40 years ago today: Mark "The Bird" Fidrych makes his national TV debut

40 years ago today: Mark "The Bird" Fidrych makes his national TV debut

He led the league in ERA and complete games in his rookie year, but his presence in the pop culture was based on more than his talent. A lovable kook, he was the most popular guy and the biggest drawing card in the entire game. He was the first baseball player to make the cover of Rolling Stone.

Sadly, that year was essentially his entire career. The following year he tore cartilage in his knee during spring training. When he returned, everything seemed to be normal again until his ninth start, when he felt his arm "go dead." He was never the same pitcher again and his career was essentially over. That injury turned out to be a torn rotator cuff, but it went undiagnosed for years.

He died in 2009 as the result of an accident on his farm. He was only 54.

Fidrych bio at SABR's website.