Two icons, each for different reasons. Harry Callas had a distinctive voice that will never be forgotten by at least three generations of sports fans. With his voice, he could create nailbiting drama describing a game of tic tac toe. The Bird also will be remembered by all who saw him for his quirky yet effective mannerisms on the mound. Other than his rookie of the year season he really did not do much to gain fame, but he left a lasting impression on the fans who saw him pitch. Two Baseball Icons Have Left Us
He got hurt messing around during spring training and was never the same. The bird was one of the first compelling figures in baseball that drew me to the game.
I remember both very well. Harry Kalas was with the Astros in the late 60's, before he left for the Phillies. He was replaced by HOF guys like Gene Elston and Milo Hamilton. He also called some ND football, the tape delayed Sunday ones. The Bird was really a boost for baseball, it's a shame he had such a short career.
Hey what about some respect for the late Marylin Chambers? She's been around the bases a few times..... :wink:
LOL!! Man, I grew up with Marilyn.....I mean she taught me a lot......What I really mean is that she was a great mentor....no that's not what I mean either....
:lol: She was pure as the driven snow.....Ivory Snow that is. Now that girl had the right attitude..... 8) Good read on the lady by Time: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1891127,00.html
In the 3 and a half decades there have been only 2 team players on the local teams that were alone worth the price of admission. They were Barry Sanders and the Bird. A couple of years ago, one of the guys in the office was in Boston at a Red Sox-Tiger game. In front of him was Frydrich who was accompaning some guy whose family paid about a grand for the experience. When the Bird learned that my buddy and his friend were from Detroit, he struck up a conversation with them. My friend tells Frydrich that his dad just thought he was the greatest and the next thing you know, Fridrich has my firend call his dad so he can speak to him. He was that kind of unassuming guy. RIP Mark.
The Bird's injury in spring training was a torn knee meniscus from which he recovered. His career ended because of a rotator cuff injury. I do not think he altered his pitching mechanics after the knee injury. At the time he blew out his arm, which was still pretty early in the season, he was leading the AL in ERA. The manager at that time was Ralph Houk who was an old school manager and overused him. I think Fidrych had piched 6 complete games out of the 10 games or so he started the year he was injured. Many of the games he pitched in his rookie year were complete games. Quite a difference from today. My guess is that a young talent like Clayton Kershaw has not yet pitched a complete game in his two years of big league ball It was one of those " what could have been" situations because if Fidrych remained healthy, the Tigers rotation in the early 80s would have started with a 1-2 punch of Fidyrch and Jack Morris. Fidrych was the only bright spot for Detroit sports fans in the mid 70s. We sold cars then but our sports team were sucked fire hoses in Hell. The Tigers were horrible; the Red Wings were the laughing stock of hockey while the Pistons served the same role in basketball. And do I need to mention the Lions? He was a unique person. Gifted and probably someone with undiagnosed ADD but his status as a Detroit cult hero did not seem to change his affable, accessible nature. He did not seem bitter how his career ended and seemed quite content after his carrer was cut short to return home and be a small farmer and truck driver.