Hundreds of people were in attendance at Downtown Los Angeles’ iconic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for a solemn service led by Archbishop Jose´ Gomez.

Fernando Valenzuela was remembered for “having the heart of a lion” throughout his stellar pitching career with the Los Angeles Dodgers during a funeral highlighting his Catholic faith on Wednesday. Archbishop José Gomez sprinkled holy water on Valenzuela's casket and later waved incense over it.

Just as Fernando Valenzuela tipped his eyes to heaven during his famous windup when he pitched, so did the hundreds of faithful who flocked to his funeral at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Nov. 6. But as Father Jim Anguiano said during his Mass homily, that glance to heaven is no longer needed.