Tiger Stadium is packed with 48‚361 fans to see Mark Fidrych’s return

This Day In Baseball

On August 12, 1980 — Tiger Stadium is packed with 48‚361 fans to see Mark Fidrych’s return to the big leagues‚

In front of a sellout crowd at Tiger Stadium, Mark Fidrych makes his triumphant return to a big league pitcher’s mound after more than a year.

He goes 8 innings and gives up 5 runs (3 earned) on 11 hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 5-4 loss.

“I understand now,” Tiger manager Sparky Anderson said after the game. “I wasn’t here in 1976 to see him pitch, but I know now what they’re talking about with this young man. He’s just the opposite of what he appears. He’s all business. I just hope some of the other guys on our staff were watching. I hope what he showed rubs off.”

The 1976 American League Rookie of the Year will go 2-3 with a 5.73 ERA in what will be his final attempt to come back from injury‚ and his last major league season.
@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@

[jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game, players, ballparks and the people that shaped the game!”  subscribe_button=”Join us!” show_subscribers_total=”1″]

Subscribe to our Podcast

The Daily Rewind

on Apples Podcast | Spotify  | Google | Stitcher

And connect with us wherever else you listen to Podcast and hangout!