A wall of legends: new L.A. mural features Ohtani, Yamamoto, Betts and Fernando Valenzuela

Located on a sunburned wall along Budlong Avenue, just south of the hum of downtown Los Angeles traffic sits a mural featuring Dodgers players of the past, present, and future. 

Painted by Los Angeles street artist Mister Alek, the massive piece features Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts, and the late Fernando Valenzuela — four figures who, in different ways, define the mythology of Dodger baseball. 

The artist posted videos on Instagram last week showing the slow birth of the mural — layers of blue, white, shadow, and reverence building under the California sun — before revealing the finished work on Tuesday.

And when you stand in front of it, the message feels unmistakable: this city remembers.

Valenzuela passed away during the Dodgers’ dramatic 2024 World Series run against the New York Yankees, and Los Angeles still hasn’t fully processed the loss. 

That’s why murals are part of the beauty of Los Angeles and its sports culture. 

Mister Alek’s art is on display on murals spread out across Southern California and includes a Kobe Bryant mural in downtown Los Angeles, another reminder that legends in this city never really disappear. They simply migrate to the walls.