Mark Fidrych dies at 54

[Venomous Green Duck]

I never saw him pitch. How was his "electricity" different than say, Zumaya's?

[277Gunson]

[MSUisbetterthanu]

Originally Posted by Venomous Green Duck

I never saw him pitch. How was his "electricity" different than say, Zumaya's?

I'm too young to have seen him, too, but from what I've heard, the Bird was a complete goof ball on the mound. He was extremely superstitious and had some crazy rituals on the mound. He also would talk to the ball and himself.

[277Gunson]

Originally Posted by MSUisbetterthanu

I'm too young to have seen him, too, but from what I've heard, the Bird was a complete goof ball on the mound. He was extremely superstitious and had some crazy rituals on the mound. He also would talk to the ball and himself.

I was too young to see him play as well, but everyone I talked to who did said it was awesome, because of what you said.

Also, I have watched old games from back then and he was a character.

Zumaya throws 100mph and that's it. The Bird brought "life" to the mound and the stadium. BIG difference.

[277Gunson]

[Spartan Punk]

Originally Posted by MSUisbetterthanu

I'm too young to have seen him, too, but from what I've heard, the Bird was a complete goof ball on the mound. He was extremely superstitious and had some crazy rituals on the mound. He also would talk to the ball and himself.

He would also go up to an infielder who just made a play and slap his hands, whether it was a routine play or great play. As far as having fun, he seemed like he was still playing little league ball getting into it with every play. He was probably having more fun out there than anyone in the ballpark fans included.

[MSUisbetterthanu]

If my dad has his story right, the Bird also came from VERY humble beginnings.

[DJSpartan]

Wow, I don't even know what to say. I was 8 years old when Fidrych was set to pitch against Ed Figuerora and the Yankees in '77. We drove all the way down there only to read the marquee that read, "No Game Today". I was so f'ing bummed. These where the days before the weather channel and MLB was okay with makeup double-headers.

[Holmes]

Speed isn't all it at the major league level If it ain't movin or put in the right spot, amazingly, the major league hitters treat a 95-100 mph fastball like BP. For a while, the Bird could hit the spot with movement. I saw the Bird that magical year. Awesome, especially since we didn't have a whole lot to cheer about from the Tigers, Lions, or the Pistons.

[LA_Spartan]

Originally Posted by Venomous Green Duck

I never saw him pitch. How was his "electricity" different than say, Zumaya's?

The electricity wasn't in his pitching, it was in his personality. Think of a country boy pitching in the majors, who's too naive to know how great the hitters he's facing are, who appears to be talking to the baseball (he was really talking to himself, although he sometimes guided the ball with hand motions), who would congratulate infielders for good plays, who would do his own dirt work on the mound, etc., etc., but did it all because that's who he was and not because he was trying to create an image.

And, for one magical year, he also happened to be the best pitcher in baseball.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by Venomous Green Duck

I never saw him pitch. How was his "electricity" different than say, Zumaya's?

It was a different era.

1. Baseball was still almost football's equal. The NFL had passed MLB in popularity but they were still pretty equal as the NFL hadn't turned into the all consuming monster that it would later become.
2. Pre-cable era. When Monday Night Baseball on ABC came to town it meant something. NBC had a national game of the week on Saturday, but Cosell and MNB helped spread the national buzz.
3. The Tigers truly sucked.
4. Fidrych was young, goofy, likable and white. Not to go racist, but it's the truth it helped his appeal. The Tigers also had Ron LeFlore, but he was a black ex-con and no matter how great his story was a lot of people couldn't get past that.
5. It was the 70s. Detroit (and America) wanted to be distracted. The year long Bicentential year was perfect for forgetting Vietnam, Watergate, inflation, the economy, busing and all the other problems of the decade. Fidrych fit right into that groove.
6. He was really really good.

[Floyd Robertson]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

It was a different era.

1. Baseball was still almost football's equal. The NFL had passed MLB in popularity but they were still pretty equal as the NFL hadn't turned into the all consuming monster that it would later become.
2. Pre-cable era. When Monday Night Baseball on ABC came to town it meant something. NBC had a national game of the week on Saturday, but Cosell and MNB helped spread the national buzz.
3. The Tigers truly sucked.
4. Fidrych was young, goofy, likable and white. Not to go racist, but it's the truth it helped his appeal. The Tigers also had Ron LeFlore, but he was a black ex-con and no matter how great his story was a lot of people couldn't get past that.
5. It was the 70s. Detroit (and America) wanted to be distracted. The year long Bicentential year was perfect for forgetting Vietnam, Watergate, inflation, the economy, busing and all the other problems of the decade. Fidrych fit right into that groove.
6. He was really really good.

Since we're getting all nostalgic, you forgot Mel Allen and This Week in Baseball on at 12:30 on Saturday afternoons

[MechE90]

I was nine when my dad took me to Tiger Stadium to see the Bird. I don't remember which game.

