Mark Fidrych

Mark Fidrych
Pitcher
Born: (1954-08-14)August 14, 1954 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died: April 13, 2009(2009-04-13) (aged 54) Northborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 20, 1976, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1980, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	29–19
Earned run average	3.10
Strikeouts	170
Teams
Detroit Tigers (1976–1980)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (1976, 1977) AL Rookie of the Year (1976) AL ERA leader (1976)

Mark Steven Fidrych (/ˈfɪdrɪtʃ/ FID-rich;^[1] August 14, 1954 – April 13, 2009), nicknamed "the Bird", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played five seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers.

Known for his quirky antics on the mound, Fidrych led the major leagues with a 2.34 ERA in 1976, won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year award, and finished with a 19–9 record. Shortly thereafter, however, injuries derailed his career, which ended after just five seasons in the major leagues.