Former All-Star pitcher Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych found dead
Why
He was dubbed "The Bird" and posed for a memorable cover of Sports Illustrated with Big Bird of "Sesame Street." He talked to the ball and groomed the pitcher's mound. And for one night - June 28, 1976 - he stood alone on baseball's stage by twirling a gem against the Yankees on "Monday Night Baseball." Mark Fidrych began an injury- shortened career by bursting on the scene with a spectacular rookie season for the Detroit Tigers. In 1976 he went 19-9, led the AL in ERA (2.34), started the All-Star Game and won AL Rookie of the Year honors. Fidrych died Monday in an apparent accident on his farm in Northborough, Mass. He was 54. Joseph D. Early Jr., the Worcester County district attorney, said a family friend found him at approximately 2:30 p.m. lying beneath a dump truck. It appeared he was working on the truck. "The entire Detroit Tigers organization was saddened to learn of the passing of former player Mark Fidrych today," said a statement issued by his former club. "Mark was beloved by Tigers fans and he was a special person with a unique personality. The Tigers send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends." Fidrych pitched a complete game against the Yankees that June night in 1976, allowing one run on seven hits in a 5-1 victory. His pitching wasn't the only compelling part of the performance. The national audience had never seen his on-the-mound antics. In his biography "No Big Deal," he mused that he didn't understand why that game was the one people always remembered. Fidrych became such a fan favorite as a rookie that even as he later battled a shoulder injury, they stood by him. The Tigers drew more than 48,000 for an August game in 1980 when the righthander began his last attempt at a comeback with Detroit. He threw 250 innings and 24 complete games as a rookie before torn knee cartilage and the shoulder injury brought him down in 1977. From 1977-80, Fidrych's shoulder limited him to 27 starts and 162 innings. He attempted a comeback with the Red Sox in 1982 and '83 but never pitched in a major-league game. He retired at 29 with a record of 29-19 and an ERA of 3.10. In the years since, Fidrych worked mainly as a subcontractor and farmer. He'd raised pigs, installed swimming pools and done road repair.
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References:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2009/04/13/2009-04-13_former_allstar_mark_the_bird_fidrych_found_dead.html,http://www.camdenchat.com/2009/4/14/834454/kalas-and-fidrych-two-of-two-kinds,http://nationalsportsreview.com/sports/us/digitalsportsdaily/2009/04/13/former-roy-mark-fidrych-found-dead/,http://joyofsox.blogspot.com/2009/04/mark-fidrych-dead-at-54.html,http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/42949142.html
