If you were a young boy falling in love with baseball in 1976, you no doubt knew who "The Bird" was. I was six in 1976, and I remember just about everything about that summer.

I had just started collecting baseball cards. My little league team was the Astros. I saw Hank Aaron play at the old Arlington Stadium when the Brewers came to town. I also saw Nolan Ryan pitch for the California Angels against the Rangers. I watched Monday Night Baseball on ABC all summer. And I certainly knew who the rookie sensation for the Tigers was... Mark "The Bird" Fidrych. He actually talked to the baseball, like he was really having a conversation with it.

If you aren't old enough to remember the summer of '76, or the quirky Mark Fidrych, then the news of his death probably didn't strike you the same way it did me. But growing up in the 70's, as I was being introduced to America's pastime, "The Bird" was a site to see that bicentennial summer.

He won 19 games his rookie year. But because of a shoulder injury, he would only win 10 more during the disappointing remainder of his time in the big leagues.

His career ended way too early. And I'm sad to hear, tragically, his life has ended far too early as well.

Read more about the passing of Mark Fidrych.

Leave a comment

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.