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Detroit Tigers All Time Team |
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Mark "The Bird" Fidrych
Pitcher: 1976-80
| Most famous for his "Bird" antics--crouching down on the pitcher's mound, fixing cleat marks, talking to himself, talking to the ball, aiming the ball like a dart, strutting around the mound after every out, etc.--Fidrych became a fan phenomenon during his short career, packing stadiums whenever he pitched. A non-roster invitee during the 1976 Spring Training, Fidrych pitched his way onto the team and had a fine year. He won19 games, led the league in ERA (2.34) and complete games (24), was the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game, won the American League Rookie of the Year Award, and finished second for the Cy Young Award. Unfortunately he tore the cartilage in his knee during spring training the following year and never fully recovered. |
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