Brad Lidge

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Beginning his career as a relief pitcher for the Astros, Lidge became the team's closer in 2004 and rose to become one of the best in baseball, making an All-Star appearance in 2005. However, after struggles in that year's postseason and through the 2007 season, he was eventually moved out of the closer role. He was traded to the Phillies in 2008, where he returned as a closer and went a perfect 41-for-41 in save opportunities over the course of the regular season, winning the Delivery Man of the Year Award, National League (NL) Rolaids Relief Man Award, NL Comeback Player of the Year, and making another All-Star appearance. In the 2008 postseason, Lidge tied the record for most saves in a single postseason, and made the final out of the World Series for the Phillies. Injuries limited Lidge in the final four seasons of his career, eventually retiring in 2012 after a brief stint with the Nationals. He recorded 225 saves in his career.

In Their Own Story

The summer of 2005 marked a high point for Lidge's early career, highlighted by his first All-Star Game appearance where he struck out all three batters he faced—Melvin Mora, Mike Sweeney, and Garret Anderson—without allowing a hit. He threw just 11 pitches, two of which were balls, becoming the first pitcher to strike out the side in his debut All-Star outing since 1984. However, the postseason that year brought heartbreak; Lidge gave up a three-run home run to Albert Pujols in Game 5 of the NLCS and a walk-off home run to Scott Podsednik in Game 2 of the World Series, contributing to a sweep by the Chicago White Sox. Despite these struggles, he finished the regular season with a career-high 42 saves and a 2.29 ERA, ranking third in the National League.

Reader's Guide

Lidge threw a four-seam fastball that consistently reached 95–97 miles per hour, as well as a hard, sharp breaking slider that ranged from 85 to 87 mph. He also had a cutter of the variation.

Did You Know?

• Lidge was born in Sacramento, California on December 23, 1976.
• He attended Cherry Creek High School and initially played outfield before becoming a pitcher.
• Lidge was a first round draft pick by the Houston Astros in the 1998 MLB draft, chosen 17th overall.
• In 2004, he set a new National League record for strikeouts by a reliever with 157.
• Lidge struck out the side in his first All-Star appearance in 2005.