeing the large, old mural of him as you head away from Dodger Stadium.”
Montalvo in contrast Valenzuela’s demise to the passing of different iconic L.A. sports activities figures like Vin Scully and Kobe Bryant. With Valenzuela’s demise so near the World Collection, he hopes it conjures up an identical spirit to Bryant’s passing in 2020 when the Lakers received a championship in his honor.
“I hope there’s a push like, ‘Let’s do this for one of the greatest that ever did it,’” Montalvo mentioned. “Win it and bring it home. We’ll celebrate him during the parade.”
Alexander Escobar, 27, spent six years driving buses for the Dodger Stadium Specific, which led to his first encounter with Valenzuela in 2020. He described Valenzuela as humble, type and down-to-earth.
“He greeted us like we were family,” Escobar recalled. “They put together an event for us to meet him, and he actually showed up. It was empowering.”
Followers positioned flowers, candles, baseball and different presents on the gates of Dodger Stadium Wednesday in honor of Fernando Valenzuela.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Occasions)
Escobar discovered Valenzuela’s journey to changing into a Mexican celebrity significantly inspiring, “especially when someone from the Hispanic community made it so far in the baseball world and in life.”
With Valenzuela’s passing occurring simply days earlier than the beginning of the World Collection, Escobar mentioned he’s glad MLB plans to honor Valenzuela’s legacy.
“It’s a shame he won’t be able to make it to the World Series,” Escobar mentioned. “It’s something he would have been a big part of. … From ‘81 to now, Dodgers-Yankees, it’s something that would have meant a lot for him to be there.”
He added, “Hopefully, in the spirit of Valenzuela, they win.”
“I got a message. … I was like, ‘I can’t believe this. It’s got to be fake,’” Flores mentioned. “It wasn’t even on the internet yet. That’s how quick it was. Then, five minutes later, the story was posted.”
Flores discovered inspiration in Valenzuela’s journey — coming to america from Mexico, battling English in his early years and profitable rookie of the yr and a World Collection in his first full season. That made the loss that rather more important for him.
“He’s going to be missed. That’s a legend,” Flores mentioned. “That’s one of the first Mexicans that actually made it in baseball.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” Serrano mentioned. “As an Angeleno, it’s very sad, very depressing, and even more reason to win the World Series.”
He added, “The Dodgers are in mourning and are preparing something special. … We have to win for El Toro.”
Serrano’s father, initially from Sinaloa, Mexico, usually shared tales of Fernandomania, proudly reliving recollections of Valenzuela’s dominance on the mound.
“[My father] would say, ‘It’s an honor to have a Mexican pitcher do what he did,’” Serrano recalled. “Valenzuela was ruthless, and he gave it his all.”
Serrano described Valenzuela because the epitome of arduous work, including, “It doesn’t matter the odds against you, brother, you can still make anything happen. You can do what you want. It doesn’t matter where you’re from.”
“It’s very, very sad,” Gaer mentioned. “We lost a legend for sure.”
Although too younger to have seen him in his prime, Gaer grew up listening to tales about Valenzuela’s affect.
“I hope we win this one for him,” Gaer mentioned of the upcoming World Collection. “But at the same time, it’s a bummer because if we do win, he won’t be here to see it.”
