i liked him a great deal

he wasn't the BEST pitcher in the world. that's not why i liked him. i liked him because he was different AND i liked him because he liked to have fun. to the family and friends of mark, my thoughts and prayers are with you

Former pitcher Mark 'the Bird' Fidrych dies at 54

By HOWARD ULMAN

The Associated Press

BOSTON -- Mark "the Bird" Fidrych, the fun-loving pitcher who baffled hitters for one All-Star season and entertained fans with his antics, was found dead Monday in an apparent accident at his farm. He was 54.

Worcester County district attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. Monday beneath a dump truck in Northborough, Mass., about 35 miles west of Boston. He appeared to have been working on the truck, Early said.

Joseph Amorello said he had stopped by the farm to chat with Fidrych when he found the body underneath the 10-wheel truck. Amorello owns A.F. Amorello & Sons, a company that does road construction, and said he sometimes hired Fidrych to haul asphalt or gravel in the truck.............