Dodgers retiring Fernando Valenzuela's No. 34

If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky in celebration of "El Toro."

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Saturday that they'll retire iconic left-hander Fernando Valenzuela's No. 34 this summer as part of a weekend-long "Fernandomania" celebration from Aug. 11-13.

No Dodgers player has worn No. 34 since Valenzuela left the team in 1990. However, it was never officially retired partly due to a team policy only to honor Dodgers players in the Hall of Fame. The only previous exception to this rule was Jim Gilliam's No. 19, which the club retired following his sudden death.

"To be a part of the group that includes so many legends is a great honor," Valenzuela said. "But also for the fans - the support they've given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them. I'm happy for all the fans and all the people who have followed my career. They're going to be very excited to know that my No. 34 is being retired."

Perhaps the greatest Mexican player in MLB history, Valenzuela rocketed to superstardom during his historic 1981 rookie campaign, a year dubbed "Fernandomania." Armed with a deceptive screwball and unique delivery, he led L.A. to a World Series title in his iconic freshman season and became the first National League rookie to win a strikeout title. Valenzuela was also the first rookie in either league to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year.

Over his 11 seasons with the Dodgers, Valenzuela made six All-Star teams, won two World Series titles, was a Cy Young finalist three times, and threw a no-hitter on June 29, 1990. He still ranks near the top of the team's pitching leaderboards in most categories.

The Dodgers released Valenzuela just before Opening Day in 1991. He pitched for five MLB teams and spent one year in his native Mexico before retiring in 1997. He returned to the organization as a Spanish-language broadcaster in 2003.

"I was hoping it would happen. I don't know why they waited," Jaime Jarrin, Valenzuela's longtime broadcast partner, said, according to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA. "But now he's getting his number retired, and that's just fantastic."

Valenzuela's number will be the 12th officially retired by the Dodgers.