Mark "the Bird" Fidrych & Harry Kalas Pass Away...Red Sox Lose Bigtime

Mark "the Bird" Fidrych, the colorful and much loved Detroit Tiger pitcher in the 70s, was killed in an accident on his farm. He was only 54 years old. I saw him pitch in person at Fenway twice and I saw firsthand why Tiger fans and all fans of baseball were so in love with him. Here's part of what Red Sox announcer Jerry Remy had to say...

“Every time he took the mound, it was an event,” said NESN analyst Jerry Remy, who was in his second season with the California Angels at the time. “He was a unique character. I remember sitting in the dugout after a game at Tiger Stadium and we watched the interaction he had with his fans. It was pretty amazing. He was different than anyone else.”

He went 19-9 in 1976 and was runner up in the Cy Young award voting. Injuries cut short his career a scant four years later. Thanks for everything, Mark. I will miss you.

In other sad baseball news, the longtime voice of the Phillies, Harry Kalas, died yesterday. He was found unconscious in the Phillies broadcast booth and passed a short time later. He was 73. He also narrated the NFL Films productions. Phillies president David Montgomery said this..."We lost our voice today." He also will be missed, terribly.

In less important news, the Boston Red Sox continued their early season streak of mediocre to terrible pitching and atrocious hitting, losing to the Oakland A's by a score of 8-2. Jon Lester went six innings, giving up six runs. His ERA is 9.00. Boston collected only TWO hits! Until they start hitting the ball and pitch a little (or a lot) better, the season will remain woeful. Daisuke tries to right all the wrongs tonight on the left coast. It's "turn the page" time.

Click on the title of this post for more on last night's Sox game and the loss of two important baseball figures. It sure was a lousy and sad day all around. It can only get better. As always, BE WELL. It's SO important. With health, happiness will follow...that's how I look at things. Thanks for being here once again. I hope you can come back.