"In an 11-2 victory over the White Sox, the last complete game of his career and his last victory at Tiger Stadium, Fidrych realized one last moment of complete triumph.

He knew he couldn't pitch as he once did. He knew the slider wasn't what it had once been. This was sweet, though. He hadn't allowed an earned run -- and he wanted to share the happy moment.

So he picked up the game ball after the final out, took it to a friend sitting in the first row and handed it to him.

He handed the ball to minor league manager Jim Leyland, who'd not only helped him over some bumps but had always believed in him as a person. "