I am very sorry to bring this news to anyone who knows who he is (a pitcher for the New York Yankees) he was killed in a plane crash ealier.

 

 

 

quoted from the official New York Yankees website-NEW YORK -- Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle died in an airplane accident in New York City on Wednesday afternoon when a plane he was piloting crashed into a 50-story building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

 

Reports indicated that the plane took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey around 2:30 p.m. ET, crashing into the building roughly 15 minutes later. The New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department said that at least two people were killed in the accident.

 

 

 

FBI officials told CNN that Lidle, 34, was the only person aboard the plane.

 

 

 

"This is a terrible and shocking tragedy that has stunned the entire Yankees organization," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "I offer my deep condolences and prayers to his wife, Melanie, and son, Christopher, on their enormous loss."

 

 

 

The plane, a Cirrus SR20, was purchased by Lidle last offseason for $187,000 after he earned his pilot's license.

 

 

 

News reports indicated that Lidle's passport was found on the sidewalk near the building.

 

 

 

Lidle, whose team was eliminated from postseason play on Saturday by the Detroit Tigers, told reporters on Sunday that he planned to fly home to California on Wednesday. He said it would take roughly 15 hours of flying time, though he planned on stopping at least twice, including one stop in Arizona.

 

 

 

ESPN reported that Lidle's wife, Melanie, was on a commercial flight headed for California and was not on board Lidle's plane. ESPN also reported that Lidle called in fuel problems shortly after takeoff.

 

 

 

Lidle's agent, Jordan Feagan, told Newsday he was told by the Yankees that Lidle was among the fatalities in the crash.

 

 

 

"He wasn't just my client," Feagan said. "He was probably my closest friend."

 

 

 

Federal Aviation Administration records showed the single-engine plane was registered to Lidle, an FBI official said, and FBI reports show that Lidle's passport was found at the scene.

 

 

 

 

 

"I am deeply saddened by this tragic event and I ask everyone to keep Cory, his family and all those affected by this tragedy in your prayers," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

 

 

 

"This is a terrible shock," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I was with Ron Guidry and Lee Mazzilli when I heard the news and we were just stunned. Cory's time with the Yankees was short, but he was a good teammate and a great competitor. My heart goes out to his family."

 

 

 

Lidle's interest in flying was examined in a New York Times story on Sept. 8. In that article, Lidle discussed the safety issues regarding the plane.

 

 

 

"The whole plane has a parachute on it," Lidle told the Times. "Ninety-nine percent of pilots that go up never have engine failure, and the one percent that do usually land it. But if you're up in the air and something goes wrong, you pull that parachute, and the whole plane goes down slowly."

 

 

 

There have been several fatal plane crashes involving Major League players, the two most famous being the one that killed Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente in 1972 and the one in which Yankees captain Thurman Munson died in 1979.

 

 

 

Lidle, a right-hander, was acquired by the Yankees from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 30 in a trade that also brought right fielder Bobby Abreu to New York. He went 4-3 with a 5.16 ERA in 10 games, nine of them starts, for the Yankees.

 

 

 

Lidle also pitched for the Mets, Devil Rays, A's, Blue Jays and Reds. He played in all or parts of nine Major League seasons and had a record of 82-72.

 

 

 

"The Phillies family is extremely saddened by the tragic news involving Cory Lidle," Phillies president David Montgomery said in a statement. "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."

 

 

 

Yankees captain Derek Jeter added in statement: "I am shocked by this devastating news. Spending the last few months as Cory's teammate, I came to know him as a great man. While he was known as a baseball player, he was, more importantly, a husband and father and, at a time like this, I want to share my deepest sympathies with his wife Melanie, his son Christopher and all those who know and loved him."

 

 

 

My condolinces go out to his family

Kind of ironic huh? I think he pitched the game the Yankees got booted out by the Tigers. If he did, i bet many people will think he did it on purpose. Sad though... :cry:

Wow. I know it's sad. I'm a Red Sox fan but I give all my symphony to the Melanie (his wife) and Christopher (his son) Lidle. I hate to see baseball players die.

 

Remember, they aren't enemies. Baseball is a fraternity shared among players and fans. If a Nomar dies tomorrow, yes, Giants fans will be sad. That's why baseball is such a great sport. It brings our nation together.

 

 

 

RIP C.L.

yeah thanks guys I was just seeing if anyone else out there new really who he was.. and if there was anyone who could help his family through their tough times :pray:

not many baseball fans on tip.it eh?

 

 

 

I'm also saddened to hear that Cory Lidle has died this afternoon. I came home to see BREAKING NEWS across the screen of CNN; a plane had crashed into an apartment complex. Later in the evening, I found out Cory Lidle, former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher was the pilot of the aircraft. I was so shocked, he was a good person from what I know. I can't imagine what exactly went wrong to cause this catastrophe.

 

 

 

Rip Cory Lidle :(

 

 

 

I just find it awful that he died, although I'm a Mets fan. This day reminds me of the day I found out Darryl Kile had died though. I offer my sincerest condolences to the Lidles.

I haven't really got the first clue when it comes to baseball, but I heard about this tragedy today. And that's what it is, a tragedy. For all I care, he could have been any random person, but the manner of his death and the family he has left behind constitutes a tragedy worth mourning, in my opinion.

Why does it have to happen to the best of them? Lidle was one of the few Yankee players I didn't hate...Although, if A-Rod died, I'd still think it would be kind of awful...

Oh my. I heard about this. :( Poor guy. My condolences to his friends and family.

Terribly sad that this happened, but also terribly sad that most are so dismissive about the other person's death...

 

 

 

most of the News reports that I've read seems to be along the line of this:

 

 

 

OMG Cory Lidle had died!!! oh yeah, and that other guy too...

This is absluetly horrible news. Even though the Yankees arent one of my favorite teams im still saddend by this news.

 

 

 

R.I.P. Cory Lidle. My prayers are with you and your family.

Hm, baseball doesn't seem to make it outside the USA and here to Australia, but sympathy none the less.

Thread has been cleaned up. Please stay on topic.

 

 

 

It's about posting condolences, not for sports-related banter.

 

 

 

- Ard

thanks for cleaning this up, sorry for what i said before just got kinda mad at that other person :oops: