Mark “The Bird” Fydrich
I woke this morning to hear of the tragic, premature death of former Detroit Tiger Rookie of the Year Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. The 54 year old Fidrych was found dead while apparently working on his asphalt truck. The cause of death is still under investigation.
Fidrych lived a life full of excitement and tragedy. The reason you probably have not heard of “The Bird” (who was given the moniker due to his gangly “Big Bird” like manner on the pitcher’s mound) was because the 1976 Rookie of the Year’s career was cut tragically short due to a torn rota tor cuff that was not diagnosed until some years after he left baseball; an injury which can often times be repaired today.
Only some of us long time Tigers fans remember The Bird. I was lucky to see his first game as a 9 year old in 1976 at Tiger’s Stadium. Fidrych had everyone laughing and wondering what he was doing as he seemed to be talking to the ball and dropping to the ground to manicure the mound with his hand between pitches. He went on to pitch a two hit game, start that year’s All-Star Game and go on to win Rookie of the Year.
Unfortunately, his shoulder injury the next year relegated him to the “one hit wonder” category of baseball history and regretfully his league minimum $16,500 salary and eventual 3 year contract of $225,000 was not enough to retire on. In recent years he has had to rely on a road construction business for a livlihood; a livelihood that seemed to be a factor in his presumed accidental death.
So, thanks Bird, for the childhood memories you gave me, my family, and the Tiger fans in Detroit. You’ll be missed!
Related
-
Americana / Baseball / Hong Kong / Steve's Life
Detroit Tigers: American League Division Series begins
By Steve -
Baseball
2008 World Series
By Steve -
Christianity / Colorado / In Memorium / Television
In Memorium: “Touched by an Angel’s” John Dye
By Steve -
Film / Hong Kong / In Memorium / Steve's Life
Lan Kwai Fong Movieland Shuts Its Doors
By Steve -
In Memorium / Uncategorized
My Top 10 Favorite Robin Williams Films…And Why I’ll Miss Him
By Steve -
Americana / Film / Hong Kong / In Memorium / Steve's Life
The Incredible (Disappearing) Video Store
By Steve -
Books / In Memorium
Goodbye to my friend Jackie
By Steve -
Americana / Baseball / Hong Kong
Jamie Moyers: 50 is the new 30
By Steve -
G.O.P. / In Memorium / Television
Good-bye Robert Culp
By Steve -
In Memorium / Star Trek
In Memoriam: Leonard Nimoy 1931-2015
By Steve