Mark Fidrych-1980
Invariably with the unexpected death
of Mark Fidrych this week, the stories
flowed. With frizzy blonde curls and a
colorful personality on and off the
field, "The Bird" was a breath of fresh
air during the stale days of the
mid-1970s.
Three short years after signing out of
Worchester Academy, Fidrych turned
in arguably one of the best rookie
seasons ever; going 19-9, while
leading the American League with a
2.34 ERA. Injuries would cut his
career to just five seasons, where he
logged a 29-19, 3.10 mark.
One tale that hasn't been covered in
the press, but is one told around the
scouting circles was how Fidrych was
discovered. Pitching for Algonquin
Regional High School through his
junior season, the 19-year-old found
himself hurling for Worchester
Academy his senior season as age
forced Fidrych to transfer to the
college prep school in order to pitch
during his final prep season.
As a college prep school, the
Worchester Academy would play
local college freshman squads. While
getting lost to many scouts in his
move to another high school for his
senior season, Tiger scout Joe
Cusick unearthed the future All-Star
pitching in a contest against the
Dartmouth College squad. Hidden in
the cold region of New England that
spring, Detroit was able to snatch the
right-hander in the 10th round of the
1974 draft.
And that's the story of one good job
of scouting.
Here is one of the better newspaper
articles on Fidrych's career:
Fidrych Article -Boston Globe 7/12/99
(Somewhere in a cardboard box in
my attic rests a Mark Fidrych
autographed ball as my path crossed
Mark's during his final days on the
mound in the minor leagues during
the 1980s)
(4/16/09)
of Mark Fidrych this week, the stories
flowed. With frizzy blonde curls and a
colorful personality on and off the
field, "The Bird" was a breath of fresh
air during the stale days of the
mid-1970s.
Three short years after signing out of
Worchester Academy, Fidrych turned
in arguably one of the best rookie
seasons ever; going 19-9, while
leading the American League with a
2.34 ERA. Injuries would cut his
career to just five seasons, where he
logged a 29-19, 3.10 mark.
One tale that hasn't been covered in
the press, but is one told around the
scouting circles was how Fidrych was
discovered. Pitching for Algonquin
Regional High School through his
junior season, the 19-year-old found
himself hurling for Worchester
Academy his senior season as age
forced Fidrych to transfer to the
college prep school in order to pitch
during his final prep season.
As a college prep school, the
Worchester Academy would play
local college freshman squads. While
getting lost to many scouts in his
move to another high school for his
senior season, Tiger scout Joe
Cusick unearthed the future All-Star
pitching in a contest against the
Dartmouth College squad. Hidden in
the cold region of New England that
spring, Detroit was able to snatch the
right-hander in the 10th round of the
1974 draft.
And that's the story of one good job
of scouting.
Here is one of the better newspaper
articles on Fidrych's career:
Fidrych Article -Boston Globe 7/12/99
(Somewhere in a cardboard box in
my attic rests a Mark Fidrych
autographed ball as my path crossed
Mark's during his final days on the
mound in the minor leagues during
the 1980s)
(4/16/09)
