The name of Fernando “El Toro” Valenzuela is once again making waves in the world of baseball. The Mexican, Dodgers idol and the cause of “Fernandomania,” was included on the ballot of the Baseball Hall of Fame's Contemporary Era Committee, which will vote on December 7 to determine the new members of the Cooperstown Class of 2026. The vote will take place during the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, where a 16-member panel will deliberate on a list of eight candidates whose greatest contribution to the sport occurred since 1980. These include legends such as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Valenzuela himself—the only deceased player on the ballot. The result will be announced that same night via MLB Network, and any candidate who receives at least 75% of the vote will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 26, 2026, along with the players who are elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) in January.

Valenzuela, born in Etchohuaquila, Sonora, marked an era in Major League Baseball. His emergence in 1981 with the Dodgers was historic: he won the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season, something no other player had accomplished before. Over 17 years in the Majors, he has amassed 173 wins, 2,074 strikeouts, and a 3.54 ERA. Beyond the statistics, "El Toro" became a cultural phenomenon who united the Mexican and Latino communities with American baseball in the 1980s.

This new nomination has a special significance because Valenzuela had already been left out of the traditional selection process. During his time on the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) ballot, he failed to reach the minimum percentage required to remain eligible: in 2003 he received only 6.2% of the vote, and the following year it dropped to 3.8%, thus losing his eligibility. Now, Thanks to the rules of the Contemporary Era Committee—which reviews the legacy of players whose greatest impact occurred after 1980—the Mexican once again has the possibility of achieving this recognition. December 7th will be decisive.If Valenzuela obtains at least 12 of the 16 votes, his name will be forever enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and his induction would take place in July 2026 in Cooperstown, New York. If he does not achieve this, he will have to wait for a new voting cycle. For millions of fans in Mexico and the United States, the eventual election of Fernando Valenzuela would represent more than a sporting tribute: it would be the recognition of a figure who transcended the diamond and became a symbol of Latino pride.

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