Vital Statistics:
Born: August 14, 1954
Died: April 13, 2009
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 175
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Primary position:Starting pitcher
Before The Bigs:
- Drafted in the 10th round in 1974, he was dubbed “The Bird” in the minor leagues because of his resemblance to Big Bird of the children's television show “Sesame Street.”
- He rose through the minors quickly, going 4-1 with a 1.58 ERA in six starts in Triple-A in 1975.
- He was a non-roster invitee to spring training with the Tigers in 1976, and made the team.
Career Highlights:
- Threw a two-hit complete game in his first big-league start, beating Cleveland 2-1 on May 15, 1976.
- Threw two consecutive 11-inning complete game victories against Milwaukee and Texas.
- Star blossomed on ABC's "Monday Night Baseball" on June 28, 1976 at Tiger Stadium against the eventual AL champion Yankees, when Fidrych talked to the ball, groomed the mound with his hands and won 5-1, becoming a breakout star with an 8-1 record.
- Started in the All-Star Game and was the losing pitcher.
- Drew big crowds wherever he pitched the rest of the season, and finished with a 19-9 record and an MLB-best 2.34 ERA. He won the AL Rookie of the Year award and finished second in AL Cy Young voting.
- Tore cartilage in his knee in spring training in 1977, and then tore the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder later that summer, an injury that wasn't properly diagnosed until 1985, after his career ended.
- Finished his career with a 29-19 record, all with Detroit from 1976-80. He tried a comeback with Boston in the early 1980s, but never got back to the majors.
- Worked as a contractor in his native Massachusetts, coming back regularly to Detroit for appearances and charity events. He died on April 13, 2009 in an accident beneath his 10-wheel dump truck on his farm.
