What kind of season is this going to be? RIP Mark Fidrych

by ladybug on Apr 13, 2009 9:56 PM PDT Comment 28 comments

EXCERPT:

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, whose offbeat antics electrified the city of Detroit and charmed baseball fans everywhere during one of the unlikeliest seasons of glory in major league history, died Monday. He was 54.

Fidrych was found under his 10-wheel dump truck on his Massachusetts farm, the victim of an apparent accident, according to Worcester County Dist. Atty. Joseph Early. Fidrych appeared to have been working on the truck, Early told the Associated Press.
In 1976, the Detroit Tigers awarded the last spot on their roster to Fidrych, a shaggy-haired kid two years out of high school.

Within weeks, Fidrych took the city by storm, with fans flocking to Tiger Stadium to see the pitcher that talked to the baseball, got his nickname from his resemblance to the "Sesame Street" character Big Bird and started the All-Star Game for the American League.

"The only thing I could possibly compare it to would be Fernando [Valenzuela] in L.A.," said Angels executive Gary Sutherland, the Tigers' second baseman in Fidrych's first major league start.

"Every night he pitched, the place was packed."

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

0 recs | Comment 28 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Bad season so far

Powers, Adenhart, Kalas, Fidrych, a stabbing at Chavez Latrine this afternoon and nobody has played 9 games.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 13, 2009 10:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

4 deaths in 8 games...

So…let’s do the math….At this rate…81 deaths by the end…

Also…

40 stadium stabbings….

Wow….

Horrid start :(d

l 34 l
l N.J.A l
l R.I.P l

-- Figgi4life

by Figgi4life on Apr 13, 2009 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was a stabbing at Dodger Opening Day today in the parking lot after the game.

by 44FAN on Apr 13, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see Rev already posted that, my bad.

This thread really is a train wreck.

by 44FAN on Apr 13, 2009 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, back to normalcy in that latrine of a stadium.

by PieceOfAase on Apr 14, 2009 1:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll go a step further

Terrible season so far. And i’m not talking in terms of win/loss.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....

by halofolife on Apr 13, 2009 10:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

oh cripes....REV!!!!! can you edit this to English???

RIP Nick

by ladybug on Apr 13, 2009 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

repost it as a fanshot

i want to see if all the fireworks appear there!!!

by Rev Halofan on Apr 13, 2009 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's not an image...I think it's just goofy cut and paste

RIP Nick

by ladybug on Apr 13, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

there..I dood it myself

RIP Nick

by ladybug on Apr 13, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I recall wathcing Fidrych on TV highlights.

Standing there up on the mound, talking to his baseball before figuring out what the hell he was going to do with the damned thing. My older brother was a decent pitcher and I learned through him that pitchers can be certifiably nuts, but Fidrych took the whole concept of crazy into an orbit the likes we have not seen before, or since. I always imagined that had I made it to the Bigs and came up to bat against him, I would talk to him out loud the whole time I was at bat, just to mess with his head.

by Stirrups on Apr 13, 2009 11:03 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I thought the goofiest thing he did was get down on the mound...

…and carefully re-arrange and compact the dirt with his hands…muttering to himself while he worked. He looked like a kid at the beach trying to build small sand castles. Muy loco.

by sothball on Apr 14, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or the discussions with the ball

RIP Nick

by ladybug on Apr 14, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you trying to be an echo of Stirrups?

by sothball on Apr 14, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

yes
yes
yes
yes

RIP Nick

by ladybug on Apr 14, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

5 echos for 3 comments?

I want to check out your amplifier….

by sothball on Apr 14, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry for Fidrych passing, RIP Mark...

but, to answer the question… this is a season where the halos are going to hoist the world series trophy. Any other questions?

RIP Nick Adenhart - Angel fans will never forget you!

by Downing Rules on Apr 13, 2009 11:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How freaky!

I was just watching MLB tv Sunday night and they were showing a Tigers Yankees game that he was pitching in from 1976.

by Doctor Wu on Apr 14, 2009 1:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych

Great personality, and even a better pitcher before he got injured. And what a draw. Everyone wanted to watch his games.

One of the few opposing players I actually liked.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Apr 14, 2009 2:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh,

And I agree with Downing Rules, we will win the WS.

Angel Pitching (Adenhart), Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Apr 14, 2009 3:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He got injured because he got worked to the extreme. Something in the neighborhood of 20 complete games as a rookie or some such nonsense.

by Stirrups on Apr 14, 2009 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad Karma thus far

“Wake me up when September ends”

by mustard_man on Apr 14, 2009 6:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Green Day

Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu

by halofan4life on Apr 14, 2009 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A's fans?

RIP Nick Adenhart - Angel fans will never forget you!

by Downing Rules on Apr 14, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Them and their white shoes

Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu

by halofan4life on Apr 18, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember

watching Fidrych pitch on TV during ’76. I was 7 going on 8, and just starting to really get into baseball. I remember him talking to the ball, and kneeling on the mound to groom the mound to his liking. It was a shame that he got hurt and had his career shortened.

I hope that this is the last af the bad news out of baseball for a while. Powers, Adenhart, Kalas and Fidrych have died in the first week of the season.

That is enough to last for the rest of this year and for next year as well.

RIP Nick. The Angels and their fans will always remember you.

by billhune on Apr 14, 2009 10:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs