Not hockey but a sad day for Detroit and Baseball

[oldredbarnman 13]

Mark"The Bird" Fidrych was found dead by local authorities. Apparently an accident as he was working on his pickup truck. Very sad news. First Harry Kalas earlier today and now Mark. RIP to two fine people.

Edited April 13, 2009 by oldredbarnman

[softshoes 83]

News broke a bit ago that Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych was found dead today. Apparently it was some sort of accident while working on his truck. (sorry I put this here, if it needs moved ok)

http://freep.com/article/20090413/SPORTS02...rych+found+dead

RIP Mark and condolences to his family.

[MacK_Attack 108]

It's been a pretty bad day for baseball in general. Longtime Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas collapsed and died today in the press box at Nationals Park in Washington.

[Thomaslupojr 0]

my prayers go out to both families

[mjlegend 155]

Damn. I saw Fidrych speak at a banquet about four years ago. Funny guy, still with that same hair, a pretty thick New England accent... He looked in good shape (considering he hadn't pitched in about 30 years) and I told him he could have pitched for the Tigers that year.

[Gizmo 21]

Very sad...

I'll away remember Fidrych's "Frozen Ice Ball Theory". I read an interview with him once when he was asked about how he calmed himself down in tight situations on the mount. He said (paraphrased) "I think to myself 'In several million years the sun will start to burn out and the Earth will turn into a giant frozen ice, and when that happens no one is going to care one bit whether or not I strike the next guy out or not.'"

[eva unit zero 271]

Sad way to go for the guy, especially considering that he started his career in 1976 as a top pitcher, and from 1976 to 1980 consistently was a star pitcher, but also wrecked his knee in training camp in 1977. After healing from that injury, and changing his motion to accomodate his injury, he spent seven years trying to make a comeback, pitching his final game on October 1st, 1980 for the Tigers. He would get his release the next summer and would eventually sign with the Red Sox, never actually playing for Boston. A doctor eventually diagnosed him with a torn rotator cuff, which was torn nearly all the way through, ending his comeback attempts.

[Kira 451]

I was stunned to hear the news. He's only a year older than I am. I remember that summer well. Mark was a refreshing change from all the players whose egos and paychecks fought to see which one could get bigger first. He would have pitched for next to nothing, he loved what he did so much. A true character, quirky, funny, but downright genuine. The game of baseball really needs more characters like he was, and he will be missed by all of us who remember that summer and loved watching him.

Rest in peace, Mark.