A DODGER ORIGINAL FINALLY RETURNS.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

There never had been anything remotely like it. There hasn't been since, and likely never will be again.

It was a happening, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. An all-new phenomenon, bordering on disbelief.

This cherub-cheeked left-hander from the dirt roads of a place called Etchohuaquila, Mexico, throwing nothing but blanks. A 20-year-old rookie oblivious to pressure. On the mound with a jaw-dropping screwball, with magic in his arm and skyward look in every unbelievable delivery.

Fernando Valenzuela was an original who never can be duplicated, but, it seems, he finally can come home again.

``The prodigal son, he decided to come back to the Dodgers,'' veteran Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrin said.

It took years of effort, healing of old wounds, and maybe some forgiveness, but there was Valenzuela on Thursday, at last being introduced at a Dodger Stadium news conference as the team's new color commentator of its Spanish broadcasts.

``It's like being home again,'' Valenzuela said.

There was a touch of gray in his hair, but he looked good, his frame slimmed and less round than during his playing days. And it all felt very right, Valenzuela back with the Dodgers, standing before a pair of life-sized posters of him during his playing days.

Fernandomania not only was one of the great, unique moments in Dodgers history, but in Los Angeles, and in all of sports. He was a sensation embraced by everyone, but he connected on an entirely new level with a Hispanic community that might never have realized how hungry it was for a hero.

``Over the years I've seen Jackie Robinson and what he did for the black community,'' Dodgers announcer Vin Scully said. ``And it was amazing. I saw the complete adulation for Sandy Koufax, which went across all religions and colors. He was just a special player.

``But in my mind there's never been anything like Fernandomania. I can remember so many times I would see obviously poor Hispanic parents with little children, and I know as a parent myself, they would say to those children, `You see that man out there? He comes from a little town in Mexico nobody ever heard of. And look at where he is, because of hard work, determination and god-given talent. You can do it, too. Maybe not in baseball, but you can succeed. If he can do it, you can do it.'

``And there were many nights coming into the ballpark, there would be people out with his picture on a pole. It was amazing. The only thing I could think of was, this isn't just the baseball fan, not just Fernandomania. To those people coming here, I honestly feel like it was a religious experience.''

The Dodgers had been after Valenzuela to rejoin the franchise since his last season in the major leagues in 1997 -- seven years after the Dodgers cut him late in spring training, just five days before his $2.55 million contract would have become guaranteed. Days after he and the Dodgers had made a triumphant spring appearance in Monterrey, Mexico.

``I was not completely prepared for that moment, but I was thinking it's not the end of the world,'' Valenzuela said. ``I can still play and still pitch, I would try with another team.

``But at that moment, it was hard for me to understand what was really going on. After that, I said, `That's business. That's part of their job. They don't think I can still pitch, so that's the moment to change places.' ''

Valenzuela was angry he was waived too late in the season to catch on with another team, that then-manager Tommy Lasorda told him he was done in baseball (which Lasorda denied) and that later, during his union grievance that he was fired because of economical reasons, that Lasorda testified against him. The Dodgers won the grievance.

Lasorda, now a vice president, attended Thursday's news conference and then quickly left while Valenzuela and the broadcasters posed for pictures.

Valenzuela said it wasn't because he was angry at the Dodgers that for the past seven years he refused offers to attend games, throw out the first pitch on opening day or even attend his bobblehead night.

Valenzuela still was pitching winter ball in Mexico four years after he ended his 17-year major-league career with five games with the Cardinals.

``No hard feelings, like a lot of people been talking,'' he said. ``I was out for reasons. I wanted to make sure I stopped playing before I did something. I've just been waiting.''

Former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley had tried to get Valenzuela to join the organization as soon as he left the major leagues. Team president Bob Graziano continued trying after O'Malley sold the team. Jarrin tried. Vice president Derrick Hall continually attempted to bring Valenzuela back, though the left-hander seldom even returned calls.

``Derrick Hall played a big, big part,'' Jarrin said. ``He called him, after him, after him, after him. Mr. O'Malley tried everything to get him back, and he failed. Derrick Hall succeeded where Peter O'Malley failed. Peter told me, `Jaime, tell him I want him back. It doesn't matter. Under any capacity. As a coach, an instructor, in minor leagues, public affairs, anything.'

``Fernando would say, `Just give me time. I won't do anything until I quit playing.' ''

His time finally arrives tonight, when he throws out the first pitch, when he sits in the booth next to Jarrin -- his one-time translator -- for the first time.

A Dodger original, back home.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(color) Fernando Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers on Thursday as the team's Spanish-language color commentator.

Reed Saxon/Associated Press