ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Late Tuesday night, the baseball world lost a beloved figure in Los Angeles Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela, who died at the age of 63.
While Valenzuela was never inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was a beloved figure to many baseball fans, especially to many Los Angeles Dodgers fans who grew up watching Valenzuela in the 1980s.
Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who was already scheduled to join Total Information A.M. on KMOX Wednesday, spoke about the legacy of Valenzuela.
"He was such a personality, he had a unique wind up where he looked up to the sky," said La Russa on Total Information A.M. Wednesday. "He had a personality, very outgoing, really connected to the fans, so anybody that brings some personalization to what can be a kind of a serious stone-faced experience is good for the game."
La Russa, who had the chance to manage Valenzuela for a little bit in 1997 when Valenzuela pitched five games for the St. Louis Cardinals, says what made Valenzuela an excellent pitcher was his command.
"Fernando had a great mix of pitches and he could throw it to any side of the plate up or down, corner, sideways corner," said La Russa. "That's a tremendous loss. I didn't realize he was sick and I'm very sorry."