Is Fernando Valenzuela in the Hall of Fame?

As of August 2023, Fernando Valenzuela is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite his impressive career and significant impact on the game, he has not been elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) or via the Veterans Committee. Valenzuela is predominantly known for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and his contributions to baseball, particularly during the 1980s. However, his Hall of Fame aspirations have not been realized.

1986: The Turning Point

For all his fame, it was Fernando Valenzuela’s 1986 season that likely put an end to his Hall of Fame chances. That year, he went 21–11 in 34 starts with 20 complete games. He finished second in the Cy Young voting and won his only Gold Glove. Despite these impressive achievements, his team, the Dodgers, only won 73 games and finished 23 games behind in the standings.

The next season saw a different Valenzuela. In 1987, he went 14–14 in 34 starts and sported his highest ERA ever, though he still had 12 complete games. He led the NL in hits, walks, wild pitches, and batters faced but his SO/W ratio dipped, marking the end of the Fernando-mania era.

The Final Decade

Through the rest of his career, Valenzuela still managed to get a full slate of starts in some years. However, after 1987, he was never the same pitcher. In fact, his record over the last decade was a disappointing 74–85 with a 4.23 ERA in 224 starts. Wins might not be everything for a pitcher, but his performance had clearly declined.

One of the most significant factors in his declining performance was the sheer amount of innings he had thrown by a young age. By the time Valenzuela was 25, he had already thrown 1550 innings, facing 6363 batters. His record was 99–68, and the Dodgers were not always contenders during his time with the team.

Early Years of Prominence

The first 8 years of Valenzuela's career from 1980–1987 certainly seemed to be part of a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He won Rookie of the Year, was selected to 6 All-Star teams, finished in the top five for the Cy Young Award 5 times, and won it once. He was well-liked and respected throughout the baseball community.

However, others might speculate what happened to Fernando Valenzuela after 1987. His decline in performance and injuries may have been the primary reasons for his lack of Hall of Fame induction. He managed to finish out a decent career but never received more than 6.2% of the vote for the Hall of Fame.

In conclusion, while Fernando Valenzuela undoubtedly made significant contributions to his team and the sport, his declining performance in the latter part of his career prevented him from being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Even though his 1986 season was a high point, it ultimately didn't solidify his place among the best pitchers in baseball history.