Flying Tigers to Giveaway “The Bird” T-Shirts – June 12

The Lakeland Flying Tigers will pay tribute to Mark “The Bird” Fidrych on Friday, June 12 when the Flying Tigers take on the Sarasota Reds at Joker Marchant Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM and gates will open at 6:00 PM. The first 500 paid adults 15 and over will receive a Flying Tigers “The Bird” T-Shirt sponsored by Team Hammer. Kids eat free at all Friday home games as well. All kids 14 and under will receive a free hot dog, soda and bag of chips with paid admission.
Fidrych was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round of the 1974 amateur draft and pitched for the Lakeland Tigers in 1975. He pitched in 17 games for Lakeland and compiled a 5-9 record with a 3.77 ERA. He allowed only 111 hits in 117.0 innings pitched.
Only one season later in 1976 at the age of 21, Fidrych became a baseball and pop culture phenomenon. He would win American League Rookie of the Year honors after winning 19 games and leading the American League with a 2.34 EAR and 24 complete games. He was an American League All-Star selection and finished second in the Cy Young award voting.
Fidrych was 6-foot-3 with long, frizzy light brown hair. He was nicknamed “The Bird” because of his resemblance to “Big Bird” on the television show Sesame Street. The Detroit baseball icon’s career and life ended too soon. Injuries derailed his promising career and he died in an accident at his home in Massachusetts in April at the age 54.
Tickets for the June 12 game and all home games are available by calling the Flying Tigers at (863) 686-8075. Box seats are $6 and reserved seats are $5 and seniors 55 and over and children 14 and under receive a $1.00 discount. Saturday tickets are an additional $1. Parking is FREE. The Flying Tigers are a Class A Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. For more information please visit the Flying Tigers online at www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com.