Fernando Valenzuela added to what quickly was shaping to be an impressive rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers by logging a complete game and his fourth shutout of the year on April 27, 1981.
He finished the outing by retiring nine of the final 10 batters faced from the seventh through ninth innings. To that point in the 1981 season, Valenzuela was 5-0 in five starts, with a minuscule 0.20 ERA, 43 strikeouts in 45 innings and allowing just a .178 batting average.
His remarkable performances and start to the season spawned 'Fernandomania' and Valenzuela went on to be named the 1981 National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award winner, and he also earned a Silver Slugger.
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