Mark Fidrych, an eccentric All-Star pitcher nicknamed “The Bird” whose career was shortened by injuries, was found dead yesterday in an apparent accident at his farm in Northboro. He was 54. Worcester County district attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. beneath a dump truck. He appeared to be working on the truck, Early said. The curly-haired right-hander was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1976 when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games. He spent all five of his major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA. “The entire Detroit Tigers organization was saddened to learn of the passing of former player Mark Fidrych today,” the Tigers said in a statement. “Mark was beloved by Tigers fans and he was a special person with a unique personality. The Tigers send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.” Fidrych attempted a comeback in 1982 and 1983 in the Red Sox [team stats] organization, pitching for Triple-A Pawtucket. But he never pitched in the majors after 1980 and retired in July 1983. The Worcester native later owned a trucking business. Fidrych was nicknamed “The Bird” because of his resemblance to the Big Bird character on the “Sesame Street” television show. During games, he would bend down and groom the mound with his hands, talk to the baseball and slap five with teammates in the middle of the diamond. But knee and shoulder injuries limited him to 58 major league games. “Baseball will miss him. They missed him because he didn’t have as long as a career as everybody would have liked in the first place. It’s just horrible,” former Orioles pitcher and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer said. “He was a marvelous pitcher and I just hate to see him go.” Fidrych’s first major league start was a complete-game two-hitter in which he beat the Cleveland Indians, 2-1, on May 15, 1976. He struck out five and walked one. He won seven of his first eight decisions and was the AL starter in the All-Star Game. He tore knee cartilage during spring training the following year and was placed on the disabled list until May 24. He sustained a shoulder injury in July 1977. Fidrych married his wife, Ann, in 1986 and they had a daughter, Jessica. State police detectives are investigating his death.
