On the night of October 22, the world of baseball was shaken by the loss of Fernando Valenzuela at the age of 63, after being hospitalized in Los Angeles, California, due to liver complications.
After the sad news was announced, various personalities from Mexican sports expressed their sorrow for the departure of the legendary baseball player from Navojoa, Sonora, including Hugo Sánchez. On the Futbol Picante program, the Pentapichichi dedicated emotional words to his friend, highlighting the legacy he left in national sports and recalling how Valenzuela, Julio César Chávez, and he paralyzed the country when they played.
On another occasion, during his show Hugo Sánchez Presenta on ESPN, the former footballer recalled an interview he did with Valenzuela, in which the Toro gifted him a signed jersey with the number 34 of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hugo Sánchez thanked this gesture, emphasizing the significance of that moment and the friendship that united them during that stage of their lives.
