![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://vault.si.com/.image/t_share/MTY5MDk4MzU5NzM5Nzg2NTI5/44478---cover-thumbnail-image.jpg)
Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://www.news-journalonline.com/gcdn/authoring/2016/06/25/NDNJ/ghows-LK-efa626d9-3521-4d5d-bc21-51b2775bb5ce-9dc38391.jpeg?crop=2211,1249,x0,y0&width=1600&height=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A BIRD'S FLIGHT
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/square-dynamic/small/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/rip-roarin-rookie-detroit-centerfielder-kirk-gibson-march-24-1980-sports-illustrated-cover.jpg)
Detroit Tigers Mark Fidrych And Sesame Streets Big Bird Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://www.cooperstownexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Mark-Fidrych.jpeg)
Mark Fidrych - Cooperstown Expert
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://www.freep.com/gcdn/presto/2020/07/08/PDTF/6644ad3c-f239-46a6-b0c7-22f0b5ffd630-Bird_1976Freep_sports.jpg)
Detroit Tigers flashback: Mark Fidrych, 'horse manure' and an ovation
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://www.freep.com/gcdn/-mm-/a434003d9114dddef2b85565ea373ecd1706b785/c=432-69-2120-2319/local/-/media/2016/06/28/DetroitFreePress/B9322758580Z.1_20160628213410_000_GMBERCOTU.1-0.jpg)
Magic of Mark Fidrych lives on in '76 broadcast replay
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://cardboardgods.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/fidrych.jpg?w=640)
Mark Fidrych Cardboard Gods
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/square-dynamic/small/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/toronto-blue-jays-joe-carter-1992-world-series-november-02-1992-sports-illustrated-cover.jpg)
Detroit Tigers Mark Fidrych Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/square-dynamic/small/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/yes-we-cain-2015-world-series-preview-issue-november-02-2015-sports-illustrated-cover.jpg)
Detroit Tigers Mark Fidrych Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://www.vintagedetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mark-fidrych-1976-detroit-tigers.png)
40 years ago: Fidrych opened eyes at spring training on his way to becoming The Bird - Vintage Detroit Collection
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://www.telegram.com/gcdn/authoring/2016/07/09/NTEG/ghows-WT-3530caa6-3c1b-4a83-e053-0100007f7d97-ba8ccf08.jpeg)
40 years later, Northboro's Mark Fidrych remains one of baseball's great stories
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://h2j7w4j4.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1976-Fidrych-Mark-399x423.jpg)
August 29, 1976: Mark Fidrych entertains Oakland crowd with a complete-game gem, but loses in 12th – Society for American Baseball Research
![Mark Fidrych's fairy reign as king of baseball ended too soon - Sports Illustrated Vault](https://cardboardgods.wordpress.com/files/2009/02/mark-fidrych-79.jpg)
Mark Fidrych, 1979