What a cool, down to earth, funny guy. What a shame his career was so short. Too bad there arent more like him---how refreshing that would be in this era of arrogant, overpaid, spoiled, selfish, juiced up,........
Dat is echt een uitstekend punt. Ik weet niet hoe A-Rod werd hoe hij is. Er is gewoon geen nederigheid in A-Rod. Hij is niet heel graag to of obligaties in dat hij sympathiek zijn kan. Ik denk dat geld echt kan maken de mensen vergeten waar ze vandaan en zichzelf gekeerd worden. Kijken deze interview was een genot. Dit was het soort speler die elke fan zou tijd doorbrengen met en het gevoel dat ze tijd met een goede vriend doorbrengen je. Geen pretentie dan ook. Je post was op het geld.
What a cool guy. I grew up in L.A. and of course it was all 'bout the Dodgers in those days so I didn't get a chance to ever see the Bird pitch. Just heard my Dad talk about him.
It would be cool if Hollywood would make a movie that chronicled the exploits of character like The Bird. Spaceman Bill Lee would be another good candidate. "Spaceman and the Bird."
Yep yep the summer of 1976, the year of America's Bicentennial my 12th. year of life and in a time without all the modern information tech..In Detroit, hell half the country for that matter there was no cable TV, Satellite TV was still decades out & the handful of TV channel there were stop broadcasting at 2:30 AM..And the Betamax was some magical marval out of reach for most, in the dull's of the that time came this man..Mark "The Bird" Fidrych..Thanks mark..R.I.P..
"Never in my 37 years of baseball have I seen a player like him, and never will I again. My gosh, I don't know why we don't see more people like Mark Fidrych. He was what he was. All natural. So hyper, so uninhibited. A minute after he came into my office he'd have one cheek of his butt on the corner of my desk. Before you knew it, he'd be lying on my desk, his head resting in one hand, the other hand gesturing in the air." - Former Tigers GM Jim Campbell
I think... that there's a little bit of The Bird in Stephen Strasburg. Not to take anything away from either pitcher. No way. I look forward to Strasburg's next start. And RIP The Bird. I don't think they are same styles, but I think it's interesting how many Inet comparisons there are out there.
@shimerian Pitchers like The Bird and Strasburg are once in a generation type pitchers. I'm going to enjoy Strasburg for as long as it lasts, and hopefully that's a very long time. The Bird in 1976 - there was nothing like it, he made that year very special. I remember, I was a little kid back then with my Farrah Faucet poster and Nadia Comaneci was the perfect 10.
However, nobody compares to the personality of Mark "The Bird'" Fidrych.
One of The Real & becoming extinct individuals.I met Mark a few times in my friend Butch's Eng.Office in Northborough Mark treated me like we had been friends
Forever.Butch would say he's "The BIRD" he's "The BIRD" I new nothing DuH !since I didn't follow Baseball Only Now am i learning how Respected & popular Mark was..Mark & Butch were tight.Unbelievably Mark Passed on April 13, 09 & My Good Friend Butch on May 1, 09 Both Butch & Mark were" Top of The Top" God Speed my most cherished Friends
so damn unfortunate he had to die. his baseball career was cut short, he died at a young age... I mean I'm only 18 but I'm watching the Yankees/Tigers game on MLB Network, and, living in Detroit, it's terrible I could never meet him or... well, I digress. RIP Mark!
I was a cook in Marks hometown Northboro, Ma. in 1976. One night while I was cleaning up my boss came in and asked me if I would make a sandwich for this guy out at the bar and when I went out there to deliver it there was Mark, He was a regular guy with his long bushy hair and his dungaree jacket. It was one story I have told many times since that day in "76".
A true character in the best sense of the word...I remember him watching him in the All-Star game in 1976 when I was six and seeing him strike out Pete Rose, one of my faves...they don't make them like this anymore with all the divas like Manny and A-Rod...the closest player in the game today like The Bird is Tim Lincecum of the Giants...unpretentious as can be...
oh shit i used to play little league on that very same field that they showed in the begining but probably bout 20 years after this was made, looks alot different now
he was a great guy. i never knew him, but i watched him play and got a kick out of him. listening to him on this clip made me feel like i knew him a little better.
what a class act he was. to bad he couldnt have last longer. he brought good times to detroit when times where rough . RIP mark you will be missed here in detroit. just as the ol ball park on michigan and trumbull will.....
i was just in little league when the Bird started his dominance in Motown... he was so revered, so enjoyed, so admired... it's disheartening to realize his demise.
That's really an excellent point. I don't know how A-Rod became how he is. There's simply no humility in A-Rod. He's not quite like T.O. or Bonds in that he can be likeable at times. I guess money really can make people forget where they came from and become self-absorbed. Watching this interview was a pleasure. This was the kind of player that any fan could spend time with and feel like they're spending time with a close friend. No pretense whatsoever. You're entry was on the money.
I also think it kind of sucks that on the day The Tigers chose to honor Mark's memory,a true Tiger Legend, the day was devoted to the memory of someone else,not even a Tiger.
(Jackie Robinson)
Come on Detroit. Do right by The Bird. The sweet kid who brought hope to that miserable town for one glorious year in 1976.
"Yeah, I'm filling up the hole. I don't like it. What do you want me to do? Stop the game every time? Get the grounds crew? Grounds crew, fix the mound." LOLOL! Classic Bird.
