This guy must have been the pitcher. I saw him in Boston years back.

I wasn't even born when The Bird was pitching in the MLB. But I've watched footage and the guy was a really good pitcher who seemed to really play the game like a kid, which you really don't see a lot today (probably because of the salaries). Anyway, I think this was a sad one for the sports world. I love that cover of Fidrych w/Big Bird on Sports Illustrated. (By the way, does anybody even read SI anymore....it used to be a big deal w/the football phones and swimsuit issue.......ahhh, the age of cell phones and internet.

It's too bad he died so young. It's too bad he didn't have a longer career. It's too bad baseball didn't find a bigger promotional role for such an original even if he couldn't keep pitching at that level. Then game is sadly lacking these days in the type of character he brought to the park. Mind you so is professional sports in general. It's too bad.

He was a baseball sideshow for a year, really, but what a year it was. In Detroit, shortly after the Mickey Lolich/Denny Mclain era, the "Bird" exploded onto the scene striking out batter after batter and getting more and more excited and eccentric with each game won. I remember the clips of him screaming at the baseball in his hand, that we really need to get this guy out!, and sometimes kneeling down at the landing point at the front of the mound, fluffing up the dirt for himself, stalking around in the middle of the infield, occasionally running over to congratulate a teammate for an outstanding play, infield or outfield.

And did the Detroit Faithful love the guy. Initially, his teammates were not fond of him and acted a bit embarrassed but by July, they played into it and had as much fun as the fans. I saw him in the early 1980's with a minor league club (I think the Richmond Braves) trying to make a comeback but he spent everything he had in one spectacular year in the spotlight. He did not, however, spend all his money that year and turned out to be a pretty good businessman, unlike many predictions about his likely fortunes.

BIg Bird, he was quite a character and I don't even watch too much Baseball but he was great in a time before steroid scandals.

Fidrych pitched before my time, but his was a name I knew despite not knowing much about him. I was a little shocked to see he only won 29 games in his career, but the legend of him talking to the baseball while on the mound is pretty unique. He seemed like an entertaining character, and I'd imagine he was very fondly remembered by those who witnessed his brief career.