Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1977 Topps Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Mark Fidrych
Position/Team: Pitcher for Tigers
Card #: 265
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
Mark Steven Fidrych, known by his unforgettable nickname “the Bird,” was an American professional baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers for five seasons (1976-1980). Though his MLB career was brief, he made an indelible mark on the sport.
Fidrych captivated baseball fans during his rookie season in 1976 with his unique antics and joyful approach to the game. He earned his nickname “the Bird” from a minor league coach who thought his tall, lanky frame and mop of curly blonde hair resembled the “Sesame Street” character Big Bird.
He would often be seen muttering to the ball before delivering a pitch. He would meticulously smooth out cleat marks on the pitcher’s mound after every out. He would strut around the mound and enthusiastically shake hands with his infielders after good plays.
In 1976, at just 21 years old, Fidrych took the baseball world by storm. He finished the season with an impressive 19-9 record and led the American League with a 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games. His starts became must-see events, drawing large crowds and national television audiences. He was named the American League Rookie of the Year and finished second in the Cy Young Award voting.
Tragically, Fidrych’s career was severely hampered by injuries. In March 1977, he tore cartilage in his left knee during spring training, requiring surgery. While he returned to pitch, he later tore his rotator cuff in July 1977. This shoulder injury, which was not properly diagnosed at the time, effectively ended his ability to return to his dominant form.
After his baseball career, Fidrych lived a private life with his wife and daughter on a farm in Northborough, Massachusetts. He worked as a contractor, hauling gravel and asphalt, and helped out at his mother-in-law’s diner.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
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Did You Know? When Mark Fidrych received the phone call that he had been selected in the 10th round of the 1974 amateur draft, he didn’t realize any Major League teams were looking at him and initially panicked, thinking he had been drafted into the military.
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