Mark Fidrych dead at 54

[Soxfan1]

BOSTON (AP) - Former All-Star pitcher Mark "the Bird" Fidrych was found dead Monday in an apparent accident at his farm. He was 54.

 

Mark Fidrych, 1954-2009. (Associated Press)

 

Worcester County district attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. Monday beneath a pickup truck at his Northborough, Mass., farm. He appeared to be working on the truck, Early said.

 

The colorful right-hander was the American League rookie of the year in 1976 when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA. He spent all five of his major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA.

 

His career was cut short by injuries.

 

Fidrych attempted a comeback in 1983 with the Boston Red Sox and went to their Triple A team in Pawtucket, R.I. But he never pitched in the majors after 1980 and retired in 1983.

 

The Worcester, Mass., native later owned a trucking business.

 

Fidrych acquired the nickname "the Bird" because of his resemblance to the Big Bird character on the Sesame Street television show. During games, he would bend down and groom the mound with his hands, appear to talk to the baseball and slap high fives with teammates in the middle of the diamond.

 

Tragic sports deaths

Mark Fidrych Photos: Sadly, Mark Fidrych is only the most recent athlete to leave this world far too soon. We pause to reflect on other tragic and shocking sports deaths.

 

He started the 1976 All-Star game after opening the season with seven wins in eight decisions. He finished that season with 24 complete games.

 

But he tore knee cartilage during spring training the following year and was placed on the disabled list until May 24. He sustained a shoulder injury in July 1977 and ended up pitching in just 58 games during his major league career.

 

State police detectives are investigating the circumstances of his death, Early said.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9452168/Former-MLB-pitcher-Fidrych-dead-at-54

 

 

It's crazy. When I moved to this town and found out he lived down the street I got his autograph and always talked to him on little league day. Rest In Peace Birdman.

[Cocos Disciples]

He was the guy who talked to the ball, right? RIP.

[chacha]

Mark was a nice guy, partied with him on his farm years ago....he was as crazy off the field as he was on...

RIP

[TheKilo]

Everything comes in threes....

[a700hitter]

He was quite a character. I've never seen one player create such excitement in a town. Detroit was a crappy team and he had that town going wild. I remember a nationally televised Monday night game against the Yankees in 1976. He beat the Yankees on a complete game. I think he threw a three hitter or something. He was talking to the ball and telling it where to go. He was a novelty. he brought a tremendous amount of energy to the game. After the game, no one left Tiger stadium until he came out of the clubhouse to acknowledge the crowd. When he came out to greet the crowd, he was like a giddy schoolboy. There was nothing contrived about him. He was completely genuine and childlike. He had no idea who he was pitching to. After that game, the MFer Yankees were complaining that he had showed up Munson, because he showed Munson the ball after he caught Munson's come backer. When the writers told the Bird that he Munson felt that he had showed him up, Friedrich looked puzzled and said "which one is Munson?" He wasn't being snide. He just didn't know anyone's name. He was special --- a bright star that burned out way too quickly.

[Taliesin]

He was quite a character. I've never seen one player create such excitement in a town. Detroit was a crappy team and he had that town going wild. I remember a nationally televised Monday night game against the Yankees in 1976. He beat the Yankees on a complete game. I think he threw a three hitter or something. He was talking to the ball and telling it where to go. He was a novelty. he brought a tremendous amount of energy to the game. After the game' date=' no one left Tiger stadium until he came out of the clubhouse to acknowledge the crowd. When he came out to greet the crowd, he was like a giddy schoolboy. There was nothing contrived about him. He was completely genuine and childlike. He had no idea who he was pitching to. After that game, the MFer Yankees were complaining that he had showed up Munson, because he showed Munson the ball after he caught Munson's come backer. When the writers told the Bird that he Munson felt that he had showed him up, Friedrich looked puzzled and said "which one is Munson?" He wasn't being snide. He just didn't know anyone's name. He was special --- a bright star that burned out way too quickly.[/quote']

 

He was very special and one of my first true memories of baseball. He was a must watch in 76. For a 12 year old he was a must see. Far more than "the guy who talked to the ball" and an historian of The Game would do well to understand his impact during that time period. I always wondered what became of him and he earned an honest living far after his time in the spotlight had come to an end.

 

This is the kind of guy that typifies baseball as I know it...and not what it has become to the majority who play it now. Or even to the majority who watch it. Thanks Bird.

[26 to 6]

Another terrible incident for the baseball family. Damn, how many more of these do we need? RIP.

[Mr Crunchy]

Certifiably insane but had something that this league truly lacks and thats passion and desire.

Never a guy who cared for money, just a local farm boy who had his shot,took it and became famous for 1 remarkable monday night game when he stuck it in the yankees ass while talking to the ball, patting the mound and driving Howard Cosell out of his mind.

A tragedy for all us central mass kids who remember him playing American Legion ball.

[riverside sluggers]

Out of the majors in just 4 years. His rookie season he pitched 250 innings while going 19-9, after that he pitched 162 innings. RIP

[Mr Crunchy]

This is why anyone who is offered the big money to turn pro is just foolish not to take it.

I dont care if youre nba nfl hockey or baseball, you never know whats around the corner,especially pitchers and running backs who are always 1 pitch or run away from being shelved permanetly.

[riverside sluggers]

Papelbon has got a cocky way of him obviously, wonder if it might bite him for wanting to get to free agency in 3 years

[a700hitter]

Everything comes in threes....

Three icons who made their fame in the mid-70's died this week. Fidrych was the brightest baseball star in 1976. He was such a phenomenon that he is still remembered and admired more than 30 years after his very short career. Kallas became the voice of NFL films in the mid-70's. I don't live in Philly so I don't connect him or his voice with baseball. He was the voice of the NFL week after week for decades. The last mid-70's icon to perish this week was Marilyn Chambers who revolutionized adult films with Behind the Green Door. The cause of her death as with Kallas and Fidrych will be determined by autopsy.

[MDF3530]

Three icons who made their fame in the mid-70's died this week. Fidrych was the brightest baseball star in 1976. He was such a phenomenon that he is still remembered and admired more than 30 years after his very short career. Kallas became the voice of NFL films in the mid-70's. I don't live in Philly so I don't connect him or his voice with baseball. He was the voice of the NFL week after week for decades. The last mid-70's icon to perish this week was Marilyn Chambers who revolutionized adult films with Behind the Green Door. The cause of her death as with Kallas and Fidrych will be determined by autopsy.

I'm guessing heart attack for Marilyn, stroke for Harry, and accident for Mark.

[riverside sluggers]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Aj7wypsPP3O3c6rmr88V5Xk5nYcB?slug=ap-fidrychinvestigation&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

His clothes got tangled up with a spinning part underneath the truck

[BoSox21]

wow, thats a horrible way to go

[Cocos Disciples]

Wow indeed, that's awful.