Tigers’ Mark “The Bird” Fidrych Found Dead

Mark Fidrych, who earned the nickname “the Bird” during his playing career, was found dead on his farm. Initial reports indicate that the cause of death could very well be an accident.

Mark Fidrych, Detroit Tigers (Image: Newscom)

Fidrych, who was 54 years old at the time of his death, played in an All-Star game for the Detroit Tigers and his eccentric ways immediately made him a fan favorite. Known for his curly hair and unique delivery, Fidrych took the league by storm as a rookie in 1976. Winning Rookie of the Year, the Tigers pitcher finished the season with a 2.34 ERA and a record of 19-9.

Shortly after he rose to fame, a string of injuries caused his career to end prematurely. When he retired, he had a career ERA of 3.10 and a record of 29-19. He attempted to break back into the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox in the early 1980s, however he could never regain his big league form and struggled on the minor league level.

According to accounts at the scene, Fidrych was found underneath a dump truck. He was currently working for a company that did road construction. The man who found him, Joseph Amorello, says that it appears as if Fidrych was working on the dump truck at the time of the accident.