CORY LIDLE...REST IN PEACE

CORY LIDLE

MARCH 22,1972-OCTOBER11,2006

REST IN PEACE...

NY YANKESS WEB SITE..
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was the pilot of a plane that crashed into a highrise apartment building in Manhattan on Wednesday, according to published reports. Lidle, 34, who earned his pilot's license last offseason, was killed in the crash, the reports said.

NEW YORK -- Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle died in an airplane accident in New York City on Wednesday afternoon when his plane 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 getting his pilot's license.

News reports have indicated that Lidle's passport was found on the sidewalk near the building. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would not confirm the names of any of the victims.

Lidle, whose team was eliminated from postseason play on Saturday by the Detroit Tigers, told reporters on Monday 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."

Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


FLY

:(

It's odd to think that just the other night I was watching him pitch against the Tigers and commenting to my daughter on his piercing eyes.

this is a sad day for the baseball family....

fly

Just curious what would make someone post such a shitty comment.

Why? Because someone who thought he could fly better than he could was airborne in a population dense area and got himself killed. That he didn't take dozens with him was the accident. He took homes instead.

According to Bloomberg, he had 75 hours experience and he was flying the East River??????????????

That he orphaned his son is not my fault. It's his.

That he didn't orphan other children is sheer god's grace.

And I am enraged to know it is STILL THAT EASY to fly into a New York building.

and made a smart ass comment about someone's death that inconvenienced you.

Still shitty even with the explanation.

Do you think NY buildings are somehow special and immune to accidents?
Silly thought that.

Did you know the Empire State building was struck back in the 40's I think it was.

If you are going to piss yourself every time something bad happens then god help you.

After all the "Freedoms" we've been forced to hand over and all "safe and secure" bullshit we've had thrown at us, one would think what happened on September 11th couldnt happen again but IT DID and these dopes in government couldnt do a damn thing to prevent or stop it. :mad: If someone wanted to attack us again they could without any problems, I think we're damn lucky after all the shit we've done in iraq someone hasnt.

suggestion about how to fix your obsessive 'problem'??????
:eyes:

:(

I haven't looked at it from that perspective yet.

Now, I am sad again. :cry:

so it might turn out that there was a malfunction of some sort. At the very least, his status as a pilot doesn't look to be the issue here, you fool.

Pilots are most critical within their first 100 hours.

He chose to fly in a population dense area with that little experience (and it damn well is an issue)and you call ME the fool?

Go weep for the poor fellow who hardly took anybody with him when he crashed into an apartment building across the street from a hospital.

How long have you been a flight instructor?...

:hug:

:cry: :cry:

and thanks for the link. The Yankee organization will probably give details soon on where fans can send $$$ contributions in lieu of flowers.

:cry:

Rest in peace, buddy.

My thoughts are with your family at this time.

:( :cry:

Rest in Peace, Cory.

but why would he have his passport to fly from Jersey to New York?

For Cory Lidle