The Bird was the word in Detroit for a far too brief period of the mid-1970s. Made me a life-long Tiger fan. We need more down to earth players like him.
i saw mark many times doing his job on rte 20 in northboro,the wheelabrator in millbury and green hill golf course in worcester.iwished i had the nerve to stop and talk to him,shake his hand and get an autograph.i blew it and now i deeply regret it.
he was a close friend of my family and i talked to him on the phone a year ago while he was at a sox game w. my dad and grandpa. i couldnt believe it when my dad told me he died monday because he seemed too young and too down to earth to pass away such a horrible way. RIP bird, thanks for making my grandpas dreams come to for his birthday! <3
Continued.... I send my sincere thoughts & prayers to his family. friends & former teammates. It may have been 33 years ago we all saw your debut Mark, but we will never forget you.... Heaven has just gained a little more personality.
I watched his first game, as a 19 year old kid & was so taken by him & his persona; what a breath of fresh air he brought to the game. And to learn of the tragic manner in which he passed... Such a joy to watch was Mark that I made every effort to watch any & every game he pitched. But people on the fringe lose sight, or never knew, beyond his on the mound behavior, he was a great pitcher & was so sorry to then learn of his shoulder problem, & we were denied seeing him pitch ever again.
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts authorities say former All-Star pitcher Mark Fidrych suffocated when his clothes became entangled with a spinning part on the truck he was working on.
The Worcester District Attorney's office announced Thursday that the medical examiner has ruled Fidrych's death an accident.
His clothes became entangled in the truck's power takeoff shaft, a driveshaft that can be used to power another piece of equipment.
ESPN classic showed the game in '76 when he beat the Yankees on Monday Night Baseball. The fans were going crazy. You could tell they loved him. To bad he got injured. He could have been a great pitcher for many years.
I was a 15 1/2 yr old girl and for some reason my dad asked me to go that game. We never did anything together, but we were at that game. I remember being excited that Fidrych was pitching and we won 5 to 1 against the Yankees. I'll never forget it. Fidrych was the greatest and I will never forget that summer. We had an iron on of Fidrych in the newspaper, I ironed it on my shirt and before I could trace it with marker...my mom washed the shirt and washed it away. I was furious with her.
I had a beer with Mark a few years ago, in a local bar. He was a regular guy. No big ego. I also had the pleasure of seeing him pitch from behind the plate, once. No surprise he threw him arm out. He threw every pitch with every muscle in his body!
I am in total agreement. All sports need a guy like the Bird .. he just reinforces that all sports originate becaue they are fun.. he just kept it fun longer than anybody. a class act and god rest his soul.
He had the talent of a Hall of Famer (for a short time), but his attitude toward the game was that of a little kid. It might have been the '76 All Star game, Im not sure, but the third baseman had just made a great play to keep a run from scoring. The inning wasnt even over but Fidrych runs over to the guy and starts slapping him on the back--just like it was Little League! Sadly, I dont think therell ever be another one like him. There couldnt be. After Mark they broke the mold.
As a big Tiger fan who lived in Grant, Michigan until I was 15... Mark Fidyrich was my favorite of all players, next to Al Kaline and Norm Cash who was from Post, Texas, not far from where I reside now in Lubbock, Texas. Fidyrich was a once of a lifetime person, player and gifted spirit. As a filmmaker/director/screenwriter, Mark deserves more then what baseball did not do for him after baseball, perhaps it's my calling to visit his family and have Mark come back for one more final encore.....
I only found this because he passed. I wasn't even born when he played and didnt know much about him. This guy was beautiful. He embodied all that is americana and baseball. There has to be a great movie made of this guys life. I think he tells us so much about ourselves because he was so much what we all are. R.I.P. bird I am glad I know a little about you.
"you wan me tah get the groundcrew aht heah evreytime?" Funny how it makes perfect sense.
He was a unique character. He did it without shoving team employees, spiking people, having an outlandish ego, or being nothing but offensive. There will never be another like him.
He had a great attitude, was humble and realistic. He obviously had higher ethics and did not want to take steroids to force a come back. Bird may you rest in peace you will always be a class act.
The Bird was truly one of a kind, I remember when i was little back in the mid 80's seeing highlights of him on TWIB and just thinking he was the coolest and funniest player! He made me smile and laugh then and he still does now! You'll never be forgotton Bird!
i've known mark for many years and he was one of the nicest people around. he'd always be there to lend you a hand. all of us in northborough and everywhere will miss him very much. R.I.P. Mark
For one glorious season, he was baseball in Detroit. However, even after he was gone, we still remember him. Thank you Mark Fidrych for all of the wonderful memories from 1976. You were great!
Always was and will always be my favorite Tiger. Him remaining as upbeat about everything as he did, almost seems biblical. Maybe God was testing him like Job. I'm sure he passed his final exam with flying colors!
When Mark was the biggest thing in Baseball I was pitching on a little league team in Roseville, Michigan. I like everybody else was talking to the ball and on our knee's grooming the mound there was so much excitement that summer. Mr Fidrych thanks for the best summer ever, and one of my greatest memories ever!!!!!
Mark was one of the best people you could have known, the world could use more men like him. The game of baseball lost one of it's brightest stars. He put Northborough on the map and was an inspiration to many, I consider it a privilege having known him, Chet's, and Lowe's won't be the same with out you. RIP Mark.
This guy was a rarity. Seems a straight shooter. A great story and a guy whose team overpitched him and blew up his shoulder. I am glad The Bird got some money out of it to have a decent life after baseball chewed him up and spit him out. Now pitching for The Angels: The Bird.
I knew Mark and can honestly say that there will never be another like him in baseball. He had a child's innocence and excitement everytime he went out on the mound. Even if he never became the biggest star in baseball ... he will always be remembered as an MVP and an All Star in life. A tragic end to a shining star.
Wonderful man, as a Northboro MA resident in the 80's and 90's I saw him often, later on he was almost always with his daughter and his love for her was so obvious. Just a very good man who figured out what was important. res In Peace Mark.
life long Yankee fan. but remember begging my grandfather to take me to the stadium to watch "the bird" he was a great pitcher and great for the game. he will be missed. R.I.P.
