Baseball Community Mourns the Loss of Dodgers Legend Fernando Valenzuela

Baseball fans across the globe are mourning the passing of former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who died last month at age 63. Valenzuela’s death, initially shrouded in mystery, was clarified on Tuesday when TMZ obtained his death certificate, revealing the cause of death as septic shock. The certificate also noted underlying health conditions, including decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis.

Throughout his career and retirement, Valenzuela faced various health challenges, including diabetes, hepatitis, and liver complications. His medical struggles intensified over time, as poorly managed hepatitis further complicated his health following his legendary run in Major League Baseball.

According to the report from TMZ, the medical examiner also suspected that Valenzuela may have been affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes this disease as a “rapidly worsening brain disorder that causes unique changes in brain tissue and affects muscle coordination, thinking, and memory.”

Fernando Valenzuela’s impact on baseball, particularly his rise to stardom with the Dodgers in the 1980s, continues to resonate with fans. His passing is a significant loss to the sports world, as many remember him not only for his pitching prowess but for his enduring legacy and the cultural connection he fostered with fans across the globe.