Former Port Cory Lidle Dies in Plane Crash

STOCKTON, Calif.- The Stockton Ports, along with everyone in professional baseball, are mourning the loss of New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle. Lidle, 34, was killed on Wednesday when the small plane he was piloting crashed into the side of a Manhattan apartment building.

In his 15-year baseball career, Lidle played with the Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets. This past season, he went 4-3 with the Yankees and helped the club to their 11th straight AL East division title. He has a career record of 82-72 with a 4.57 ERA.

Lidle played in Stockton in 1994 while coming up through the Milwaukee Brewers farm system. He made 25 appearances for the Ports, going 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA as a starter and reliever.

With the A's in 2001 and 2002, Lidle went a combined 21-16 during regular season play. He also made playoff appearances with the A's in both those seasons, and was the American League Player of the Month in August of '02, tossing two one-hitters during the A's historic 20-game win streak.

He leaves a wife, Melanie, and a son Christopher, 6.