Mark was a true competitor. The way he talked to himself on the mound and his quirky antics was all genuine, the was nothing about him that was an "act", he just wanted to play ball. I feel his pain with his career being cut short, i can only imagine how he felt. above all he was a good guy.
I had the honor, and privilege, of seeing Mark pitch for Detroit back in 1976 and 1977. This was a great ballplayer, truly one of a kind. Back then, he could have been the mayor of Detroit. Even the opposing team's fans loved the guy. This is a sad day for me, and my fellow Tiger fans who were able to see him play and be a part of his short baseball career. God bless you Mark - you were awesome!
I feel kinda bad for the guy. He was just hangin around the house. You guys say he's weird. I see nothing weird, maybe a little funky. But he seemed like a decent guy. Sorry I never got to watch him pitch.
One of Detroit's greatest. I remember when we brought him to a baseball card show in Michigan about 20 years ago. The line to get his autograph, even years after he last pitched in Detroit, stretched all through the mall. He had agreed to come and sign for two hours, but there were so many people that he ended up running a half hour overtime. He didn't turn anyone away. What a class act. He will be missed.
I was too young too remember him play. I used to see him on ESPN Classic and read books and articles about him. He seem ed to be full of life and a genuine, down to earth fellow.
I was 13 and an aspiring pitcher myself when he burst onto the scene. The Bird was one of a kind. My dad and I watched his Monday night game and the All Star game on our black and white TV. We loved the Bird!!! One day in 1997 I bumped into him at a mall in Springfield, MA.
Ironically I ended up having a great high school pitching career and tore my cuff in 1980 and none of the docs could diagnose the problem either.
Thanks for the memories Mark The Bird!! Rest in Peace.
I remember one story about Mark in that after he pitch his rookie year the Tigers offer to tear up his contract and give him more money and longer terms. Mark being Mark told them that he was brought up to honor his word and the contract he had sign was his word! So he told them after this one expires then he can discuss the terms again! He was a one of a kind!
Just thinking wasn't in the movie the Slugger's Wife. I could swear I remember him in that pitching for the Astros! What a great guy! Will really miss him!
Mark and I went to high school toghether at Worcester Academy in 1974. I have such fond memories of this crazy bird. My heart goes out to Mark's family.
I have the Monday Night Baseball game from 1976 he started on VHS and DVD if anyone is interested contact me. I will try to put it here if I get enough requests
Yes Please post this if you can so we can all share in this great moment ! Maybe if you can get this done we can all agree to meet here next Monday and share the video and our thoughts!
He was a great story in the great story of baseball. I loved him when I was young. He was a great character, and had great stuff. I was sad to hear that he died.
I'm blown away right now - it was a special time in the D his rookie year at the corner. This guy, was THE real deal - one of a kind. As memorable as any player in the majors ever. We already miss you bad, Bird.
One more thing! I was hoping that someone here have some footage of some of his games besides this one! I would love to see of the games that he pitched on Monday night!
I have the Monday Night Baseball game he pitched in 1976 on VHS and DVD I will try to put it on here if I get enough requests I have it on DVD if you want to email me and get one.
Hmm wow, indeed sad. Mark Fidrych possessed what few in professional sports ever achieve; the ability to captivate through both athletic skill as well as dynamic personality. On top of all that, he appears to have been a pretty down to earth guy. R.I.P. Bird. Gone, but not forgotten.
I remember him on that Monday night baseball when he pitched a great game and beat the hated Yankees! The fans would not go home until he came back out! The chills I got that night! The fans around the league used to filled them up just to see him pitch! Maybe the proper word is performed! The Big Bird! RIP! We will all miss you! I am sure right now he is striking out Ruth,Gehrig,Cobb and the other greats!
I remember when The Bird said "bullshit" to Tony Kubek on national television after a game. I think Bowie Kuhn fined him $200 or something. The Bird was the Man.
I was a graduating Senior in High School just outside Boston when Bird Mania gripped the nation. He was more than just a Massachusetts boy made good - he was a phenom and utterly unique. No one who saw him pitch in 1976 will ever forget Mark Fidrych. I'm absolutely crushed to hear this news. To paraphrase Charlton Heston, "Godd*mn it. Godd*mn it all to He
Hard to believe he's dead. RIP bird.
illustrate100 5 months ago in playlist Bad News Bears(1976)
I met him once while I was in Jr High. He was a Jerk
MsCLJordan 6 months ago
he told my dad "always wear a condom"
tng150 9 months ago
he told him to late
TheTiger669 5 months ago
@tng150 he told him to late
TheTiger669 5 months ago
R.I.P the day you died will never be forgotten
Checkavailability6 9 months ago
I live in the town where this is fimed, Northborough, and I played on that field as a kid. He really was a big part of that town.
DemyxGod 9 months ago
What a cool, down to earth, funny guy. What a shame his career was so short. Too bad there arent more like him---how refreshing that would be in this era of arrogant, overpaid, spoiled, selfish, juiced up,........
loyaldude10 1 year ago
It's always how we were. RIP, Mark. I have your jersey. You shall live on, Bird!
swalk813 1 year ago
The Red Sox and the Yankees can suck a big, fat Detroit C**K!
swalk813 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Dat is echt een uitstekend punt. Ik weet niet hoe A-Rod werd hoe hij is. Er is gewoon geen nederigheid in A-Rod. Hij is niet heel graag to of obligaties in dat hij sympathiek zijn kan. Ik denk dat geld echt kan maken de mensen vergeten waar ze vandaan en zichzelf gekeerd worden. Kijken deze interview was een genot. Dit was het soort speler die elke fan zou tijd doorbrengen met en het gevoel dat ze tijd met een goede vriend doorbrengen je. Geen pretentie dan ook. Je post was op het geld.
