Scioscia on Fernando: 'A down-to-earth kid from Mexico' who became a star

Former Major League catcher Mike Scioscia was saddened on Tuesday night after learning of the death of Fernando Valenzuela, 63, his batterymate with the Dodgers from 1980-90.

“Man, a sad day,” Scioscia said via telephone. “He was too young. We heard he was sick, and we didn’t know what was going on, but we knew it was serious. It’s just sad.”

• Valenzuela, Mexican pitching phenom of Fernandomania fame, dies at 63

Nobody knew Valenzuela better on the baseball field than Scioscia, who caught the left-hander more than anybody. In 245 games with Scioscia behind the plate, Valenzuela had a 3.32 ERA with a .242 batting average against. Valenzuela was known to have five pitches -- screwball, changeup, slider, fastball and curveball.

Scioscia will never forget the game that made him think the Dodgers had a star on their hands. It was Opening Day on April 9, 1981, at Dodger Stadium. Left-hander Jerry Reuss was scheduled to make the start against the Astros, but he was scratched because of a calf injury. Manager Tommy Lasorda turned to Valenzuela, then 20 years old, on a day’s notice to make the start. What did Valenzuela do? He pitched a five-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over Houston, the same team that won the National League West title on the last day of the 1980 season at Chavez Ravine.

Fernandomania was born.

“His talent was real. He had impeccable command. He could move a ball 3 or 4 inches more off the corner at will,” Scioscia said. “Everything looked like a fastball out of his hand, and he spun the ball really well with a curveball, for example. Just understanding how his pitches worked, it didn’t take a long time, especially with Fernando on the mound. He was calm and cool like he was throwing a batting practice session. He would make pitches and trust his talent.”

• Fernandomania still resonates decades later

Scioscia witnessed Valenzuela’s decline on the mound that started in 1988 due to a shoulder injury. While no longer the dominant pitcher fans -- and Scioscia -- were used to seeing, Valenzuela still managed to throw a no-hitter against the Cardinals on June 29, 1990.

Before the game, Valenzuela and some of his teammates were in the video room and watched A’s right-hander Dave Stewart -- a former teammate -- pitch a no-hitter against the Blue Jays. A minute later, Valenzuela told his crew, “You saw [a no-hitter] on TV. You are going to see one in person.”

“His stuff wasn’t quite the same, but he had uncanny command. He adapted what he needed. He came up with a little cut fastball,” Scioscia remembered. “The Cardinals had a good team. As the game went on, he continued to make pitches.”

Valenzuela was more than one of the best pitchers in Dodgers history. Off the field, according to Scioscia, Valenzuela was a practical joker. He had a knack for cutting through tension that might come through a clubhouse. For example, Valenzuela had a little lasso, and all of a sudden he would rope a teammate’s ankle as he walked through the clubhouse.

“He would laugh. Everybody would be laughing. It was funny,” Scioscia said. “Fernando was just a down-to-earth kid from Mexico that forced his way to an incredible career.”