Brad Lidge

Brad Lidge
Lidge during pregame warmups for the Phillies
Pitcher
Born: (1976-12-23) December 23, 1976 (age 40) Sacramento, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 26, 2002, for the Houston Astros
Last MLB appearance
June 16, 2012, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	26–32
Earned run average	3.54
Strikeouts	799
Saves	225
Teams
Houston Astros (2002–2007) Philadelphia Phillies (2008–2011) Washington Nationals (2012)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (2005, 2008) World Series champion (2008) NL Rolaids Relief Man Award (2008) Delivery Man of the Year (2008) NL Comeback Player of the Year (2008)

Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge (born December 23, 1976) is a former professional baseball relief pitcher. He pitched for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals.

Lidge threw a four-seam fastball that consistently reached 91 or 92 miles per hour, as well as a hard, sharp breaking slider that ranged from 85 to 87 mph. He sealed the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship with the final out, a strikeout of Eric Hinske in Game 5.

Lidge was born in Sacramento, California on December 23, 1976. At a young age, the Lidge family moved to Englewood, Colorado. Growing up, Lidge was very active, playing football, basketball and baseball among other sports. Lidge attended Cherry Creek High School.

Lidge attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played college baseball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team. He won the Big East Conference player of the year award during his junior season under coach Paul Mainieri, leading the conference with an 8–2 record and 93 strikeouts in  80 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Lidge was a 1st round draft pick by the Houston Astros, taken 17th overall in the 1998 Major League Baseball draft. He missed parts of his first four professional seasons (at Quad Cities, Kissimmee, Round Rock, and New Orleans) with injuries, including a torn rotator cuff and a broken forearm that threatened his career. Lidge would overcome these injuries, making his debut in the major leagues on April 26, 2002 against the Atlanta Braves, serving as a middle relief pitcher in the Astros' bullpen. He started the only game of his career in September of that year against the Milwaukee Brewers. 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.