CBRSKATEPROductions 1 year ago
What a cool guy. I grew up in L.A. and of course it was all 'bout the Dodgers in those days so I didn't get a chance to ever see the Bird pitch. Just heard my Dad talk about him.
It would be cool if Hollywood would make a movie that chronicled the exploits of character like The Bird. Spaceman Bill Lee would be another good candidate. "Spaceman and the Bird."
JohnnyLaRue86 1 year ago
Yep yep the summer of 1976, the year of America's Bicentennial my 12th. year of life and in a time without all the modern information tech..In Detroit, hell half the country for that matter there was no cable TV, Satellite TV was still decades out & the handful of TV channel there were stop broadcasting at 2:30 AM..And the Betamax was some magical marval out of reach for most, in the dull's of the that time came this man..Mark "The Bird" Fidrych..Thanks mark..R.I.P..
gadgetable64 1 year ago
Huge loss of a Tiger ICON
buschnic61 1 year ago
I heard about him on Only A Game on NPR and Youtubed him. He's an awesome character, totally and naturally funny and corky. Died so young. :(
soul4tran 1 year ago
You've got to love Mark Fidrych.....we miss you Mark !!!
DONGOE 1 year ago
"Never in my 37 years of baseball have I seen a player like him, and never will I again. My gosh, I don't know why we don't see more people like Mark Fidrych. He was what he was. All natural. So hyper, so uninhibited. A minute after he came into my office he'd have one cheek of his butt on the corner of my desk. Before you knew it, he'd be lying on my desk, his head resting in one hand, the other hand gesturing in the air." - Former Tigers GM Jim Campbell
TomTIGER69 2 years ago
@TomTIGER69 I would have agreed with you until this week. Stephen Strasburg.
Top40ModernRockPlay 1 year ago
I think... that there's a little bit of The Bird in Stephen Strasburg. Not to take anything away from either pitcher. No way. I look forward to Strasburg's next start. And RIP The Bird. I don't think they are same styles, but I think it's interesting how many Inet comparisons there are out there.
shimerian 1 year ago
@shimerian Pitchers like The Bird and Strasburg are once in a generation type pitchers. I'm going to enjoy Strasburg for as long as it lasts, and hopefully that's a very long time. The Bird in 1976 - there was nothing like it, he made that year very special. I remember, I was a little kid back then with my Farrah Faucet poster and Nadia Comaneci was the perfect 10.
However, nobody compares to the personality of Mark "The Bird'" Fidrych.
Top40ModernRockPlay 1 year ago
One of The Real & becoming extinct individuals.I met Mark a few times in my friend Butch's Eng.Office in Northborough Mark treated me like we had been friends
Forever.Butch would say he's "The BIRD" he's "The BIRD" I new nothing DuH !since I didn't follow Baseball Only Now am i learning how Respected & popular Mark was..Mark & Butch were tight.Unbelievably Mark Passed on April 13, 09 & My Good Friend Butch on May 1, 09 Both Butch & Mark were" Top of The Top" God Speed my most cherished Friends
TomTIGER69 2 years ago
best pitcher ever :)
x0xdesireex0x 2 years ago
Baseball today needs another Mark Fidrych..
Wheat001 2 years ago
yo andy dick!
Apfitt 2 years ago
no one can ever replace Mark! always a hero to us!
kagiso3741 2 years ago
so damn unfortunate he had to die. his baseball career was cut short, he died at a young age... I mean I'm only 18 but I'm watching the Yankees/Tigers game on MLB Network, and, living in Detroit, it's terrible I could never meet him or... well, I digress. RIP Mark!
snosdwiS 2 years ago
Mark would be driving his truck through Worcester,Ma. He would always wave and say Hi!!! Met him at a Little League bbanquet, what a nice person.
redhead5150 2 years ago
I was a cook in Marks hometown Northboro, Ma. in 1976. One night while I was cleaning up my boss came in and asked me if I would make a sandwich for this guy out at the bar and when I went out there to deliver it there was Mark, He was a regular guy with his long bushy hair and his dungaree jacket. It was one story I have told many times since that day in "76".
Markt5757 2 years ago
what a cool guy
rip
specialKismyname 2 years ago 8
A true character in the best sense of the word...I remember him watching him in the All-Star game in 1976 when I was six and seeing him strike out Pete Rose, one of my faves...they don't make them like this anymore with all the divas like Manny and A-Rod...the closest player in the game today like The Bird is Tim Lincecum of the Giants...unpretentious as can be...
TheSFKid 2 years ago
oh shit i used to play little league on that very same field that they showed in the begining but probably bout 20 years after this was made, looks alot different now
tgod75 2 years ago
You're right. Too many people don't know this. These people are looking to kill us.
dzanier 2 years ago
mark died this year: 4/13/2009
he was a great guy. i never knew him, but i watched him play and got a kick out of him. listening to him on this clip made me feel like i knew him a little better.
he will be missed.
largeGROUCH 2 years ago
what a class act he was. to bad he couldnt have last longer. he brought good times to detroit when times where rough . RIP mark you will be missed here in detroit. just as the ol ball park on michigan and trumbull will.....
rrp1984 2 years ago
all respect to da Bird detroit say wad up doe
willo313 2 years ago
i knew him i have been to his house i went to his wake. I met him first at chets diner in northboro. He was great!!! :) :(
idontknowstudios 2 years ago
he died, he got crushed underneath his truck last summer, atleast thats what i heard. if it is true, R.I.P bird
RichClone 2 years ago
i was just in little league when the Bird started his dominance in Motown... he was so revered, so enjoyed, so admired... it's disheartening to realize his demise.
what a guy :)
dirtiwhiteboi 2 years ago
my nickname in baseball is the byrd, i act like him while i pitch.
lego096 2 years ago
amazes me how nobody diagnosed his rotator cuff problem until too late
ttwarrior1 2 years ago
He was a wonderful man, handsome and kind.
