Apr 13, 2009 6:31 PM EST

Mark "the Bird" Fidrych was found dead Monday in an apparent accident at his farm at the age of 54.

Worcester County district attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. Monday beneath a pickup truck at his Northborough, Mass., farm. He appeared to be working on the truck, Early said.

Fidrych went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA in 1976 and became the AL Rookie of the Year and a national phenomenon.

Via San Francisco Chronicle