Bill Text: CA ACR12 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 12

Bill Title: Fernando Valenzuela Day.

Sponsorship: Broadly Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2025-09-23 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 190, Statutes of 2025. [ACR12 Detail]

Download: California-2025-ACR12-Chaptered.html

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 12

CHAPTER 190

Relative to Fernando Valenzuela Day.

[ Filed with Secretary of State September 23, 2025. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 12, Quirk-Silva. Fernando Valenzuela Day.

This measure would designate November 1, 2025, as Fernando Valenzuela Day, to highlight the positive impact his legacy created in the Latino and Hispanic community.

Fiscal Committee: NO

WHEREAS, Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960, in Etchohuaquila, a small town within the municipality of Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Valenzuela was the youngest of 12 children born to Avelino and María Valenzuela, who were humble farmers who worked the land with the help of their children and were of Mayo indigenous ancestry; and

WHEREAS, In 1981, Valenzuela married Linda Burgos, a schoolteacher from Mexico, and had four children: Fernando Jr., Ricardo, Linda, and Maria Fernanda. Fernando Jr. eventually played in the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox organizations; and

WHEREAS, Valenzuela began the 1981 Major League Baseball season as a last-minute replacement, making history as the first rookie to start opening day for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and delivered a dominant performance with a five-hit shutout against the Houston Astros; and

WHEREAS, Valenzuela capped his rookie season with eight consecutive wins, a World Series triumph over the New York Yankees, and an unprecedented achievement as the first and only player in Major League Baseball to win both the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same season; and

WHEREAS, “Fernandomania” emerged from the admiration of the Latino community for Valenzuela, electrifying Dodger Stadium and every ballpark on the nights he took the mound. As a Mexican-born sensation for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Valenzuela’s journey transcended sports, becoming a powerful symbol of hope and pride within the Latino community; and

WHEREAS, Valenzuela, the six-time All-Star, won 141 regular season games with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980 to 1990, including his no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, 1990, at Dodger Stadium. In 331 games as a Dodger, the master of screwball had a 3.31 ERA with 29 shutouts, 107 complete games, and 1,759 strikeouts in 2,348 and two-thirds innings, also holding the title as the all-time leader among Mexican-born pitchers in wins (173), strikeouts (2,074), innings pitched (2,930), complete games (113), and shutouts (31); and

WHEREAS, After retiring from Major League Baseball in 1997, the pitching legend eventually found his way into the broadcasting booth at Dodger Stadium in 2003, and spent the rest of his life giving analysis in Spanish to a whole new generation of fans; and

WHEREAS, Valenzuela became a United States citizen on July 22, 2015, at a ceremony in downtown Los Angeles. Following Valenzuela’s naturalization, President Obama appointed him a special ambassador for citizenship and naturalization, promoting the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of citizenship among eligible lawful permanent residents; and

WHEREAS, Valenzuela remained deeply engaged with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ community efforts, working to make a lasting impact and engage with communities across the County of Los Angeles. In 2014, he brought holiday joy to patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by distributing toys and taking photos with their families. In 2021, he visited the Long Beach Convention Center shelter for migrant children, where he shared his immigrant experience, played Wiffle ball with them, and, speaking in Spanish, offered comfort and encouragement, making the children feel seen and valued during a difficult time; and

WHEREAS, As a former Dodgers player, Valenzuela was a dedicated supporter of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), actively participating in initiatives that uplifted the community. He joined LADF at multiple Dodgers Dreamfield unveilings, helping to create safe spaces for youth to play and grow. Additionally, he supported LADF’s mission by attending key fundraising events, including the Blue Diamond Gala and Dodgers All-Access, demonstrating his commitment to making a lasting impact both on and off the field; and

WHEREAS, Valenzuela’s nickname, “El Toro,” symbolized strength, determination, and an indomitable spirit, qualities he exemplified throughout his lifetime; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That November 1, 2025, is hereby designated Fernando Valenzuela Day to highlight the positive impact his legacy created in the Latino and Hispanic community; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.