AmyPieterse 2 years ago
Notice how forthright and honest this guy is?
"I was keeping that to myself (recently had shoulder surgery). I wasn't gonna tell anybody"
He can't help himself! He loved baseball, loved his fans.
A-Rod could take an ENORMOUS lesson from this great baseball legend!
(Not to change the subject on this video, but I don't even care what A-Rod has done - I'd just like him to speak 'off the cuff' like ol Fidrych.)
ricochetrob 2 years ago 2
That's really an excellent point. I don't know how A-Rod became how he is. There's simply no humility in A-Rod. He's not quite like T.O. or Bonds in that he can be likeable at times. I guess money really can make people forget where they came from and become self-absorbed. Watching this interview was a pleasure. This was the kind of player that any fan could spend time with and feel like they're spending time with a close friend. No pretense whatsoever. You're entry was on the money.
dzanier 2 years ago 5
"You're entry was on the money. "
Thanks!
So was yours!
ricochetrob 2 years ago
L.O.L
JDQuibble 2 years ago
Get those specs on Brickhouse. And John Mengelt is an idiot.
maliwyoming 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I think The Tigers should retire
Mark's #20.
I also think it kind of sucks that on the day The Tigers chose to honor Mark's memory,a true Tiger Legend, the day was devoted to the memory of someone else,not even a Tiger.
(Jackie Robinson)
Come on Detroit. Do right by The Bird. The sweet kid who brought hope to that miserable town for one glorious year in 1976.
dunskie 2 years ago 2
Didn't realize he was such a nice guy. He's really nothing like his image -- not eccentric at all.
pnutbutrncrackers 2 years ago
"Yeah, I'm filling up the hole. I don't like it. What do you want me to do? Stop the game every time? Get the grounds crew? Grounds crew, fix the mound." LOLOL! Classic Bird.
Slikrik1212 2 years ago
I was a kid and was enamored of Mark! RIP.
tonyztuba 2 years ago
The Bird was the word in Detroit for a far too brief period of the mid-1970s. Made me a life-long Tiger fan. We need more down to earth players like him.
whitepinejack39 2 years ago
i lived so close to him and met him so much. when he died, i almost did too. we all miss you mark R.I.P
stupidflix09 2 years ago
i saw mark many times doing his job on rte 20 in northboro,the wheelabrator in millbury and green hill golf course in worcester.iwished i had the nerve to stop and talk to him,shake his hand and get an autograph.i blew it and now i deeply regret it.
hikernut66 2 years ago
he was a close friend of my family and i talked to him on the phone a year ago while he was at a sox game w. my dad and grandpa. i couldnt believe it when my dad told me he died monday because he seemed too young and too down to earth to pass away such a horrible way. RIP bird, thanks for making my grandpas dreams come to for his birthday! <3
GFIZZ530 2 years ago
Thanks For The Summer Of 76 Mark!
I was only 6 yrs old then but was watching you pitch with excitement.
You brought the game back!
Tomei1 2 years ago 2
A loss off a wondeful human being and one in a millon...Rest in Peace Mark! You will be missed forever...
gman0064 2 years ago
The True anti A-Rod
onnybrother 2 years ago 2
Ditto
kopernicus2000 2 years ago
Continued.... I send my sincere thoughts & prayers to his family. friends & former teammates. It may have been 33 years ago we all saw your debut Mark, but we will never forget you.... Heaven has just gained a little more personality.
NatureMuzic 2 years ago 2
I watched his first game, as a 19 year old kid & was so taken by him & his persona; what a breath of fresh air he brought to the game. And to learn of the tragic manner in which he passed... Such a joy to watch was Mark that I made every effort to watch any & every game he pitched. But people on the fringe lose sight, or never knew, beyond his on the mound behavior, he was a great pitcher & was so sorry to then learn of his shoulder problem, & we were denied seeing him pitch ever again.
NatureMuzic 2 years ago
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts authorities say former All-Star pitcher Mark Fidrych suffocated when his clothes became entangled with a spinning part on the truck he was working on.
The Worcester District Attorney's office announced Thursday that the medical examiner has ruled Fidrych's death an accident.
His clothes became entangled in the truck's power takeoff shaft, a driveshaft that can be used to power another piece of equipment.
jackmehoffer68 2 years ago
Nice!
buric12345678 2 years ago
ESPN classic showed the game in '76 when he beat the Yankees on Monday Night Baseball. The fans were going crazy. You could tell they loved him. To bad he got injured. He could have been a great pitcher for many years.
magicreagan 2 years ago
I was a 15 1/2 yr old girl and for some reason my dad asked me to go that game. We never did anything together, but we were at that game. I remember being excited that Fidrych was pitching and we won 5 to 1 against the Yankees. I'll never forget it. Fidrych was the greatest and I will never forget that summer. We had an iron on of Fidrych in the newspaper, I ironed it on my shirt and before I could trace it with marker...my mom washed the shirt and washed it away. I was furious with her.
okiedokie1960 2 years ago
Was Mark really trying to make a comeback there in the early 80's Cape Cod league, anybody? Surprise the Sox didn't want a look at him. R.I.P Mark.
tjp623 2 years ago
I had a beer with Mark a few years ago, in a local bar. He was a regular guy. No big ego. I also had the pleasure of seeing him pitch from behind the plate, once. No surprise he threw him arm out. He threw every pitch with every muscle in his body!
jimgo4 2 years ago
I am in total agreement. All sports need a guy like the Bird .. he just reinforces that all sports originate becaue they are fun.. he just kept it fun longer than anybody. a class act and god rest his soul.
