LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Los Angeles Dodgers will retire the number 34 in honor of pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, the team announced Sunday.
The number will be retired during a special three-day celebration Aug. 11-13, when the Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. The festivities will begin with a Ring of Honor ceremony on Friday night, followed by giveaways of a collector’s edition bobblehead on Saturday night and a replica Valenzuela 1981 World Series ring on Sunday.
Other elements planned for the weekend will be announced in the coming weeks.
Valenzuela was a member of two World Series championship teams, won the 1981 Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, was selected to six All-Star teams and won two Silver Slugger Awards (1981, 1983) during his 11 years with the Dodgers from 1980-90.
“To be a part of the group that includes so many legends is a great honor,” Valenzuela said. “But also for the fans — the support they’ve given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them. I’m happy for all the fans and all the people who have followed my career. They’re going to be very excited to know that my No. 34 is being retired.”
Valenzuela’s number 34 will take its place among those previously displayed on the left field club level: Pee Wee Reese’s number 1, Tommy Lasorda’s number 2, Duke Snider’s number 4, Gil Hodges’ number 14, Jim Gilliam’s number 19, Don Sutton’s number 20, Walter Alston’s number 24, Sandy Koufax’s number 32, Roy Campanella’s number 39, Jackie Robinson’s number 42 and Don Drysdale’s number 53.
“I am incredibly happy that number 34 for the Los Angeles Dodgers will be retired forever,” said Stan Kasten, Dodgers president and CEO. “The one question that I continuously get asked, more than anything else, is about retiring Fernando Valenzuela’s number.
“The citywide call by our fans to honor him is truly remarkable. What he accomplished during his playing career, not only on the field but in the community, is extraordinary. He truly lit up the imaginations of baseball fans everywhere. It’s hard to envision a player having a greater impact on a fan base than the one Fernando has had.”
Team policy was to limit retiring numbers to Hall of Famers. The only exception was for Gilliam, the longtime Dodgers infielder, outfielder and coach whose No. 19 was retired on Oct. 10, 1978, before Game 1 of the World Series, two days after he died from a massive brain hemorrhage at the age of 49.
No one had worn 34 for the Dodgers since Valenzuela was released during spring training in 1991.
Retiring the number “had been kicking around with us for several years,” Kasten said, adding that it probably would have been done sooner if not for the disruption the COVID-19 pandemic created in the team’s promotional planning.
“It’s been clear what Fernando means to fans. Someone asked about him being an exception — I think that is the best word to describe Fernando’s accomplishments on the field, in the community and his connection to our fan base. Those are all exceptional.
“The main thing was the constant clamor I got from fans. As you know, I walk through the stands every night. I get all kinds of comments — some good, some bad. Mostly good. But the question I get more than any other is about retiring Fernando’s jersey. That convinced us this was the right thing to do.
“We had the policy. But at the end of the day, this just made more sense than just sticking to the policy.”