Mark Fidrych

Yeah

... what was it, the Bird Fidrych that he always used to return the baseballs on the mound because he's like, "I didn't like that one.

I got a, it's hit, hit it." [laughs]

Yeah.

W- when I hire or when I promote people, I don't look for people that are, are built today that they could step in and be successful at that job.

I look for people that have the tools and, you know, you're, you're not gonna come out of the minor leagues and, and start and win the Cy Young your rookie year un- unless you're Mark Fidrych maybe.

But-

[laughs]

Like, I'm trying to think.

It's like Mark the Bird Fidrich or somebody, like a moment-in-time figure in the 70s.

Rocky Balboa would be, like, a lovable.

Like, he'd be a huge, especially in the area, a huge star.

FC Magdeburg.

two teams with a lot of history based in the eastern parts of Germany of course Hertha Berlin a West German club because they played in West Berlin right but Mark the Bird coming from Sachsen-Anhalt this is going to be a fascinating fixture I think Hertha second in the table They had such a master turn over Los Trese, right to Wolfsburg.

Kenneth Eichhorn had it to Leverkusen.

They decided to go young, very young with their squad.

And what I mean by that is, like, if you have a guy who's very army, right? Just very, you know, whether it's a, a wacky angle, uh, or a wacky windup like Dontrelle Willis, who was, you know, this comet that just splashed across Major League Baseball sky, uh, and was phenomenal, and then he was done.

Uh, Mark "The Bird" Fidrych.

You know, I remember seeing that documentary.

I, I never saw him pitch, but I saw the documentary.

He made the Major League rookie minimum salary of $16,500.

By mid-July, Fidrich, known as the Bird for his resemblance to the Sesame Street character, was the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

Beloved by fans for his penchant for talking to the baseball, smoothing the pitcher's mound while on his knees, and giddily congratulating teammates for fielding plays, Fidrich became a national treasure.

He partied backstage with Elton John, exchanged pleasantries with President Gerald Ford at the All-Star Game, and toasted Frank Sinatra at the legendary crooners' 61st birthday party that December.

You know, so the guy said, do you want to fight? And I told him, sure.

So Mark was suspended for three days from school.

You've been listening to The Bird, The Spirit of 76.

Produced and narrated by me, Andy Barry.

'Cause you could give it to the wrong player.

I mean, I don't know how many people would remember Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, who pitched for the Detroit Tigers, had a great first season, and then just was a piece of crap after that.

Um-

Oh, like Anthony Rendon with the Angels