This Object in History: Fernandomania

He was mobbed by adoring fans up and down the country; when he pitched, home or away, attendance soared. To this day, he remains the only man to win Rookie-of-the-Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season. Fernando “El Toro” Valenzuela may have inspired the “Fernando-mania” craze of the 80s, made all the more remarkable in the days before social media, but he was also a legitimately great player. We’re honored that Fernando’s rookie baseball card and a signed ball, donated by a fan, are at the National Museum of American History.