Comments on: Mark “the bird” Fidrych is gone http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/ News, views, and analysis on the Detroit Tigers and baseball Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:06:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Coleman http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114418 Coleman Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:29:26 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114418 I was lucky enough to see the bird in person, and it really was like nothing else. As they say, the flame that burns brightest rarely burns longest. The Bird is the word! I was lucky enough to see the bird in person, and it really was like nothing else. As they say, the flame that burns brightest rarely burns longest. The Bird is the word!

]]> By: Rick G http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114412 Rick G Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:42:16 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114412 Mark was the topic of conversation most of the morning on Detroit's 97.1 shows. Caller after caller told stories about meeting him in various scenarios and how the Bird was always polite and genuinely nice. Really amazing stuff to hear about a kid who had the whole country in his hand. I must have my memories mixed up, but didn't Aurelio Rodriguez drop a popup in the 9th inning of that Monday night game? No errors are recorded in the box score for that game, but I could have sworn that happened, and Bird went over and gave him a pep talk before finishing off the Yanks. Am I the only one who always felt a little weird seeing anyone else wearing number 20 for the Tigers? Omar Infante was the last, now Matt Treanor. (Of course, I still think number 24 belongs to Mickey Stanley, so what do I know!) Mark was the topic of conversation most of the morning on Detroit’s 97.1 shows. Caller after caller told stories about meeting him in various scenarios and how the Bird was always polite and genuinely nice. Really amazing stuff to hear about a kid who had the whole country in his hand.

I must have my memories mixed up, but didn’t Aurelio Rodriguez drop a popup in the 9th inning of that Monday night game? No errors are recorded in the box score for that game, but I could have sworn that happened, and Bird went over and gave him a pep talk before finishing off the Yanks.

Am I the only one who always felt a little weird seeing anyone else wearing number 20 for the Tigers? Omar Infante was the last, now Matt Treanor. (Of course, I still think number 24 belongs to Mickey Stanley, so what do I know!)

]]> By: beejeez http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114408 beejeez Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:36:30 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114408 Saw the Bird a couple of times during his magic summer, and was certain then that he'd lead the Tigers back to glory sometime in the next few years. It's hard to explain to someone who wasn't there the kind of hysteria he brought to a down-on-its-luck baseball-crazy town, but I'll offer this: Once when he was a late scratch from his scheduled start, a line of hundreds of people formed outside a ticket booth at Tiger Stadium before the game – all people who wanted to trade in that day's tickets. I don't know for sure, but I heard somewhere that the Tigers honored the exchanges. Saw the Bird a couple of times during his magic summer, and was certain then that he’d lead the Tigers back to glory sometime in the next few years. It’s hard to explain to someone who wasn’t there the kind of hysteria he brought to a down-on-its-luck baseball-crazy town, but I’ll offer this: Once when he was a late scratch from his scheduled start, a line of hundreds of people formed outside a ticket booth at Tiger Stadium before the game – all people who wanted to trade in that day’s tickets. I don’t know for sure, but I heard somewhere that the Tigers honored the exchanges.

]]> By: Anne http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114406 Anne Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:28:38 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114406 I was 9 in the summer of 1976 and though I never saw him pitch in person, I was as crazy for Fidrych as everyone else. I especially loved watching him start the All-Star game. A few years ago I was listening to one of the Detroit sports radio stations (can't remember which one) and the played a call they had made to Fidrych at his home in Mass. I remember near the end of the call the radio guy said "Well Mark, we've gotta go, we're out of time" and Fidrych said "Oh, sure, sorry. Thanks for calling." These guys called HIM and he was apologizing for taking up their time. I was 9 in the summer of 1976 and though I never saw him pitch in person, I was as crazy for Fidrych as everyone else. I especially loved watching him start the All-Star game.
A few years ago I was listening to one of the Detroit sports radio stations (can’t remember which one) and the played a call they had made to Fidrych at his home in Mass. I remember near the end of the call the radio guy said “Well Mark, we’ve gotta go, we’re out of time” and Fidrych said “Oh, sure, sorry. Thanks for calling.” These guys called HIM and he was apologizing for taking up their time.

]]> By: jud http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114401 jud Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:14:04 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114401 It was my privilege and honor to be fan of the Bird in '76. He made the game fun and did a remarkable job at the same time. Life is too short for the really good ones like Mark Fidrych It was my privilege and honor to be fan of the Bird in ’76. He made the game fun and did a remarkable job at the same time. Life is too short for the really good ones like Mark Fidrych

]]> By: RKT in Mississippi http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114400 RKT in Mississippi Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:13:05 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114400 I recall the Tiger's 1976 season as when I returned home late May to Detroit from Texas A&M at the end of my junior year, my Dad told me of a new pitcher playing for the Tigers. I remember Dad saying Fidrych was my age and that he was getting folks to come back to Tiger Stadium. A few weeks later Dad and I attended the ABC Monday Night Baseball game that introduced Fidrych to the USA. We went to the game with a group of folks from BASF Wyandotte and sat in the upper deck along the third base line. At that game, Fidrych was Fidrych as he groomed the mound on his hands and knees, and talking on the mound continuously. Fidrych pitched a seven-hit classic to beat Ken Holtzman and the Yankees; he owned Detroit after that game. To this day they still show the game on ESPN Classic and the MLB Channel; in fact the game was aired last week on the MLB Channel during the pre-Opening Day festivities. I also recall immediately after the last game was played at Tiger Stadium in Sept 1999, he walked to the mound and went to his hands and knees and scooped up dirt and placed it in a zip-lock bag for safekeeping. He was certainly "my generation" of the happy and carefree lifestyle. Truly, he was "The Bird." Today the Tigers start Rick Porcello, a 20-year kid, against the White Sox. Porcello is the same age as our daughter Blair. I hope and wish she has similar Tiger memories! I recall the Tiger’s 1976 season as when I returned home late May to Detroit from Texas A&M at the end of my junior year, my Dad told me of a new pitcher playing for the Tigers. I remember Dad saying Fidrych was my age and that he was getting folks to come back to Tiger Stadium. A few weeks later Dad and I attended the ABC Monday Night Baseball game that introduced Fidrych to the USA. We went to the game with a group of folks from BASF Wyandotte and sat in the upper deck along the third base line. At that game, Fidrych was Fidrych as he groomed the mound on his hands and knees, and talking on the mound continuously. Fidrych pitched a seven-hit classic to beat Ken Holtzman and the Yankees; he owned Detroit after that game. To this day they still show the game on ESPN Classic and the MLB Channel; in fact the game was aired last week on the MLB Channel during the pre-Opening Day festivities.

