R.I.P. Mark “The Bird” Fidrych

Former Tigers pitcher and Rookie of the Year, Mark Fidrych, died in a truck accident on his farm. Fidrych won 19 games as a rookie pitcher for the Tigers in 1976. Injuries kept him from having a longer career and since 1983 he had been happy working in trucking and construction.

His quirky antics on the mound included scratching at the mound like a chicken, strutting around the mound, and talking to the baseball. His affable demeanor and success on the field endeared him to fans. An all around nice guy that will be missed.

Here is an interview with Mark Fidrych from 1985:

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Tagged as: mark "the bird" fidrych, mark fidrych, rookie of the year, tigers pitcher