10/12/2006 2:30 AM ET
MLB mourns loss of Lidle
Pitcher touched many lives in his time in the Majors
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
The Phillies picked him up in late 2004, hoping he would boost them toward the playoffs that season. But the Phillies finished second in the National League East, 10 games behind the division-winning Braves and well behind the Wild Card-winning Astros.
"The Phillies family is extremely saddened by the tragic news involving Cory Lidle," Dave Montgomery, the team's longtime president, said. "Our thoughts and prayers are extended to his wife, Melanie, son, Christopher, and those families who were affected by the terrible incident in New York."
"When I heard the news, I was shocked," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I couldn't believe it. Cory was a true professional, who gave his all every time he went to the mound. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family."
"First and foremost, my heart sinks for Melanie and Christopher," said friend and Phillies pitching mate Randy Wolf. "I feel fortunate that I got to know Cory, first as a teammate and then as a friend. This whole thing makes me feel numb. Cory was an even better person than he was a pitcher, and I hope that's how he's remembered."
"The tragic passing of Cory is very disturbing," Phils general manager Pat Gillick said. "He was still a young man. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and son and the other families who were affected by this tragic incident."
Lidle was the first Major League Baseball player to be killed in a plane crash since Aug. 2, 1979, when Yankees catcher Thurman Munson perished while practicing flying a plane in his hometown of Canton, Ohio. Munson had gone home during an off-day in the Yankees' schedule.
In Lidle's case, the Yankees had just been eliminated from the playoffs this past Saturday, when they lost their American League Division Series in four games to the Tigers at Detroit. Lidle was one of the few players at Yankee Stadium the next day to pack his things, and he spoke to the media about the disappointing end to the season.
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