46 Facts About Brad Lidge

Bradley Thomas Lidge was born on December 23,1976 and nicknamed "Lights Out" is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

Brad Lidge played for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals.

Brad Lidge was a two-time All-Star, and in 2008 won the Delivery Man of the Year Award and the National League Rolaids Relief Man Award.

Brad Lidge is currently a host on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio.

Brad Lidge sealed the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship with the final out, a strikeout of Eric Hinske in Game 5.

Related searches

Brad Lidge was born in Sacramento, California on December 23,1976.

Brad Lidge's family moved to Englewood, Colorado when Lidge was very young.

Brad Lidge initially played outfield but became a pitcher because Cherry Creek's outfield was populated by such draft prospects as Donzell McDonald.

Brad Lidge was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 42nd round of the 1995 draft but did not sign.

Brad Lidge attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played college baseball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team.

Brad Lidge was a first round draft pick by the Houston Astros in the 1998 MLB draft, chosen 17th overall as a compensatory pick from the Colorado Rockies, who had signed Darryl Kile in the offseason.

Brad Lidge missed parts of his first four professional seasons with injuries, including a torn rotator cuff and a broken forearm that threatened his career.

Brad Lidge would overcome these injuries, making his MLB debut on April 26,2002, against the Atlanta Braves, serving as a middle relief pitcher in the Astros' bullpen.

Brad Lidge went 2-for-2 with a double and 2 RBIs at the plate, but was pulled when he strained an intercostal muscle in his ribcage after pitching three scoreless innings with four strikeouts, two walks and a hit batsman.

In 2003, Brad Lidge was the winning pitcher in the Astros' historic six-pitcher tandem which no-hit the New York Yankees on June 11.

That year, Brad Lidge was voted Astros Rookie of the Year by the Houston Chapter of the BBWAA.

Brad Lidge set a new National League record for strikeouts by a reliever with 157, passing Goose Gossage's total of 151 set in 1977.

Brad Lidge threw 11 pitches to Melvin Mora, Mike Sweeney, and Garret Anderson, who did not make contact with any of Lidge's pitches.

Brad Lidge became the first pitcher to strike out the side in his first All-Star appearance since Bill Caudill and Dwight Gooden in 1984.

That year, Brad Lidge ranked third in the National League in saves and became the second Houston Astros pitcher ever to record at least 40 saves in one season alongside Billy Wagner.

Brad Lidge pitched for the United States national baseball team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, throwing two scoreless innings.

Later that year, Brad Lidge became the third pitcher in Astros history to record 100 saves with the club, after Wagner and Dave Smith, and this led the Astros to sign Brad Lidge to a one-year, $5.

In February 2008, Brad Lidge tore the meniscus in his right knee while pitching off the mound during Spring training.

In July 2008, Brad Lidge signed a 3-year contract extension with the Phillies.

Brad Lidge set new Phillies records by converting his first 19 save opportunities and 35 straight saves.

Related searches

Brad Lidge was named to the roster of the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

On September 27,2008, Brad Lidge became the first closer in Phillies history to be perfect in regular season saves, converting 41 in as many opportunities, as he secured the National League East division title for the Phillies.

Brad Lidge is the first closer since Eric Gagne in 2003 to have a perfect conversion rate and 30+ saves.

Brad Lidge finished the 2008 season with 41 out of 41 save opportunities, a 1.

Brad Lidge saved the decisive Game 5 of the 2008 World Series in Philadelphia on October 29,2008 over the Tampa Bay Rays with a strikeout, to make him seven-for-seven in postseason saves, thus completing his perfect season.

Brad Lidge was eighth in the voting for the 2008 NL MVP award, behind Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, Manny Ramirez, Lance Berkman, CC Sabathia, and David Wright, and was the only player other than Pujols or Howard to receive first place votes.

Brad Lidge received the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award and Delivery Man of the Year Award.

Brad Lidge was voted the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association's Outstanding Pro Athlete of the Year award and honored at their annual dinner on January 26,2009.

Brad Lidge was named the inaugural recipient of the Daily News Sportsperson of the Year award.

Brad Lidge gave twelve customized Rolex Submariners to the members of the Phillies bullpen to commemorate his perfect season.

Brad Lidge's 2009 season was a complete reversal of fortune from the prior year, in which he was perfect in save opportunities.

Brad Lidge was used in different situations out of the bullpen, but did not find a role where he pitched consistently well.

Brad Lidge underwent elbow surgery in January 2010, and he pitched in rehabilitation games with the Phillies' minor league teams during the beginning of the 2010 season.

On June 22,2010, Brad Lidge recorded his 200th save against the Cleveland Indians.

Brad Lidge converted 17 of his last 18 save opportunities during the regular season and recorded two saves during a 2010 postseason in which he did not allow a run.

Brad Lidge did not return to the closer role even after coming off of the disabled list; instead, his setup man Ryan Madson filled the ninth inning, while Brad Lidge found himself in competition with Antonio Bastardo over who would pitch the eighth.

Brad Lidge had not been signed as a closer for Washington, but after Drew Storen suffered from elbow inflammation during spring training, the team prepared to use Lidge and Henry Rodriguez in the ninth inning.

Brad Lidge was released from his contract shortly after, and returned home to Colorado in order to spend time with his family and consider whether or not he would pursue another contract.

At the time of his retirement, Brad Lidge had 225 regular-season career saves, as well as 18 postseason saves.

Brad Lidge signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Phillies on August 1,2013, enabling him to officially retire as a member of the organization.

Related searches

Brad Lidge has an interest in archaeology and religious studies and takes online courses at Regis University.