MLBN Presents: Growing the Legend of 'The Bird'
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- The evolution of the fans love for Mark Fidrych and his performance on the mound.
Hosted by Bob Costas, MLB Network Presents is a series of documentaries and access-driven profiles that air during the off-season on MLB Network.
I wept when I heard of his passing. For reasons that I couldn’t fathom. He was such a breath of fresh air to baseball. When he died, it was like losing a childhood friend.
What a joy it was to watch him pitch!!!
What a great memory, I was 13.. I went to every single home game he pitched in 1976. I'd buy 2 tickets with my paper route money and then hope my dad or brother would take me. Sometimes I had to take a bus Downtown with a friend. Thank you Mark for all the great memories. R.I..P.
tbone Mark lived a half block behind me when he played in Detroit and we would talk on occasion. He was a great guy. I was saddened when he died. RIP
This man is my cousin!!! I had no idea he was so well known mostly cause I’m young and wasn’t aware he was even a pro ball player till He sent me signed baseball cards and a signed photo for my bday when I was like 6. RIP Mark the bird. Love ya cuzzz
The best part of him was he brought that child hood excitment to every game he pitched. He had that little boy in him that loved to play & innocence. Got to see him pitch 3 times that summer & was fantastic.
What an experience it must have been to see The Bird in person. He was so real, and such a talent. Hilarious antics weren't contrived either---just his persona.
Mark was such a breath of fresh air! The world needs more Mark Fidrych’s!!!
can you just imagine if he would have never gotten injured....he started off 6 - 0 the next year before he got hurt....always will be remembered.
I read somewhere that the injury he had would not be career ending today.
It was more then the shoulder injury. When he was recovering from that injury (not baseball related I know the real truth & know the officers who were there when it happened shoulder injury) But recovering from that shoulder injury was shagging balls in the outfield & collided & hurt his knee. Because he hurt his knee started to throw different which caused more injuries to his arm. Unfortunate because he was such a good guy. The way he died is sad.
Nicholas Giordano imagine an early 80’s tigers rotation with Jack Morris and a healthy Mark Fidrych
we could sure you a refreshing young talent who is so down to earth, and real in today's game like Mark Fidrych. Never anyone like him. RIP Bird---you will never be forgotten
He didn't have an agent. His father and he sat down with Jim Campbell (Tiger GM) in his office and agreed on a contract. His father wanted to make sure that Mark was under contract long enough to at least get the minimum from the Player's Retirement Program. He played the game with the joy and enthusiasm of a sandlot kid. And he shared that with us all at a time when the Tigers weren't giving us a lot to cheer about. He was, is and as long as they play baseball in Detroit will be, loved by Tiger fans.
I'm a Big Mark Fidrych Fan going way back. Being a Dodger Fan it was Lovely seeing Mark Take down those Damn Yankees!
What a Glorious time it was. The Bird will always be a Great part of my childhood.
A Beloved player, that kind doesn't exist anymore. The Bird played, FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.
Love how John Smoltz is credited as "Michigan Native"
AdHocAdLocQuidProQuo yeah and Jeter too
IKR?
most regrettable trade in tigers history
I was taking drivers ed over at Cody high school that summer. After having a lot of success from the time I first started following the Tigers in 1966, they were in the midst of a rough patch in 76. The Bird made them fun to watch whenever he pitched. It's such a shame they didn't handle his injury properly. That probably wouldn't happen these days. He was one of a kind, there will never be another Bird. Great memories. I remember watching this full documentary several years back, they did a great job. This is just a 'summary' of it.
I watched this twice and cried both times...
I remember The Bird and that game. Came home from playing ball and watched the last few innings. I loved Mark and the Tigers after that. He was so genuine. A character, an individual. Makes me smile just watching this.
Long live the memory of the Bird and his exuberance for the game!
1976 was such a great year!
The year I was born
I know there’s no crying in baseball, but I cried when they show the pride in his daughter’s eyes.
I hope a movie will be made some day !
It definitely would be worth doing because it was unreal how he brought the masses to the park for mere regular season games.
I lived more than a thousand miles from Detroit and was never a Tigers fan, but as a kid I remember how big the Bird was(pun intended). He was a nationwide sensation. Kids started emulating him when playing sandlot ball. Manicuring the mound, talking to the ball. Sad the tragic way his life ended. RIP Bird.
I can't believe it but that actually reared me up a tad. I remember him, I was a teenager year old and even as a Reds fan - he had my attention.👍
I had the honor of seeing Fidrych pitch and defeat the Rangers in his rookie year, my favorite live game ever! Miss you Mark! RIP Bird
I was 9 and have never forgotten that night and I'm sitting here balling at what might have been
Wow that truly something special heard the story about him but never seen the game till now that awesome
I was there, it was awesome!
Me too Jim. That was truly special.
This is the american game! Sure wish baseball was like this all the time.
God bless The Bird!.!!.
There is nothing growing. He was a legend almost from the word go. In almost 150 years of MLB, to make a mark like he did is simply special. If you were alive, you knew who Bird was. He was 'Bird' before Bird. That's for sure. It was as exciting as the A's long winning streak featured in 'Money Ball.'
I remember that well. I dont think you will ever see his likes again.
Awesome
I was 12. RIP Bird.
Another Angel went to heaven
Is there any way to see the whole documentary? I would like to pay full price for it, but is it available?
The Bird pitched full 9 inning games in those days. The announcer said here The Bird has won 7 in a row....wow, and for about a $20,000 contract
He made 14,000, almost the minimum back then.
belong in hall of fames.
William Diemert he only played 4 years and and was dominant only 1 maybe 2
My Tigers!
Why does MLB Network make Presents so hard to watch? Many of us don't have cable. Upload the episodes on UA-cam or get them on Prime. I will pay you actual money to watch the Billy Martin and Bird episodes.
why can't I find the complete film????
If anyone knows of any other Fidrych games on youtube other than the June 28th 1976 game he won against the Yanks, lemme know!!!!
2:02 is that a cell phone in 1976?
She is listening to the game being called on the radio
🐦❤️
talking to the balls..."ok baseball strike alright...why didnt u go to ur home ur too good for ur home answer me!!"
“Humble yourselves in the sight
of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
James 4:10 (Has Been Fulfilled)
Was that an umpire that shook his hand ?
0:25 this guy looks like he would eat a baseball
@ 2:00 I saw a woman with a cell phone aka a time traveler
That's a radio to listen to the broadcast call of the game.
She is listening to Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey call the game on WJR, AM 1260, on her transistor radio!! The ONLY way to hear the game, they were great announcers. When they televised a game I would always turn down the volume and turn on the radio to hear them.
that's Bill Walton's brother
One of the 1st games I remember watching as a young kid was that Monday Night Baseball. Growing up in Toledo the Tigers and The Bird were popular. I saw Mark pitch a game during his comeback in the minors. Pawtucket against the Mud Hens. It was kind of sad because everyone wanted him to get that Magic back. 1976 was a great year though.
So what's the bad part or is it all positive
He had a torn rotator cuff that could have easily been fixed that cut his career short. Then he was tragically killed in an accident in 2009.
That sucks
Thanks for telling me I was not alive back then
You're welcome
Anyone notice the time traveler on her cellphone @ 2 minutes? LOL
Scott Holden Clear evidence that time travel is real
I thought it was just me seeing things.
Is it a cell phone or a am/fm radio ?
What a bunch of morons! She is listening to Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey call the game on WJR, AM 1260, on her transistor radio!! The ONLY way to hear the game, they were great announcers. When they televised a game I would always turn down the volume and turn on the radio to hear them.
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