Sully's Sports: Remembering a pair of corking good high school pitchers

Baseball fans may have noticed a lot of reminiscing about Mark Fidrych this season.

Known as “The Bird” because of his striking resemblance to Big Bird, in 1976 Hailing from Northborough, Mass., Fidrych quickly became the talk of the baseball world, not only for his prowess on the mound but for his antics while throwing the baseball.

Forty years ago Fidrych captured the imagination of fans with all types of unorthodox actions. The Bird would crouch down on the pitcher's mound and fix cleat marks, which became known as “manicuring the mound.” He would talk to himself, talk to the ball, aim the ball like a dart, strut around the mound after every out, and throw back balls that “had hits in them,”, insisting they be removed from the game.

Mark Fidrych also was known for shaking everyone's hands after a game. On June 28, 1976, he pitched against the Yankees in a nationally televised game on. The Tigers won the game 5–1 behind a Fidrych complete game and the kid from Central Massachusetts was an American hero. After a game filled with "Bird" antics in which he and his team handily defeated the Yankees, Fidrych became a national celebrity. Every time he pitched, Detroit’s Tiger Stadium was jam-packed with fans that became known as “Bird Watchers.”

The Bird started the All Star Game for the American League and lost, but he did win the 1976 Rookie of the Year Award, finishing the season with a 19-9 record and a sparkling 2.35 earned run average.

Long before he came became an American icon, baseball fans from in and around Worcester, Massachusetts knew all about The Bird. The class of 1972 had a host of high school pitchers who attracted pro scouts including Fidrych from Algonquin, Stan Saleski from saint Peter’s, Craig Allagrezza from Milford and Jack Sullivan from Shrewsbury. Fidrych went the farthest after being drafted in the 10th round by Detroit (not many players make the bigs if they are drafted that late), but I was more intimately familiar with Sullivan’s game, mostly because I shared the same bedroom but also because I attended every one of his games.

I remember a game in particular when Jackie and Fidrych went head to head as Shrewsbury played host to Algonquin. Needless to say it was pitcher’s duel as both seniors dazzled the opposition batters. Both threw heat, but my brother would often keep the Tomahawk hitters off balance with a sidearm curve.

In the end, Shrewsbury prevailed 2-1 and southpaw Sullivan picked up the win. I was especially thrilled as a nine year old because I got asked a few questions on the air by the local radio guy from Northborough. My baseball acumen probably hasn’t improved much since I was a nine-year old, so it definitely was a highlight.

Fidrych would only win 10 more games in the big leagues. The Bird was derailed by serious shoulder injuries and pitched his last game on October 1, 1980. He returned to Northborough and his farm and worked road construction among other jobs.

Fidrych wasn’t bitter but he didn’t talk a lot baseball once he left the game. I found myself standing next to him one night at the late, lamented Dew Drop Inn in Northborough and he turned to me and gave me a five minute monologue on Cable TV piracy. He didn’t know I was Jack Sullivan’s little brother; heck, I could have been anybody. He just wanted to speak his mind. I sipped my beer and agreed enthusiastically with The Bird.

They both died young. Jack passed away at 48 after an illness on December 6, 2002 and Fidrych was killed in a freak accident while working on his truck in Northborough. He was 54.

But I will always remember that sunny afternoon long ago when they had their whole lives in front of them.

See you at the games.