In the heart of downtown Detroit, just across from the General Motors building (formerly the Renaisance Center) stands a truly mighty civic symbol.
A fist. An enormous fist. In bronze. But not just any fist, it's Joe Louis' fist. A fist that had struck many a telling blow.
This morning, the people of Detroit woke to news so horrible each and every one of us felt as if Joe Louis himself had struck us square in the gut.
Mark "The Bird" Fidrych had died. At the age of 54. In a tragic accident.
If you are from Detroit there is no need to explain why we cry. If you're not I'll try and explain.
In 1976 Mark Fidrych was a rookie pitcher with the Detroit Tigers. That year he started the All-Star game, and led the league in earned run average with a 2.34 ERA. He recorded 19 wins and 9 losses that year. Very respectable stats. But it's not the stats that make him noteworthy. It was his magic.
Magic. He possessed magic. Real magic. I saw it with my own eyes. As did the people of Detroit. For one year. One magic year.
In 1976 Detroit was in the ninth year of it's long decline, the defining turning point was the summer of 1967 when 43 people were killed in rioting and the National Guard response to the rioting. The Tigers won the World Series in 1968. And the people were happy. But that team faded quickly from age and by the 1970's the Tigers ranged from mediocre to pathetic.
In Fidrych's rookie season of '76, no one expected much from the hometown team, least of all an incandescent rookie flashing such unique charm, personality, humility and performance that he became the Elvis of baseball that one magic season, selling out stadiums throughout the nation each time he pitched.
In 1976 Mark Fidrych was "The Bird", a gangly, rooster maned, eccentric crowd pleaser with a devastating sinkerball. He was without question the biggest star of the game. For one magic year. Not just because he was good, but like Bob Dylan, he was interesting. Fascinating. Fun. And genuine. Just a compelling performer.
Just how compelling is beyond my verbal capability. But he sold out stadiums for every game. And the people of Detroit LOVED him. I mean LOVED him. Deep abiding love. Passionate love. Long lasting love. And we are all so sad to hear of his untimely passing.
There have been many enormous sports figure in Detroit; Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Joe Louis, Barry Sanders, Isaiah Thomas, Al Kaline, Ty Cobb, all beloved.... and yet none so meteoric, so unique, so human as Mark "The Bird" Fidrych.
Detroit didn't need this news.