RIP Fernando Valenzuela

I had no recollection of Fernando being that good for the 1996 Padres. A 3.62 ERA and 31 starts in the fledgling steroid era was an accomplishment.

 

I had no recollection of Fernando pitching for the 1996 Padres. Thanks.

 

All of these uniforms seem out of place for Fernando

 

Explain to me again how Harold Baines is in the Hall of Fame, but Fernando isn't.

 

Harold Baines had his friends on the committee who voted him in.

 

I seem to remember John Candelaria pitching a no hitter on Monday Night Baseball.

 

I think that was 1976, Pirates versus the Dodgers.

 

I just googled and it was August 9, 1976. Incredibly stupid that I know this considering I was four days old when it happened. This is why my wife gets mad.

Her, "This is why you can't remember anything I tell you, because your brain is still retaining who the 1989 NBA Defensive Player of the Year was or some shit."

Me, "Yeah, that was Mark Eaton. What do you want from me?"

 

I was looking at Fernando’s stats today. He had a really great run between 1981 and 1987 based on counting stats, awards and advanced metrics.

In those seven seasons:
— six all star teams
— five times in top 10 for war for pitchers
— four seasons with cy young votes
— two gold gloves
— one silver slugger
— one ROY
— one Cy Young win.

it’s not an all time great run, but it’s damn good. Which got me thinking of who was better in the NL? Maybe Nolan Ryan? In the AL, Stieb or Morris? Quisenberry?

Now, I’ve obviously cherry picked his best span and made that an arbitrary timeframe.

 

I had just turned 11 and while I can occasionally get my anniversary mixed up ("It's the 18th, not the 17th!!!!"), I do remember watching that on Monday Night Baseball 48 years ago!

 

Herschiser