The Bird was a phenomena. He brought so much fun and excitement to the game, a genuine likeable guy.

Every time he's mentioned, the Song starts running through my mind...

Don't you know about the bird? Everybody knows that the Bird is the word!

B-b-b-bird bird bird, the bird is the word. B-b-b-bird bird bird, the bird is the word...

[277Gunson]

Originally Posted by SpartyPants

That's not even Fidrych in the photo linked to the initial post! lol

Unless they changed it, yes, that is The Bird in 1999 at Tiger Stadium's last game.

[WBill@]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

.You don't think 5th place in a 6 team division finishing 24 games out of first doesn't "suck"? I'd love to work for you.

.

also 23 games below .500 when Mark was not the pitcher of record.

Pedro Garcia and Tom Veryzer in the middle of the infield
and Jason Grilli's dad in the bullpen.

[MechE90]

Uh, is this the appropriate thread to start a racewar?

Mark is known to many for his ability to make people laugh, smile, and feel good. His quirkiness , friendliness, and good nature brought something special to the game. If you choose to view it through the distorted lens of race hatred, then, well, I'm glad I'm not you.

[WBill@]

Originally Posted by spartyirish

If you are an avid Tigers fan in the 70s, you would know that the team made about a 16 game improvement from the previous year. In 1975, the Tigers sucked.

I was, and about 90% of the improvement was because of one player ... Mark Fidrych.

[Ron Jeremy]

Originally Posted by IGGcitable

'The Bird' Mark Fidrych Dies At Age 54 - wbztv.com

Wow. That sucks.

Brings back a bunch of good memories of The Bird and going to Tiger games with my Dad.

We went to an early game in 1976, and Fidrych was screwing around with his curly hair flowing under his hat, and I can still remember my Dad complaining about what a screwball he was.

Later that year, we went to another game against the NYY, Bird was outstanding on National TV, the entire stadium chanting his name for a curtain call from the dugout.

We went to every home start he had after that.

Sad news. Brings back good memories though.

RIP Bird.

[Scully60]

The Associated Press: Former pitcher Mark 'the Bird' Fidrych dies at 54

[Waltees21]

as one who never saw him pitch, the stories i've read and pictures ive seen make me wish there were a few more fruits and nuts pitching in the mlb. much like the guy from the angels in the outfield who slid into the mound when he ran on the field....and set 3x before a pitch lol

[duffy munn]

Originally Posted by PennSpartan

Wow. Very Sad. I just watched the MLB Network broadcast of his complete game against the Yankees at Tiger Stadium in '76 this weekend. Strange.

I was in the ballpark that night. Tiger Stadium was electric. The streets outside after the game were unreal. Like the Tigers had just won the Series. I saw some huge games at the corner: 72 playoffs against the Swingin 'A's, countless opening days, the 84 series ( attended 34 home games that season, running the lot @ Carls Chop House had it's privledges). The Summer of 76 with the Bird was special. BTW, the team was decent too. Jason Thompson, Ron Leflore and Rusty Staub all started the
all-Star game that year. RIP, Bird

[D.Wags]

Great individual. Not surprised that some on here would start an arguement, instead of just celebrating the man's life. Start another thread fellas. This guy gave us a lot to love, and a ton of entertainment. Somethings just shouldn't be agrued about.

[duffy munn]

Originally Posted by spartyirish

Detroit still had their stars, even if their teams weren't setting the sports world on fire. Lanier, Mengelt, KP, Charlie Sanders, Lem Barney, Polo, Hextall, Woods, Maloney, Ruterford, Horton , Staub, JT...........
The tigers and wings were rebuilding while the pistons and lions were fighting their mediocrity. The Pistons actually were pretty fun to watch with their annual battle with Golden STate in the playoffs.

Wow. Spartyirish and I definately ran in the same circles. Don't know to many people who would name Kevin Porter and Crash Mengelt as Detroit stars ( I was a BIG fan of both). The Dobber was awesome. Charlie Sanders top five tight end in the history of the league. Kind ironic that he and I clash in this forum. Too bad he's banned and can't reply

[MechE90]

From Wikipedia:

In one of Bill James' baseball books, he quoted the Yankees' Graig Nettles as telling about an at-bat against Fidrych, who, as usual, was talking to the ball before pitching to Nettles. Graig reportedly said to his bat, "Never mind what he says to the ball--hit it over the outfield fence!" Nettles struck out. "Damn," he said. "Japanese bat. Doesn't understand a word of English."

[duffy munn]

Originally Posted by WBill@

also 23 games below .500 when Mark was not the pitcher of record.

Pedro Garcia and Tom Veryzer in the middle of the infield
and Jason Grilli's dad in the bullpen.

Steve Grilli Early in 76, his ERA was like 89.76. Seriously.