"I'm in love with my land, I got it all from playing ball" - When Mark Fidrych opened up on the reason behind his short-lived MLB stint 

While Mark Fidrych did not have a longcareer in the big leagues, he made the most of it, and instantly became a fan-favorite. He played for the Detroit Tigers from 1976 to 1980 before hanging up the cleats.

Fidrych had a live arm and backed that up with some bizzare antics like talking to himself or "manufacturing the mound," as he put it. However, he ran into some arm troubles early.

The torn rotator cuff, which was diagnosed after he retired and his surroundings made the hard-throwing righty retire. He had a plot of land where he raised farm animals that kept him at pieace, via Sports Illustrated.

"I'm in love with my land. I got it from playing ball. It gives me prestige. Someone says, 'What you got?' I say, 'One hundred and twenty-one acres of nice land," Fidrych said.

Fidrych mentioned he was not a farmer, sicnce they do not make much money, but he loved tending to his animals and land. Fidrych was not like most other professional baseball players, and certainly not like many now.

Unfortunately, Fidrych died in 2009. He was working on his ten-wheel dump truck dumptruck when his shirt got caught in the takeoff shaft, causing him to suffocate.

Mark Fidrych could have been a star in the big leagues

Detroit Tigers - Mark Fidrych (Photo via IMAGN)

Mark Fidrych could have had an long and prosperous career in the big leagues if things played out differently. He was an ace right when he got his shot to play for the Tigers.

During his rookie year, he went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA which led all MLB pitchers. That was by far his best season in the big eagues as this is where the rotator cuff problem started to happen.

The following season, he went 6-4 with a 2.89 ERA. The workload would decrease every season until he finally decided to hang it up following the 1980 season.

Fidrych was known for his over-the-top antics, and it is something other big league pitchers have tried to mimic over the years. That says a lot about the player that Fidrych was, to make such an impression on the sport in just a few seasons.

Fidrych finished his career winning the AL Rookie of the year Award, was the AL ERA leader in 1976, and was a two-time All-Star.