FinbarrB2k9 2 years ago
Just read about The Bird in the Irish Times. Great piece by George Kimball. Seems like a cool guy and very sad he's passed in such circumstances.
DannyWhitten 2 years ago
He had the talent of a Hall of Famer (for a short time), but his attitude toward the game was that of a little kid. It might have been the '76 All Star game, Im not sure, but the third baseman had just made a great play to keep a run from scoring. The inning wasnt even over but Fidrych runs over to the guy and starts slapping him on the back--just like it was Little League! Sadly, I dont think therell ever be another one like him. There couldnt be. After Mark they broke the mold.
filthyphillyboy 2 years ago
RIP Bird...he was my neighbor
i3po 2 years ago
I wish I could go back and see him on the mound again! Like I did in 76 RIP Bird.
onebutler1 2 years ago
I loved that interview.
qwerk 2 years ago
The Anti-ARod...humble, no bullshit, just a real guy.
A flash in the pan career, but a legend forever.
RIP
Thelookoutslookout 2 years ago 2
THANK YOU to the people at Media Burn Archive for this! (Check them out!)
Paulie88 2 years ago
"When you ever think that you got it made, and you're irreplaceable, you're wrong...because you find that out as soon as your gone"
Sorry Mark...you got it wrong. YOU ARE irreplaceable.
milkmoney11 2 years ago 2
R.I.P. Bird, from Bill in Ypsilanti.
darkstar4589 2 years ago
is it true he used to talk to the ball before pitching? the vid still isnt over so i dont know..."you're gonna strike him out for me ok?"
alien123pred 2 years ago
Very shocked to hear this sad news. He made baseball fun. The Jimmy Piersall of the Detroit Tigers.
motowngirl65 2 years ago
Wow. Seems like he was quite a character and was quite down to earth. I rmemeber listening to the games with my grampa when he was pitching.
Rattles02 2 years ago
As a big Tiger fan who lived in Grant, Michigan until I was 15... Mark Fidyrich was my favorite of all players, next to Al Kaline and Norm Cash who was from Post, Texas, not far from where I reside now in Lubbock, Texas. Fidyrich was a once of a lifetime person, player and gifted spirit. As a filmmaker/director/screenwriter, Mark deserves more then what baseball did not do for him after baseball, perhaps it's my calling to visit his family and have Mark come back for one more final encore.....
USCCINEMA92 2 years ago 2
I only found this because he passed. I wasn't even born when he played and didnt know much about him. This guy was beautiful. He embodied all that is americana and baseball. There has to be a great movie made of this guys life. I think he tells us so much about ourselves because he was so much what we all are. R.I.P. bird I am glad I know a little about you.
esteban0321 2 years ago 2
Thanks for so many great memories Mark! R.I.P.
bloodredsky24 2 years ago
"you wan me tah get the groundcrew aht heah evreytime?" Funny how it makes perfect sense.
He was a unique character. He did it without shoving team employees, spiking people, having an outlandish ego, or being nothing but offensive. There will never be another like him.
RIP
mexoo344 2 years ago
He had a great attitude, was humble and realistic. He obviously had higher ethics and did not want to take steroids to force a come back. Bird may you rest in peace you will always be a class act.
cl1chicago 2 years ago
The Bird was truly one of a kind, I remember when i was little back in the mid 80's seeing highlights of him on TWIB and just thinking he was the coolest and funniest player! He made me smile and laugh then and he still does now! You'll never be forgotton Bird!
haverchuckrules 2 years ago
i've known mark for many years and he was one of the nicest people around. he'd always be there to lend you a hand. all of us in northborough and everywhere will miss him very much. R.I.P. Mark
01SLPWS6 2 years ago 2
Great player he will be missed along with nick adenhart,and harry kalas R.i.P guys
BonjoviFan08 2 years ago
I just heard, just now, that he died today! OMG!!
God bless you, Mark...RIP
LeanaJoH76 2 years ago
God bless him.
nightskytube 2 years ago
Great interview.
DictionRedaction 2 years ago
sorry to hear about his unfortunate death
RIP Mark Fidrych aka "The Bird"
lbn1188 2 years ago
this guy did our road outside my house when i was 3. He also gave me an autograph
manskitto123 2 years ago
God rest his soul.
kirby19711 2 years ago 2
RIP "The Bird"
bobras99 2 years ago
I'll miss you, Mark!
LJMmack 2 years ago
RIP The Bird.
That hair kinda looks like Dierks Bentley, cant believe he still grew that hair.
#20 should be retired.
VinsanityTitans 2 years ago
Thanks for making baseball fun again back in 1976
deltafour1212 2 years ago
For one glorious season, he was baseball in Detroit. However, even after he was gone, we still remember him. Thank you Mark Fidrych for all of the wonderful memories from 1976. You were great!
newhotman1001 2 years ago
he was my teachers brother
shawnjohnson678 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
mark, the crackhead, the cocksucker is dead because he was a fucking reckless junkie.
theseriousatheist 2 years ago
You know how much of a stupid fuck you sound like. A helluva man you are for disrespecting a dead man.
ranndy101 2 years ago
WoW, that was nice, quess your without sin?? Jerk!!
m00chman 2 years ago
Hey mark, How do you like apples? I will miss you. RIP!
oldphoque 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This cocksucker was high on meth when died. He was a clueless mother fucker and deservly died like such.
theseriousatheist 2 years ago
You're lucky the internet allows you to post such garbage and remain anonymous.
tjf1114 2 years ago
fuck you the bird was one of the greatest ever and you are a douchebag
mnj1287 2 years ago 2
theidiotatheist has s**t for brains. Thanks for proving it to us.
