Comments on: Mark Fidrych, 1978

By: jbbarth

jbbarth — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:30:44 +0000

This might be an interesting place for all you Fidrych fans to visit.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x1291971655/Northborough-Historical-Society-honors-Mark-The-Bird-Fidrych

By: catfish326

catfish326 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:46:15 +0000

I confess that the Bird’s passing struck me very hard. I was never a Tigers fan per se. But, like most kids of the 1970′s, everyone loved Fidrych. What a person. What a human being. What a natural personality. So unabashed at showing childlike emotion. So thankkful for everything he had in life (even if dealt some shitty cards). A big part of my childhood dies with the Bird. He is everything baseball should be, and doesn’t seem to be any more. I’m glad, Josh, you addressed his passing with all the grace he deserved . . . I expected nothing less from you. That all-star card (1977) of his does seem to evoke everything the Bird was. I love that card. That moppy care-free hair, and that ever present contagious smile . . . life never dealt Fidrych lemons. Damn he’ll be missed.

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:56:28 +0000

seantaffe:
Thanks very much for your memories of the Tigers players our childhood. I appreciate it. Thanks also for the offer about the ’78 Fidrych. This is probably going to sound weird, but one of the things I love about my collection is its gaps, even the ones that don’t even seem to make sense. (To quote the Violent Femmes: It reminds me of me.)

By: seantaffe

seantaffe — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:47:18 +0000

Josh, A big part of my childhood in Detroit was spent at Michigan & Trumball watching games in the cheap seats when I was 7-8 years old. I remember Tito Fuentes tapping his bat on home plate, then spinning it one rotation and catching it perfectly by the handle, Steve Kemp “twirling” his bat before swinging, and Mark “The Bird” Fidrych pitching complete games (when it was still fashionable), while playing in the dirt and talking to himself. I am fortunate enough to still possess not only an unmarked Team Checklist from the 1978 Topps Collection, but a Mark Fidrych card as well! I’m not a card trader or dealer, but an average guy, so I’m not motivated by the sale, but if you are interested, I would be happy to work something out. In terms of “condition”, I would probably call it Near Mint, because there is a slight crease on the bottom left corner. Have no idea what price it is bringing on the market, but happy to offer it if a reasonable amount is offered. Please feel free to follow up with me if you are interested.

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:54:32 +0000

Willie Horton gave one of the eulogies today: Fidrych's free spirit honored... And here's an article about yesterday's visitation: Hundreds mourn...

By: psychsound

psychsound — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:54:02 +0000

I always loved this card:

http://www.cardaholics.net/uploaded_images/1977Fidrych-791774.jpg

By: sthek

sthek — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:34:44 +0000

Thanks for such a well-rounded tribute. I bet Fidrych would’ve remembered what it was like to be afraid of the dark, or stand in some little league on-deck circle (although he ,like I, predated the aluminum bat thing).

“It all goes by so fast”….As someone now past fifty, probably older than most that post here, I gotta tell you it goes faster and faster every year (well, except for the endless winter this year), so like you say, find the things that matter and hold on…tight.

Also, thanks to your last couple paragraphs, I feel even better about the part of my life spent playing in a kind of anti-cover band cover band that provides about a third of my meager income. I don’t care if it’s minor league; it’s sweet to be in the game, it’s sweet to be on a team (esp. one where everyone likes each other), and it’s sweet to be on a team that finds a way to win (ie keep working). The 50 or so people that got off with us each night last weekend aren’t any less human than the 2,000 that paid a hundred-some bucks a ticket to see the “Lion King” down the street those same nights.

By: psychsound

psychsound — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:07:34 +0000

The only comparison to Mark Fidrych 1976 is the Beatles 1964.

By: livnlegend

livnlegend — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:44:06 +0000

I kept all my Lego from my childhood and now I play with them all the time with my kids! They love them as much as I did.

One of the great things about having kids is reliving the toys and joys of your own childhood.

Don’t even get me started on Hot Wheel tracks!

By: motherscratcher23

motherscratcher23 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:06:52 +0000

Your blog makes me think of the most fantastic things. I haven’t thought of this in years.

I remember as a kid I loved my legos. I loved a lot of other toys, but I really liked those legos. This was before every lego box came with a picture and instructions on how to put them together, as if they are nothing more than a model. I would build these fantastic, elaborate (to me) worlds populated with those little lego people.

My lego world was ruled by a king. It was later that I realized that I used to be a communist. In this kingdom everyone had a family and a job and was happy. Everyone made exactly as much money as they needed for their family, despite what their job was. Nobody got or needed any more than that. Nobody wanted more than that. It was utopia. (I promise I have a point).

I remember thinking the following (Seriously, I remember the room I was in and what the lego village looked like when I thought this): “I will always want to play with my legos.” I knew that grownups didn’t play with legos, or any of my other favorite toys. I vowed that that wouldn’t happen to me. I will always play with them and I will always want to play with them. I won’t just remember what it felt like. I won’t need to remember because I will still be playing with them. Indefinately.

I can’t think of a single time (although there surely was) that I played with the legos after that day. I think maybe I thought that because I knew it would never happen. I would grow up just like everyone else and I wouldn’t want to play with my legos anymore and it wasn’t too far off. And, I knew that sucked.

I think maybe Fidrych somehow never lost his joy the way everyone else seems to. I wish I was more like him.