This Week in Yankee History

March 22, 1972:
Right-handed pitcher Cory Lidle is born in Hollywood , California. Lidle began his major league career in 1997, with the New York Mets. He then bounced around to several teams, including Tampa Bay, Oakland, Toronto and Cincinnati, and Philadelphia. Some of his best pitching years occurred in the early 2000's , where his performance in the Oakland A's starting rotation in 2001 ( 13-6 , 3.59 ERA) helped the A's into the play-offs that year. In August 2001 , he had a 0.00 ERA in 20 consectutive innings pitched, an Oakland record that stood until 2008, when it was broken by Brad Ziegler, with no runs allowed in 39 consecutive innings. Fun factoid: the major league record for consecutive innings pitched without an earned run is 59, set by Orel Heshiser of the LA Dodgers in 1988.

  Cory arrived at the Yankee organization in 2006, in a trade that included Lidle and Right-fielder Bobby Abreu coming from Philadelphia, for several promising minor league players ( all of which turned out to be not so promising) . Lidle joined the team in July 2006, and pitched in 10 games. His Yankee record stands at 4-3, with a 5.16 ERA. His final game took place on October 7, 2006, an appearance in game 4 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. Lidle was removed from the game in the second inning, after allowing 3 runs on 4 hits. The Yankees ultimately lost the game, 8-3, and the series, 3 games to 1. In a post game interview, Lidle caused a controversy by implying the Yankees were poorly prepared and poorly managed. He later went on a local sports talk-radio show, trying to defend his comments, but was dealt with harshly by the hosts. 

 Four days later, on October 11,2006, Cory Lidle and his flight instructor took off from Teeterboro Airport in NJ, flying a Cirrus SR 20. The flight lasted approximately 11 minutes before crashing into the 50th floor of a residential apartment building at 524 East 72nd Street, along the East River, thus ending his uncertain future with the Yankee organization. The official cause of the accident  the was secondary to pilot error : low altitude, combined with a sudden, unexpected cross wind. Cory was 34 years old at the time of his death. His major league career spanned 9 years, with a final record of 82-72, with  1322 innings pitched, a 4.57 ERA, and 838 strike-outs. He  became  the third Yankee to die in an airplane crash ( Thurman Munson, 8/2/79, and Jim Hardin, 3/9/91)

3/22/1972:
The Yankees complete a trade with the Boston Red Sox, obtaining left-handed relief pitcher Sparky Lyle for Danny Cater, and minor league infielder Mario Guerrero ( a later member of the 500 home run club, with a career total of 578). Sparky quickly became a fan favorite: when he was called into a game to protect a lead in the later innings ( to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance"), with his famous mustache, and his cheek bulging from his signature chewing tobacco( yes, they allowed that back then) , the stadium would erupt in cheers.

 Lyle proved his worth over 7 seasons with the Yankees, his final Yankee record stands at 57-40, with 745 innings pitched, a 2.41 ERA, and 141 saves. He was the 1977 Cy Young award winner, and helped the Yankees win 2 championship rings during those years, in 1977 and 1978. He was replaced by closer Goose Gossage, whom the Yankees obtained just prior to the 1978 season. He was traded to the Texas Rangers after the 1978 season, as part of that trade pitcher Dave Righetti came to New York. 

Lyle bounced around to several more teams prior to his retirement after the 1982 season. Thanks for all the entertainment Sparky, you will always be one of my favorite Yankees!