Player’s Name: Fernando Valenzuela
Player’s Current Team: Currently retired (known for being an LA Dodger)
Player’s Current Address: 2123 North Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles CA, 90068-3403
Date Sent out: 2/17/09
Date Returned: 4/3/09 (45 days)
Why go after this autograph: This one is going to be very special for me for many reasons, the most of which is that I got hooked on Fernandomania. If you don’t know what I’m talking about either you were too young or not born because everyone knew about Fernando in the summer of 1981. Here he was a pudgy 20 year old kid that could through a ball through the side of a barn. He had 11 complete games that year, including 8 shut outs. He lead the NL in games started, complete games, shut outs, and strikeouts. Not only did he win Rookie of the Year honors, but also Cy Young honors. It was truely a special season, and the only thing that came close to it was Gooden’s rookie year and Fydrich’s rookie year. He would go on to win 173 games in his career and strikeout nearly 2100 batters. I highly recomend going after this one before he stops signing TTM.
Any Current Certified Autographs Available: A search on eBay proved fruitless. I know there are certified autographs of him out there, I just couldn’t find any. Look to pay anywhere from $5 to $100 for anything autographed by him. I couldn’t resist this piece of history:
His 1990 Topps Extention Agreement – it can be yours for about $145 <link>.
May 19, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I have one in the mail right now. Glad to know you got it back.
May 19, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I always enjoyed watching Fernando pitch, though I was never a Dodger fan. How can you not like someone with a cool like Fernando Valenzuela? Say it real loud and stretch it out a bit…just sounds too cool!
I bought a signed card back around ‘90 or ‘91. Might have paid $2. Congrats on the success!
May 20, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Not to rain on everyones parade but it is speculated that Fernando’s TTM returns are forged. If you compare his
May 20, 2009 at 10:18 pm
TTM returns to his certs it’s like night and day. He could have a “free” auto and a “pay” auto tho.
Sorry for replying to my own post but I hit submit by accident. HAHA
June 15, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Fernando’s only certified autographs are released in 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic. He has 3 different ones available, one with red stitch (standard) blue-red (short printed to 40, and black stitch (one of one). The standard autograph generally sells for $40-60 on Ebay when it turns up. There is also an uncertified auto of his from the Star sets released in early 1990s. Since those cards are considered unlicensed it does not get recognized in the standard catalogue of cards.
Carlos