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.¡±