I have one about the Bird in my list of potentials, but I might be waiting on one that jumps out at me more. It took me more than two years to get to a Babe Ruth story because I felt like I had to find a really good one given the subject. Same goes for Mark Fidrych.
He was such a media sensation. Once he even swore during a live interview! And almost no one cared. He talked to the ball and was just in a world of his own on the mound. There has never been anyone like him, and for all the craziness around his success, he was just a really down to earth guy. I was in college during his heyday, and lived in the Detroit media area (Southern Michigan). So sad his career was so short, and so sad he died so young.
Too many injuries. He hurt his knee first, but came back. I have no doubt that altered something about his pitching style. That same season he then had a rotator cuff tear. He wasn’t a fast ball pitcher, so that was unusual, or so I’m told. He never came back from that. And yes, he just went back to the farm. He was a humble man who just enjoyed life, whatever that happened to be at the time.
The story I have in the hopper is from when he first came back from the injuries. There was some other craziness at the game, but that was the night's big story--how is he going to be after going through all that. You could see the adversity flatten him out a little. It must not be easy to have the part of your life everyone appreciates the most be such a short part. He burned bright and fast.
What a story to have to tell the grandkids. Excellent.
Have you ever done a story about Mark "The Bird" Fidrych? That's my guy.
I have one about the Bird in my list of potentials, but I might be waiting on one that jumps out at me more. It took me more than two years to get to a Babe Ruth story because I felt like I had to find a really good one given the subject. Same goes for Mark Fidrych.
He was such a media sensation. Once he even swore during a live interview! And almost no one cared. He talked to the ball and was just in a world of his own on the mound. There has never been anyone like him, and for all the craziness around his success, he was just a really down to earth guy. I was in college during his heyday, and lived in the Detroit media area (Southern Michigan). So sad his career was so short, and so sad he died so young.
I loved watching Mark on the mound. It’s too bad he didn’t succeed longer.
Well, at least he got his ERA into single digits. A cheerleader’s outfit and knee-high white boots are a small price to pay.
Absolutely. He was a good sport about it.
Too many injuries. He hurt his knee first, but came back. I have no doubt that altered something about his pitching style. That same season he then had a rotator cuff tear. He wasn’t a fast ball pitcher, so that was unusual, or so I’m told. He never came back from that. And yes, he just went back to the farm. He was a humble man who just enjoyed life, whatever that happened to be at the time.
The story I have in the hopper is from when he first came back from the injuries. There was some other craziness at the game, but that was the night's big story--how is he going to be after going through all that. You could see the adversity flatten him out a little. It must not be easy to have the part of your life everyone appreciates the most be such a short part. He burned bright and fast.
I saw a follow up on him after his career ended. He just went back to his farm. I wasn’t aware he wasn’t alive anymore.