I also recall immediately after the last game was played at Tiger Stadium in Sept 1999, he walked to the mound and went to his hands and knees and scooped up dirt and placed it in a zip-lock bag for safekeeping. He was certainly “my generation” of the happy and carefree lifestyle. Truly, he was “The Bird.”

Today the Tigers start Rick Porcello, a 20-year kid, against the White Sox. Porcello is the same age as our daughter Blair. I hope and wish she has similar Tiger memories!

]]> By: Kyle J http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114399 Kyle J Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:10:51 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114399 cib, This one is even more tear-jerking in nature: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090414/OPINION03/904140371/1031/Antics++alone++didn+t+sum+up+Mark+Fidrych The connections that span time are what make baseball so emotionally gripping. cib, This one is even more tear-jerking in nature:

http://www.detnews.com/article.....rk+Fidrych

The connections that span time are what make baseball so emotionally gripping.

]]> By: Chris http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114397 Chris Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:46:47 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114397 I graduated from High School in '76. That summer before going off to college was a great time in my life, not least because of The Bird. I was in the centerfield bleachers for the game against the Yankees with my best buddies screaming our lungs out. Fans were also circulating petitions to fire Ralph Houk, who had the misfortune of following the immensely popular Billy Martin. I graduated from High School in ’76. That summer before going off to college was a great time in my life, not least because of The Bird. I was in the centerfield bleachers for the game against the Yankees with my best buddies screaming our lungs out. Fans were also circulating petitions to fire Ralph Houk, who had the misfortune of following the immensely popular Billy Martin.

]]> By: cib http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114393 cib Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:40:43 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114393 Oh wow. As usual Posnanski's incredible passion for all things baseball and the way he puts it into words has made me cry! Thanks Kyle. Oh wow. As usual Posnanski’s incredible passion for all things baseball and the way he puts it into words has made me cry! Thanks Kyle.

]]> By: Kyle J http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114392 Kyle J Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:33:00 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114392 Joe Posnanski on The Bird: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/04/14/fidrych.obit/index.html?eref=T1 Joe Posnanski on The Bird:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....ml?eref=T1

]]> By: Kathy http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114391 Kathy Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:26:25 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114391 What a guy! What a pitcher! He was just everything in '76. I had not known of his deep connections with Leland until I read the paper this morning. Jim couldn't talk about it. I'd thought he'd be around forever. Guys can't even wear their pockets out anymore. You wonder what Bud Selig would have done to The Bird. Not a thing. The Bird was the Bird. What a guy! What a pitcher! He was just everything in ’76. I had not known of his deep connections with Leland until I read the paper this morning. Jim couldn’t talk about it. I’d thought he’d be around forever.

Guys can’t even wear their pockets out anymore. You wonder what Bud Selig would have done to The Bird. Not a thing. The Bird was the Bird.

]]> By: SJC in Detroit http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114390 SJC in Detroit Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:45:26 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114390 Stood in line for well over an hour at a vacuum store on Fort Street to get his autograph and was crushed he had to leave before I got to the front of the line. Finally got it years later and, as it turns out, just in time. Thank Mahk. RIP. Stood in line for well over an hour at a vacuum store on Fort Street to get his autograph and was crushed he had to leave before I got to the front of the line. Finally got it years later and, as it turns out, just in time.

Thank Mahk. RIP.

]]> By: Tbone http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114389 Tbone Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:57:06 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114389 I was lucky enough to see the Bird pitch in his rookie season at Tiger Stadium when I was only 11. I have been to many a Tiger game but have never experienced anything close to the buzz in the ballpark that season. That Monday night game against the Yankees with Howard Cosell behind the mike has to go down as one of the great Tiger moments in history. I was lucky enough to see the Bird pitch in his rookie season at Tiger Stadium when I was only 11. I have been to many a Tiger game but have never experienced anything close to the buzz in the ballpark that season.

That Monday night game against the Yankees with Howard Cosell behind the mike has to go down as one of the great Tiger moments in history.

]]> By: cib http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114386 cib Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:14:12 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114386 Came home from freezing at yesterday's game and heard this. Got under my Snuggie and went to sleep. Bad things happen to good people. Thanks Bird for the memories. Came home from freezing at yesterday’s game and heard this. Got under my Snuggie and went to sleep. Bad things happen to good people. Thanks Bird for the memories.

]]> By: ron http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114384 ron Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:57:32 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/04/mark-the-bird-fidrych-is-gone/#comment-114384 A very sad week for Angel, Tiger and Philly fans and baseball in general. A very sad week for Angel, Tiger and Philly fans and baseball in general.

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