Fernando Valenzuela's Cause of Death Released: Report

LOS ANGELES, CA —The cause of death for Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela has been listed on his death certificate as septic shock, and the medical examiner also indicated that the late pitcher may have suffered from a rare brain disease, according to a death certificate made public Tuesday.

Additionally, the death certificate lists secondary causes as "decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis" and "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis," TMZ reported.

TMZ obtained the document outlining the health problems that took the late pitcher's life on Oct. 22 at age 63. The death certificate also indicated the former Cy Young and Rookie of the Year may have suffered from a rare brain disease known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Valenzuela, the phenom whose popularity in the city was dubbed "Fernandomania," was laid to rest Wednesday with funeral services at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

Valenzuela died amid the Dodgers' World Series run. He was honored during the series at Dodger Stadium.

Valenzuela had been a color commentator for the Dodgers’ Spanish-language television broadcast, but stepped down without explanation in September and was hospitalized soon after.

Valenzuela was one of the most dominant players of his era and a wildly popular figure in the 1980s, although he was never elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

However, he is part of Cooperstown, which features several artifacts including a signed ball from his no-hitter in 1990.

“He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes," Stan Kasten, team president and CEO, said in a statement at the time of Valenzuela's death. “He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon.”

Valenzuela is survived by his wife Linda and four children, Fernando Jr., Ricardo, Linda and Maria Fernanda, and seven grandchildren.

City News Service, the Associated Press and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.