Amid all the hoopla over the Dodgers’ dramatic World Series win, a thread of melancholy made its way into the exultation on Friday in downtown Los Angeles and Chavez Ravine.

Thousands of fans joined the celebrations. Dodger heroes basked in the love. And scores of public officials, coaches, staff and Dodgers veterans paid tribute to fresh heroes from a classic season.

Missing from the scene, however: Fernando Valenzuela.

Friday’s celebration fell on the 64th anniversary of the birth of legendary Dodger pitcher Valenzuela, who died Oct. 22.

But for many, the iconic hurler was very much there, his spirit mixed with the L.A. sunshine and his name on the back of countless jerseys worn by fans young and old — No. 34.

You could hear the love in the impromptu chorus of “Happy Birthday” outside City Hall on Friday before the parade of buses carrying current Dodger players.

You could hear it in the seismic ovation every time his name was mentioned at Dodger Stadium, where the team and fans gathered at the end of the parade for a ceremony.

“Happy Birthday, Fernando!” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts proclaimed in front of the packed stadium. “This is for you, too.”

Roberts earlier noted the bittersweet vibe.

“It’s going to be emotional,” Roberts said. “Fernando was a friend of mine. I know he’s smiling right now and very proud of this organization. So he’s going to be missed. I’m sure it’s something that he would want to have been a part of, but it’s going to be emotional for all of us.”

And that included the fans, who echoed the Dodger manager many times on Friday.

“So many family members love him and I’ve seen his highlights,” said Johnny Leon, 22, of Pomona, who wore a No. 34 jersey — Valenzuela’s number — to the celebration. “I wish he could be here to see this.”

Marco Sanchez, 63, moved to the United States from Mexico in 1971. From the first game he attended at Dodger Stadium with his cousin, he fell in love with the game.

He stood on Spring Street as several open-top buses carrying Dodger players, staff and their families rolled by.

“I will never forget it,” Sanchez said. “It’s going to be in my mind for quite awhile.”

He said the parade falling on Valenzuela’s birthday made the day more special, and he wished the Dodger legend could have been here to experience it.

Valenzuela pitched 11 seasons for the Dodgers starting in 1980, and ranks ninth on the franchise’s all-time win list. His rookie season in 1981 sparked the “Fernandomania” phenomenon as he went 8-0 with five shutouts to start the season. He became the first and only pitcher to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season.

Valenzuela was an All-Star every year from 1981 through 1986 and was a member of World Series championship teams with the Dodgers in 1981 and 1988. He was released by the Dodgers in 1990 and pitched six more seasons with five more teams before retiring.

“Fernando was the big pull,” said Miguel Ramirez, 49, of Norwalk. The manufacturing supervisor took a vacation day to attend the parade, and brought the Dodgers flag that waves outside his house during baseball season.

“Fernando brought so many Hispanics to the game. I remember watching Fernando pitch against the A’s on ’88, so to be here today on his birthday is special. Dodgers is family.”

He joined the Dodgers’ Spanish-language broadcast team in 2003. He stepped away from the broadcast booth in September due to health problems.

An impromptu memorial to the Dodgers great grew each day outside Dodger Stadium.

“His smile would say it all. I know his presence was with us the whole time. He loved his Dodgers, he loved baseball,” said Angelica Arteaga, CEO of Max’s Mexican Cuisine in Monrovia, where Valenzuela frequented.

Aside from quietly marking Valenzuela’s birthday on Nov. 1, Arteaga will lead a tribute to the Dodgers great on Nov. 12, at the Max’s in Monrovia. His favorite table will be renumbered “34” and a mural will be unveiled in his honor. Local mayors are set to attend to honor not only Valenzuela’s baseball legacy but also the local philanthropies he supported.

“He meant so much to the Latino community as an inspiration,” said Robert Gonzales, mayor of Azusa. “It was a privilege and honor to have met him, and to have a close tie to the Azusa community,” Gonzales said. “I’m grateful to have shared those moments.”

Fans in L.A. on Friday echoed the mayor.

“I remember meeting Fernando when I was 8 or 9, at an Easter event at Santa Anita Park,” said Jesus Anaya of La Verne, who came to the parade with his son Lorenzo, 18. “He told me to stay in school.”

Staff writers Bill Plunkett, Todd Harmonson and David Wilson contributed to this report.