Documentary Movie Reviews
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Fernando Nation (2010)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
9/25
9/25:
Forget The Scout.
The real deal is Fernando Valenzuela. In 1981, he came out of absolutely nowhere to take MLB by storm. As
a result, he won Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, Silver Slugger, and World
Series title all in the same season. No one had ever done that, and it remains unmatched.
Another impressive accomplishment, of which I still remember, occurred on June 29, 1990. Dave Stewart had
thrown a no-hitter for the Oakland Athletics. Normally, when that happens, nobody else does it again on the
same day. Even Fernando Valenzuela was informed of what happened, and then...he went out and did it! So far,
no two pitchers have duplicated this feat.
Fernando Nation does a good job of capturing everything that began the unusual phenomenon:
Fernandomania. I didn't know about the history in relation to the uprooting of a community resided by
Mexican, Chinese and Italian people to build Dodgers Stadium. Wondering if there were reparations made, I
found out it's a bill being considered.
All in all, there's never been a Mexican athlete like Fernando Valenzuela making a significant impact in U.S.
professional sports history.