Fernando Valenzuela’s Last Phillies Appearance Leaves Lasting Impression

The baseball world is mourning the passing of Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela.

The former pitcher died Tuesday at a Los Angeles area hospital at the age of 63. The Mexican-born southpaw rose to fame in 1981, when he won the NL Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and Silver Slugger Awards. His star power sparked generations of baseball fandom across Latin America. His starts were a spectacle known as “Fernandomania.” Valenzuela is also known for his distinct windup, looking towards the heavens as he released every pitch.

While Valenzuela is best known for his 11-year tenure with the Dodgers, he did pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1994. A year removed from winning the National League pennant, the Phillies were short on starting pitchers with Curt Schilling, Tommy Greene and Ben Rivera all spending time on the injured list. To make up for those losses, the Phillies signed Valenzuela, who was 10-3 in the Mexican League at the time, to a big league contract.

His time in red pinstripes wasn’t all that memorable. The Phillies were already 11 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the realigned NL East at the time he signed. Valenzuela finished the year 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in eight games (seven starts).

But his last start was a good one. As our friend Matt Albertson pointed out on Twitter, Valenzuela pitched on Aug. 11, 1994 vs. the New York Mets, the final game before the ’94 strike that canceled the World Series. The Phillies won 2-1 on a walk-off single from Ricky Jordan in the bottom of the 15th.

The more than 37,000 fans at Veterans Stadium that night got to see vintage Valenzuela. He struck out seven over eight innings and allowed only one run on a solo home run. He ended his night with a perfect screwball to catch Kelly Stinnett looking on strikes. He was lifted from the game for pinch hitter Tony Longmire in the bottom of the eighth.

With the players strike looming, Phillies broadcaster Andy Musser read a statement from chairman Bill Giles in the fourth inning:

“I’m extremely disappointed and saddened that we’re approaching another work stoppage in baseball. I hope the negotiations will be able to come to a quick resolution and that we will be able to play baseball again soon. However, I am thoroughly convinced that the present economic system does not work. … A long-term solution is required. I strongly believe a sharing arrangement between the players and among clubs produces an environment that enables our game to grow. Such an arrangement will benefit everyone: the players, clubs and most importantly, the fans.”