Introduction to Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela, the Dodgers’ left-hander who sparked Fernandomania in 1981, is among the eight names that will be considered by the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for induction into next year’s class.
The Selection Process
The 16-person committee meets every three years and considers players whose primary contributions to the game came since 1980. Any candidate who receives 75% of the votes on ballots cast by the committee will be elected into the Hall of Fame and will be inducted in Cooperstown on July 26, 2026 — along with any inductees elected from the Baseball Writers Assn. of America ballot, which will be announced Jan. 20, 2026.
Candidates for Induction
The other seven players who will be considered by the committee include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Gary Sheffield.
Committee Members
The 16 members who will review the committee’s ballot will be appointed by the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s board and be announced later this fall.
Fernando Valenzuela’s Career
Valenzuela, who had his number retired by the Dodgers in 2023 before he died at age 63 in October 2024 on the eve of the Dodgers-Yankees World Series, won 173 games over 17 seasons — 11 of those with the Dodgers — and was a six-time All-Star. He remains the only pitcher to win the rookie of the year and Cy Young awards in the same season in MLB history, but his lasting influence has been the seismic shift in the demographics of the fan base after he burst on the scene during a 1981 season that culminated with a World Series championship.
Previous Hall of Fame Consideration
Despite his impressive run early in his career, Valenzuela did not garner enough support when he was initially eligible for enshrinement to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (75% of the vote from members of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America is needed). In his first year on the ballot in 2003, he netted 6.2% of the vote, surpassing the 5% threshold needed to stay on the ballot for another year. The number dropped to 3.8% in 2004 and he fell off the ballot in subsequent years.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame Era Electorates
The National Baseball Hall of Fame has three different Era electorates: The Classic Baseball Era Committee, which covers the period before 1980 and includes the Negro Leagues, while the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee has two ballots — one for players and one for managers, executives and umpires whose greatest contributions came since 1980.
Upcoming Committee Meetings
The committee for contemporary managers, executives and umpires will deliberate in 2026, with the committee for the classic era scheduled to meet in 2027 before the committee for contemporary players meets again in 2028.
Conclusion
Fernando Valenzuela’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame would be a well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the game. His impressive career and lasting impact on the demographics of the fan base make him an ideal candidate for the Hall of Fame.
FAQs
Q: Who is Fernando Valenzuela?
A: Fernando Valenzuela is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and other teams.
Q: What is the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee?
A: The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee is a committee that considers players whose primary contributions to the game came since 1980 for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Q: When will the committee meet to consider Valenzuela’s induction?
A: The committee will meet in 2026 to consider Valenzuela’s induction into the Hall of Fame.
Q: What is required for a player to be elected into the Hall of Fame?
A: A player must receive 75% of the votes on ballots cast by the committee to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