Jupiter5252 2 years ago
Even if he was, was he hurting you?
ranndy101 2 years ago
Always was and will always be my favorite Tiger. Him remaining as upbeat about everything as he did, almost seems biblical. Maybe God was testing him like Job. I'm sure he passed his final exam with flying colors!
RIP Bird
phactreerat 2 years ago
This was fun. Thanks for posting this.
mowm88 2 years ago
I have the 1976 Monday Night Baseball game where Fidrych started vs the Yankees. If anyone wants to aquire it on DVD let me know.
20thcenturynostalgia 2 years ago
What a sweet kid.
A Legend in baseball forever.
dunskie 2 years ago
so true!
gazoo10 2 years ago
When Mark was the biggest thing in Baseball I was pitching on a little league team in Roseville, Michigan. I like everybody else was talking to the ball and on our knee's grooming the mound there was so much excitement that summer. Mr Fidrych thanks for the best summer ever, and one of my greatest memories ever!!!!!
tomfarrah 2 years ago
Met him when I was 7 in a grocery store. He was a cool guy.
BBKlima 2 years ago
Mark was one of the best people you could have known, the world could use more men like him. The game of baseball lost one of it's brightest stars. He put Northborough on the map and was an inspiration to many, I consider it a privilege having known him, Chet's, and Lowe's won't be the same with out you. RIP Mark.
dmc022379 2 years ago
I was watching some footage of Mark about of month ago. What a charismatic and generally good hearted guy. R.I.P. Bird.
BoochMarie0816 2 years ago
Mark was interviewed on the MLB network just a couple of days ago. Hopefully the end was quick and he didn't suffer.
rollo131 2 years ago
The man had a great approach to life and will always be remembered. My thoughts go out to his family.
125osprey 2 years ago
Can't believe he is gone. He will forever be missed and is a part of American folklore.
Top40ModernRockPlay 2 years ago
R.I.P. we'll miss you man
LuSkater101 2 years ago
This guy was a rarity. Seems a straight shooter. A great story and a guy whose team overpitched him and blew up his shoulder. I am glad The Bird got some money out of it to have a decent life after baseball chewed him up and spit him out. Now pitching for The Angels: The Bird.
jongreek 2 years ago
Rest in Peace Bird. A true gentleman...will be missed dearly.
dermotwalsh237 2 years ago
What a wonderful man!!!
RealAgentOfSHIELD 2 years ago
RIP
wrekk 2 years ago
I knew Mark and can honestly say that there will never be another like him in baseball. He had a child's innocence and excitement everytime he went out on the mound. Even if he never became the biggest star in baseball ... he will always be remembered as an MVP and an All Star in life. A tragic end to a shining star.
BeckhamBoston 2 years ago
R.I.P. Birdy. The world is a duller place without you in it. May it always be that magical summer of '76 in part of heaven you're in.
traynyc 2 years ago 2
Wonderful man, as a Northboro MA resident in the 80's and 90's I saw him often, later on he was almost always with his daughter and his love for her was so obvious. Just a very good man who figured out what was important. res In Peace Mark.
boomac62 2 years ago
Mark was one of a kind and thats too bad...he loved the game and the game used him,,,,R.I.P. Mark,you where the man.
Fury1957 2 years ago
life long Yankee fan. but remember begging my grandfather to take me to the stadium to watch "the bird" he was a great pitcher and great for the game. he will be missed. R.I.P.
tincup0116 2 years ago
man, i was born in 85, cool video. Hes throwing pitches to babe up in the stars now though
erwickline 2 years ago
guess who has a signed mark fidrych card from 1981
Ryanuofm86 2 years ago
He made baseball fun in 76,I was sixteen years old,great memories, R.I.P. 'Bird' .
nappyho26 2 years ago
I have the 1976 Monday Night Baseball game where Fidrych started vs the Yankees. If anyone wants to aquire it on DVD let me know.
20thcenturynostalgia 2 years ago
That would be awsome!
jddrewinduval4 2 years ago
Mark was a true competitor. The way he talked to himself on the mound and his quirky antics was all genuine, the was nothing about him that was an "act", he just wanted to play ball. I feel his pain with his career being cut short, i can only imagine how he felt. above all he was a good guy.
RIP - Mark "The Bird" Fidrych
PRYTIGERS56 2 years ago
I had the honor, and privilege, of seeing Mark pitch for Detroit back in 1976 and 1977. This was a great ballplayer, truly one of a kind. Back then, he could have been the mayor of Detroit. Even the opposing team's fans loved the guy. This is a sad day for me, and my fellow Tiger fans who were able to see him play and be a part of his short baseball career. God bless you Mark - you were awesome!
Bobby
bobbyk57 2 years ago
The Bird was the word. R,I,P. dude.
vinnyhoags 2 years ago 2
I feel kinda bad for the guy. He was just hangin around the house. You guys say he's weird. I see nothing weird, maybe a little funky. But he seemed like a decent guy. Sorry I never got to watch him pitch.
RIP Mark The Bird Fidrych
BKsFiNeSt08 2 years ago
Great vid thanks! What a shame.
TerrorStudios 2 years ago
One of Detroit's greatest. I remember when we brought him to a baseball card show in Michigan about 20 years ago. The line to get his autograph, even years after he last pitched in Detroit, stretched all through the mall. He had agreed to come and sign for two hours, but there were so many people that he ended up running a half hour overtime. He didn't turn anyone away. What a class act. He will be missed.
rocknroller111 2 years ago 3
RIP
o0xst 2 years ago
I remember Mark Fidrych. He was great on the mound. One of the good guys. RIP
thebeattitudes 2 years ago
irreplaceable
agenthundley 2 years ago
I was too young too remember him play. I used to see him on ESPN Classic and read books and articles about him. He seem ed to be full of life and a genuine, down to earth fellow.
