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Detroit Tigers: Analyzing Mark Fidrych’s Usage in the Summer of “The Bird”

By Bobby Mueller

Mar 29, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; A general view of a Detroit Tigers hat, glove and sunglasses in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; A general view of a Detroit Tigers hat, glove and sunglasses in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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A Star is Born on Monday Night Baseball

The Monday Night Baseball Game on June 28th, 1976 was broadcast by ABC, with Bob Uecker, Bob Prince, and Warner Wolf in the booth. The main topic of conversation was Fidrych and he really put on a show. He would bound from the mound to the dugout after third outs. With a landscaper’s touch, he got down on one knee and smoothed the dirt on the mound. Sometimes he appeared to be talking to the ball as he held it out in front of him and pointed it towards home plate.

The packed house at Tigers Stadium couldn’t get enough of “The Bird.” He got the nickname because of his resemblance to the Sesame Street character, Big Bird. When the game was over and the Tigers had defeated the vaunted Yankees, the hometown fans cheered and cheered until Fidrych came back out, like a rock star making an encore. He looked overwhelmed and humbled by the attention as he emerged from the dugout and acknowledged the crowd with a toothy smile.

Following the big Monday Night Baseball victory over the Yankees, Fidrych kept rolling on. He shut out the Orioles in his next start, then lost a 1-0 complete game to the Royals. He pitched an 11-inning complete game shutout against the Oakland A’s on July 16 and followed that with another complete game victory over the Twins on July 20.

Next: The Idiosyncrasies of The Bird

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