Wow! This was a guy who was so down to earth and real-he didnt try to change who he was even when he was the star. Damn shame his career was over so quickly.
Here is a pro athlete who did not seem to want to be the story, but was. As opposed to today. Where they all want to be the story, but are not. People have been given such a steady diet of over cliched, choreographed, sold out crap, maybe that's why they watch "Reality TV". They long for heartfelt honesty. Sorry to digress. Go Tigers!
Oh I remember this game like it was yeaterday. They showed it on Monday Night Baseball. Ch 7 in N.Y. I was going on 14 years old and a Yankee fan, still am. I was so pissed that Mark Fidrych made my Yankees look bad. I was just a kid then, but that day I hated Mark Fidrych. May he rest in peace he was a great pitcher in his short career.
@louthebody i was 12 and i too remember that game like it was yesterday, i was also pissed. The yanks got revenge in the next meeting., but the bird was great that year i must admit.
00:59 - Look at the stats. He only had 37 Ks at this point, so he certainly wasn't overpowering. Yet his WHIP was less that 1 (the video with the last out of this game showed he had 13 BBs at this point). But I remember that his fastball had movement on it, and he kept the ball down. Unfortunately, when he lost his arm, he didn't have the veteran savvy to survive, unlike someone like Frank Tanana.
Fidrych's shoulder injury couldn't be fixed or properly diagnosed at the time, although once the surgery techniques were developed he did have the arm fixed, albeit too late for a man his age - 31 years old and out of the game for a long time.
Thanks very much! I never saw this since I was at the game. It was my 11th birthday and despite crappy seats, it was by far the greatest game I ever saw--even better than the Tigers winning the World Series in '84. There's never been anything like him.
THANKS Beautiful Mark The Bird One Rare unforgettable individual.I met Mark at 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, 09Butch & Mark were" Top of The Top" GodSpeed my most cherished Friends
"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
He was something special. He won 19 games on a last place team and started the all-star game all in his rookie season ! I couldn't wait for his next start. RIP Mark
I miss The Bird. I was 8 years old growing up in Detroit in 1976. He was such a hero to all of us kids at the time. Everybody had T-Shirts that said "The Bird Is The Word" LOL. The two newspapers in Detroit, the News and The Free Press had a free "iron-on" in the paper for the kids. Those were the days. Thanks so much for sharing this great vid.
He was an incredible phenomenon. He was as sweet as he was talented. My husband was a Tiger teammate.
pjhoward14 8 months ago
Thank you for posting this.
tlaverty 9 months ago
This should be on the big screen. Who would play Mark ?
This would be a great basball movie.
timothyarts 10 months ago
@timothyarts Jon Heder.
raamjames1 9 months ago
@timothyarts Mark Wahlberg
dharma11 4 months ago
Wow! This was a guy who was so down to earth and real-he didnt try to change who he was even when he was the star. Damn shame his career was over so quickly.
loyaldude10 1 year ago
Here is a pro athlete who did not seem to want to be the story, but was. As opposed to today. Where they all want to be the story, but are not. People have been given such a steady diet of over cliched, choreographed, sold out crap, maybe that's why they watch "Reality TV". They long for heartfelt honesty. Sorry to digress. Go Tigers!
rblet 1 year ago
Oh I remember this game like it was yeaterday. They showed it on Monday Night Baseball. Ch 7 in N.Y. I was going on 14 years old and a Yankee fan, still am. I was so pissed that Mark Fidrych made my Yankees look bad. I was just a kid then, but that day I hated Mark Fidrych. May he rest in peace he was a great pitcher in his short career.
louthebody 1 year ago
@louthebody i was 12 and i too remember that game like it was yesterday, i was also pissed. The yanks got revenge in the next meeting., but the bird was great that year i must admit.
beanxxxx 10 months ago
00:59 - Look at the stats. He only had 37 Ks at this point, so he certainly wasn't overpowering. Yet his WHIP was less that 1 (the video with the last out of this game showed he had 13 BBs at this point). But I remember that his fastball had movement on it, and he kept the ball down. Unfortunately, when he lost his arm, he didn't have the veteran savvy to survive, unlike someone like Frank Tanana.
generalbullmoose 1 year ago
@generalbullmoose
Fidrych's shoulder injury couldn't be fixed or properly diagnosed at the time, although once the surgery techniques were developed he did have the arm fixed, albeit too late for a man his age - 31 years old and out of the game for a long time.
g9rocks64 1 year ago
Thanks very much! I never saw this since I was at the game. It was my 11th birthday and despite crappy seats, it was by far the greatest game I ever saw--even better than the Tigers winning the World Series in '84. There's never been anything like him.
TheMink1965 2 years ago
THANKS Beautiful Mark The Bird One Rare unforgettable individual.I met Mark at 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, 09Butch & Mark were" Top of The Top" GodSpeed my most cherished Friends
TomTIGER69 2 years ago
@TomTIGER69 Thanks for sharing your story, and sorry about your friend.
louthebody 1 year ago
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"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
He was something special. He won 19 games on a last place team and started the all-star game all in his rookie season ! I couldn't wait for his next start. RIP Mark
belair55dream 2 years ago
The day Mark died , Harry Kalas in Philly died too.
Kalas got most of the attention.
Then, on the day The Tigers chose to honor Mark's memory at the ballbark, it was Jackie Robinson Day all throughout the major leagues.
It was all about Jackie. Even in Detroit.
Come on Detroit.
Get it right, retire Fidrych's number 20.
Do some fucking thing right. This kid was one in a million and a Tiger GREAT. There was no one bigger in ALL of baseball in 1976-77.
DETROIT TIGERS - Do Right by your Bird.
dunskie 2 years ago 6
I miss The Bird. I was 8 years old growing up in Detroit in 1976. He was such a hero to all of us kids at the time. Everybody had T-Shirts that said "The Bird Is The Word" LOL. The two newspapers in Detroit, the News and The Free Press had a free "iron-on" in the paper for the kids. Those were the days. Thanks so much for sharing this great vid.
loungelizard5000 2 years ago
Notice the stocking feet 3:35
streamlined89 2 years ago
i love the way he gives props to his teammates ... many players do that as a matter of routine today, but bird is obviously speaking from his heart
gatoguts 2 years ago
"ya know" lol
This guy is one of a kind. Need more players like this in todays money hungry league
MrClownEvil 2 years ago
@MrClownEvil
Yeah, and his death was a terrible tragedy!
g9rocks64 1 year ago
not one cliche from this kid . . . back when baseball was fun to watch . . .
areaman714 2 years ago
What was that on Warner Wolf's head? I think it just growled at me.
generalbullmoose 2 years ago
Rip Bird Fidrych Baseball and life greatly miss you.
MrHippoDick 2 years ago
Thanks for posting.
Much appreciated.
Luv ya Bird.
dunskie 2 years ago