The Bird Is Dead

**Flanders** · April-13-09, 05:45 PM

RIP Mark, how sad to read the news of his death.

He made that Bicentennial summer of '76 even more special, bright and exciting, drawing huge crowds to watch his antics on the mound at Tiger Stadium, on the days that he pitched. He even raised attendance figures for the games that he pitched on the road, attracting families with young children and teens, so that they could see "Big Bird" pitch. It was so strange to watch some of those road games on TV, and see the crowd cheering a pitcher on the visiting team, especially when the Bird would strike out a player on their home team.

**Bobl** · April-13-09, 05:56 PM

There will be many words written about "The Bird", but I suspect "unique" might be the most descriptive one. There will never be another.
It is sad that he was injured and never regained his edge after his spectacular year.
My condolences to his friends and family.

**BirdWoman** · April-13-09, 06:15 PM

My first celebrity crush as a teenager, I worshiped him. What a bummer.

Sludgedaddy · April-13-09, 06:21 PM

Truly a great loss for those who remember and love Detroit Baseball. Got to see The Bird pitch at the Corner back in the seventies. I remember some of Don Lobsinger's storm troopers handing out anti Coleman Young flyers stating: "A Breathe of Fresh Air has returned to Detroit with Mark Fydritch".

Players like The Bird and George Kell and their like showed much more class and love for the Game, unlike the multi-million dollar crybabies of today with their steroid enhancement. But , of course, let's not forget another drug enhanced performance when Bill "Spaceman" Lee pitched a no hitter while tripping on acid. There was joy in Mudville when the Mighty Casey Tripped Out.

RIP Mr. Fydritch

**Gannon** · April-13-09, 06:30 PM

I'm sure we went to all of his games that year, it was amazing how many of them went into eleven and twelve innings...that has to account for so many total pitches thrown by him.

What great memories of the first very public 'New Ager' in my young perceptions...RIP Bird.

**chitaku** · April-13-09, 06:35 PM

ironically enough I wore my vintage Fidrych "Bird is the Word" T-shirt. -RIP

**daddeeo** · April-13-09, 06:37 PM

For one year, Mark was superman. It was amazing to see
a team so crummy for three or four games could become world beaters when he pitched.
I still remember seeing Bob Uker down by the third base dugout after the game with the Yankees. Tiger Stadium was packed to the max and fans were going crazy. I'm glad to say I was actually there.

**Bloomfield Pills** · April-13-09, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Sludgedaddy

Truly a great loss for those who remember and love Detroit Baseball. Got to see The Bird pitch at the Corner back in the seventies. I remember some of Don Lobsinger's storm troopers handing out anti Coleman Young flyers stating: "A Breathe of Fresh Air has returned to Detroit with Mark Fydritch".

Players like The Bird and George Kell and their like showed much more class and love for the Game, unlike the multi-million dollar crybabies of today with their steroid enhancement. But , of course, let's not forget another drug enhanced performance when Bill "Spaceman" Lee pitched a no hitter while tripping on acid. There was joy in Mudville when the Mighty Casey Tripped Out.

RIP Mr. Fydritch

I agree with everything you said -- but it was Doc Ellis who pitched the no-no on acid, not Spaceman.

Although I'm sure Bill Lee dropped his share of acid himself.

**SMRJim** · April-14-09, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Sludgedaddy

But , of course, let's not forget another drug enhanced performance when Bill "Spaceman" Lee pitched a no hitter while tripping on acid. There was joy in Mudville when the Mighty Casey Tripped Out.

RIP Mr. Fydritch

Actually it was Doc Ellis who pitched a no hitter for the Pirates while on acid, I think in 1971. Bill Lee wasn't called spaceman because of drugs, just his overall goofball personality [[as far as I know anyway).

**Zimm** · April-14-09, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by SMRJim

Actually it was Doc Ellis who pitched a no hitter for the Pirates while on acid, I think in 1971. Bill Lee wasn't called spaceman because of drugs, just his overall goofball personality [[as far as I know anyway).

you're correct on the oddball personality being the cause of his nickname. but Bill Lee was and is a major pothead.

**Hornist9** · April-14-09, 01:47 PM

RIP, Mark. Thanks for all of the great times you so lovingly gave us while pitching for the Tigers. You'll be missed.

**ggores** · April-14-09, 07:01 PM

He come from nowhere and became a local, and then a worldwide, superstar. He had a mean-ass slider with fastball appearnaces, confounding most Major League batters. His injury problems were, and are still today, perplexing. Fidrych represented the last of a generation of complete-game pitchers, and is probably a significant reason why we now have to contend with the dull and boring "pitch count".

That brief time in Tiger Baseball history has been well documented here, and to me, those summer days still remain unchanged - thanks to his nutty antics on and off the mound, and the way in which the fans reacted to him. Mark Fidrych made baseball FUN to watch. He must have went straight to Heaven.

**Whaler** · April-14-09, 10:07 PM

I was sitting at a cafe in Puerto Rico..1976. [[Navy)..Monday Night Baseball was on..I watched that whole game..The Bird really was Detroit..RIP...Peace