Full documentary available here:    • Fernandomania @ 40 - Full Documentary  

Fernando Valenzuela broke camp in 1981 as the Dodgers No. 3 starter. But when Opening Day pitcher Jerry Reuss came down with a calf strain, manager Tommy Lasorda tapped the unheralded 20-year-old rookie to replace him. Valenzuela proceeded to throw a 4-hit shutout over the Houston Astros. It was not only the first win of an amazing 8-0 start for the pitcher - it was ground zero for Fernandomania.

EPISODES:
Fernando, the hero -    • Everybody wants to have a hero | Fern...  
Fernando discovered -    • How the Dodgers discovered Fernando V...  
Chavez Ravine ghosts -    • Why the Dodgers are haunted by Chavez...  
‘Mexican Sandy Koufax’ -    • Before Fernando Valenzuela, the Dodge...  
1981 Opening Day -    • How Fernando Valenzuela’s 1981 Openin...  
A changed fanbase -    • How the look of the Dodger fanbase ch...  
The screwball -    • What made Fernando Valenzuela's screw...  
The media adapts -    • How the Dodgers and media had to adap...  
Meeting President Reagan -    • How immigration policy changed once R...  

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