Fernando Valenzuela Inducted Into Caribbean Baseball Hall Of Fame

perhaps considered one of the most beloved Dodgers of all time, will be inducted into the Caribbean Baseball hall of fame in a ceremony later tonight at Universidad Sonora, Centro de Los Artes, in Hermosillo Sonora. Valenzuela will also be joined by Jaime Jarrin, Tommy Lasorda, and Dodger executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen. They will also be on hand for the pregame ceremonies prior to the 5 P.M. game. The game will feature Mexico’s Yaquis de Obregón vs. Dominican Republic’s Leones del Escogido, and Valenzuela will throw out the first pitch.

Congratulations El Toro!-Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

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Valenzuela, a native of Sonora, started his career in Sonora Mexico, playing for Mayos de Navojoa of the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (LMP). He also played for Naranjeros de Hermosillo and Águilas de Mexicali in the LMP and played in the Caribbean Series. He will be honored for his career in the LMP and in Major League Baseball. Valenzuela will also be taking part in the pregame ceremonies on Friday in Hermosillo, for the Caribbean series, which starts at 6:30 P.M. That game features Mexico’s Yaquis de Obregón vs. Puerto Rico’s Criollos de Caguas, and Valenzuela will also throw out the first pitch before the start of the game.

Caribbean hall of fame members are voted on by Journalists, radio and television broadcasters, and historians from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Each nominee must receive a minimum of 75 votes a piece. Valenzuela received 175 out of a possible 200 on the ballot.

Fernando Valenzuela-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Valenzuela will be the pitching coach for team Mexico in the 2013 World Baseball Classic next month. This is his third time serving as pitching coach for team Mexico. The Dodger legend will also be starting his eleventh season as color commentator for the Dodger’s Spanish language radio broadcast. Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980-1990. Valenzuela was a six time all-star with the Dodgers, and won the 1980 National League rookie of the year award, and the 1980 N.L. award. He became the first player ever to win rookie of the year, and Cy Young in the same season. The former left hander also helped the Dodgers to the 1981 World Series Championship.