RIP Bird.
jkbezo1 2 years ago
I was 13 and an aspiring pitcher myself when he burst onto the scene. The Bird was one of a kind. My dad and I watched his Monday night game and the All Star game on our black and white TV. We loved the Bird!!! One day in 1997 I bumped into him at a mall in Springfield, MA.
Ironically I ended up having a great high school pitching career and tore my cuff in 1980 and none of the docs could diagnose the problem either.
Thanks for the memories Mark The Bird!! Rest in Peace.
UTubeMeTubeWeTube 2 years ago
Now that's what I'd call a Boston accent. Rest in peace, Mark.
MrsSuratt 2 years ago
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer but some good memories.
Goomba234 2 years ago
Hey Madoff
God loves Mark more than you.
You call him a goy, don't you?
ockfener 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Heard this guy was a homosexual. Is this true?
SmackoRulesOverNate 2 years ago
Thank you Mark for the many great memories.You will be greatly missed.
ctayrocket21 2 years ago
I wish I was around to see him throw in person, great guy, great entertainer
NYguy313 2 years ago
I remember one story about Mark in that after he pitch his rookie year the Tigers offer to tear up his contract and give him more money and longer terms. Mark being Mark told them that he was brought up to honor his word and the contract he had sign was his word! So he told them after this one expires then he can discuss the terms again! He was a one of a kind!
texas4life45 2 years ago 2
Just thinking wasn't in the movie the Slugger's Wife. I could swear I remember him in that pitching for the Astros! What a great guy! Will really miss him!
texas4life45 2 years ago
He was a great story and MLB should do something to remember him.
jackmehoffer68 2 years ago
Mark and I went to high school toghether at Worcester Academy in 1974. I have such fond memories of this crazy bird. My heart goes out to Mark's family.
quixtuff 2 years ago
I was 8 years old and living in the D.
It seemed like he was the only thing going here.
He was on the TV, radio, t-shirts, everywhere.
Everyone around here is really down about this, they all still remember him as a kid.
He went WAY to soon. What a horrible accident.
RIP Bird.
Prayers for his family.
I'd love to see that old game 20thCentury.
alphadoogie101 2 years ago 2
I have the Monday Night Baseball game from 1976 he started on VHS and DVD if anyone is interested contact me. I will try to put it here if I get enough requests
20thcenturynostalgia 2 years ago 11
Yes Please post this if you can so we can all share in this great moment ! Maybe if you can get this done we can all agree to meet here next Monday and share the video and our thoughts!
texas4life45 2 years ago 2
You've got four thumbsup in 2 hours so I'd say people will want to see it.
ethicomm 2 years ago
yes that would be great. i would love to see a game he pitched in
codyr15 2 years ago
He was a great story in the great story of baseball. I loved him when I was young. He was a great character, and had great stuff. I was sad to hear that he died.
jackmehoffer68 2 years ago
Baseball just lost it's magic !!!
sloopy777 2 years ago
I'm blown away right now - it was a special time in the D his rookie year at the corner. This guy, was THE real deal - one of a kind. As memorable as any player in the majors ever. We already miss you bad, Bird.
pat33hughes 2 years ago
One more thing! I was hoping that someone here have some footage of some of his games besides this one! I would love to see of the games that he pitched on Monday night!
texas4life45 2 years ago
I have the Monday Night Baseball game he pitched in 1976 on VHS and DVD I will try to put it on here if I get enough requests I have it on DVD if you want to email me and get one.
20thcenturynostalgia 2 years ago 3
the bird will be missed. :(
xhorseluver12x 2 years ago
R.I.P one of the most colorful baseball players...
cooltv4 2 years ago
Hmm wow, indeed sad. Mark Fidrych possessed what few in professional sports ever achieve; the ability to captivate through both athletic skill as well as dynamic personality. On top of all that, he appears to have been a pretty down to earth guy. R.I.P. Bird. Gone, but not forgotten.
L33tP1ckL 2 years ago
R.I.P
goblue11011 2 years ago
I remember him on that Monday night baseball when he pitched a great game and beat the hated Yankees! The fans would not go home until he came back out! The chills I got that night! The fans around the league used to filled them up just to see him pitch! Maybe the proper word is performed! The Big Bird! RIP! We will all miss you! I am sure right now he is striking out Ruth,Gehrig,Cobb and the other greats!
texas4life45 2 years ago
Uh, Cobb ain't in heaven...
johnantimo 2 years ago
R.I.P to the Bird...
mistachuck 2 years ago
From Worcester...R.I.P Mark..you will be missed. Heaven gets another pitcher
ashleybound 2 years ago
As a fellow Northborough, MA resident, I was fortunate enough to meet him a few times and he was so incredibly nice.
R.I.P.
daysfanatic0407 2 years ago
Mark Fidrych was the real deal. His love of baseball showed and captivated so many fans. My sympathies to his family and friends.
pyrexstorage 2 years ago
RIP, bro.
RonDeKiller 2 years ago
I remember when The Bird said "bullshit" to Tony Kubek on national television after a game. I think Bowie Kuhn fined him $200 or something. The Bird was the Man.
rabidgoldfish65 2 years ago
I was a graduating Senior in High School just outside Boston when Bird Mania gripped the nation. He was more than just a Massachusetts boy made good - he was a phenom and utterly unique. No one who saw him pitch in 1976 will ever forget Mark Fidrych. I'm absolutely crushed to hear this news. To paraphrase Charlton Heston, "Godd*mn it. Godd*mn it all to He