Northborough in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Mark Fidrych

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

1. Mark Fidrych Marker

Inscription. Mark “the Bird” Fidrych (1954-2009) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He was popular with his fans for his antics on the field; he “manicured the mound” by fixing cleat marks on the pitcher's mound and often talked to himself and the ball. In 1976, Fidrych won the American League Rookie of the Year Award and was the starting pitcher in the 1976 All Star game. As a youth, Mark played baseball at Memorial Field in Northborough.

Erected 2016 by Robert C. Trimble Sr. and Family • Town of Northborough, MA.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1976.

Location. 42° 19.537′ N, 71° 37.753′ W. Marker is in Northborough, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. It can be reached from East Main Street 0.1 miles south of Memorial Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in the parking lot for Memorial Field, a youth baseball field. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 61 E Main St, Northborough MA 01532, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner

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and in Greater Worcester.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Woodside (approx. 0.3 miles away); Assabetville (approx. half a mile away); Gen. Henry Knox Trail (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Minuteman (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Baptist Church of Northborough (approx. 0.6 miles away); Northborough Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Cyrus Gale's General Store (approx. 0.7 miles away); Peter Whitney Parsonage Historic District (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northborough.

Also see . . .
1. Mark Fidyrch. Wikipedia entry on the baseball pitcher and philanthropist, who had a 19-9 won-loss record and 2.34 earned run average during his 1976 rookie season. (Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. MLB: The Bird (Mark Fidrych).

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

2. Mark Fidrych Marker

Bob Costas hosts this 2014 MLB Network documentary on Fidrych's brief life and career. (Tyrannis 07, uploaded June 22, 2024) (Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Mark Fidyrch Foundation. Homepage of the charitable organization founded by his wife, Ann, and family after his accidental death in 2009. (Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Mark Fidrych (1954-2009) image. Click for full size.

Detroit Tigers/Major League Baseball via Wikipedia (Public Domain), circa 1976

3. Mark Fidrych (1954-2009)

A minor-league coach called him “The Bird” because of his resemblance to Big Bird of the “Sesame Street” children's television show. Fidrych's baseball career was cut short by injuries, particularly an undiagnosed and untreated torn rotator cuff, and he retired from baseball in 1981.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 529 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.