Baseball Musings: Lidle's Plane?

October 11, 2006

Lidle's Plane?

Jason Beck writes:

A news station in New York (but I heard a report on WBZ in Boston) that the plane that hit the NYC building was registered to Corey Lidle. This is far from verified, but that "news" would be worthy of your site.

I have not found anything on the internet. If any of you do, please send it my way.

Update: Ron Steinfeld writes:

Plane was registered to Cory Lidle - WCBS Channel 2 report.

The story is on the front page of CBS News. Fox News is now reporting Lidle piloted the plane and is dead.

Update: Here's the ESPN story. This is the second Yankees player to die in a plane crash. Thurman Munson died in 1979 trying to learn to fly a jet.

Update: I just heard Lidle just got his pilots license.

Update: Okay, now I'm hearing he had his pilots license for seven months and had 200 hours of flight time.

Update: I'm surprised some people think this suicide. There is a passenger reported on the plane, and suicides don't usually take someone with them. Also, these little planes, in the hands on inexperienced pilots in bad weather are very dangerous.

Update: This really takes me back. I remember in the summer of 1979 eating dinner with my family. The news was on in the next room and we suddenly heard that Thruman Munson died in a plane crash. My dad and I rushed into the living room to watch the TV reports. I also remember visiting friends during Christmas vacation and hearing about Clemente's plane crash. Both were shocking.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends, and to all those who are suffering due to this crash.

Update: Jason McAdams sends this link:

The Phillies weren't enamored of pitcher Cory Lidle's hobby of flying a four-seat airplane.
But now that Lidle is with the Yankees, it's an especially sensitive topic.

In 1979, Yankees catcher Thurman Munson died when a plane he was piloting crashed near his home in Canton, Ohio. Lidle earned his pilot's license last offseason, and has insisted his plane is safe.

"The whole plane has a parachute on it," he told The New York Times. "Ninety-nine percent of pilots that go up never have engine failure, and the 1 percent that do usually land.

"But, if you're up in the air and something goes wrong, you pull that parachute, and the whole plane goes down slowly."

Update: Bloomberg is holding a news conference and won't confirm Lidle died because they haven't contacted next of kin.

Update: Janak Parekh sends more on the above piloting story from the New York Times. It sounds like he was a good student:

"He was probably my best student," Stanger said in a telephone interview. "He learned very, very quickly, and a lot of it is desire. He had huge desire.
"Really, anyone can learn how to fly. If you can drive a bus, you can fly an airplane. But to learn quickly takes money and time. Of course, Cory had plenty of money, and it was the off-season, so he had the time."

Lidle, who is making $3.3 million this season, met with Stanger twice a week, for three or four hours at a time, all winter. He became queasy once, Stanger said, somewhere over New Mexico while returning from Texas. Otherwise, Lidle was a natural.

Part of Stanger's job is to surprise students by simulating emergencies. He will pull the throttle to the idle position, essentially letting the plane coast as if the engine were failing.

Other times, he said, he would instruct a student to wear blinders so only the instrument panel was visible, simulating bad weather. Then Stanger would tilt the plane nose-high or nose-low, making the student recover by trusting the instruments.

"Most people get kind of ruffled," Stanger said. "He was like, 'O.K., no big deal.' A lot of it is his mental state.

Update: Mayor Bloomberg says only two people, not four died, an instructor and a student. Fox is now reporting that the plane issued a distress call.

Update: NBC says it has confirmation that Lidle was on the plane:

A law enforcement official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lidle was on the plane. And Federal Aviation Administration records showed the single-engine plane was registered to the athlete, who just days ago -- after the Yankees' humiliating elimination from the playoffs -- told reporters that he was getting his pilot's license.

Update: Ballbug is aggregating news stories on this.

Posted by David Pinto at 04:46 PM | Deaths • | Pitchers | TrackBack (1)

Comments

C'mon, that has to be a practical joke. Or grievous misinformation, one of the two.

Either that or Cory was really depressed about the thrashing given to him by Mike & The Mad Dog the other day.

Posted by: Jeff B. at October 11, 2006 04:50 PM

They are saying on the radio that someone from the Yankees was on the plane.

Posted by: Bryan at October 11, 2006 04:51 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2621860

Lidle dead - confirmed

Posted by: Ron at October 11, 2006 04:52 PM

Now they said that they believe Cory Lidle was indeed on the plane.

Posted by: Bryan at October 11, 2006 04:52 PM

My god...according to Drudge, wire reports ARE saying that Cory Lidle was on that plane. And that now he's dead. I now feel awful about having joked about it above.

He was apparently the pilot...this wasn't a suicide, was it?

God, this is awful. Now I'm almost wondering whether that reaming out on the air didn't have an effect on him.

Posted by: Jeff B. at October 11, 2006 04:58 PM

WFAN (Mike & The Mad Dog) has reported that 4 people, that includes Lidle, are confirmed dead. They also reported that Lidle's passport was found on the street.

Moreover, what happens to the Mets game tonight? Does MLB cancel it?

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:00 PM

NY times has it frontpage:

http://nytimes.com/

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:02 PM

No, no cancelation of tonight's game. If it was a terror attack, or a player on the Cards or Mets a cancelation would be appropriate. In this case a moment of silence will do.

Posted by: abe at October 11, 2006 05:11 PM

According to witnesses, he was flying low. Lots of pilots fly low to get a good look at the skyline. Problem is, when you fly that low, you don't have as much lift. That could be the cause of the crash.

I think calling this suicide is just as premature as calling it terrorism. Looks like it was just a horrible, horrible accident.

Posted by: Andy at October 11, 2006 05:11 PM

I'm streaming WNBC.com and it's pretty obvious that it was Lidle, but they haven't informed his family so they're not "confirming". Also, it sounds like the plane was in serious distress before it hit the building.

ESPN says FBI believes he was alone on the plane.

Posted by: dbt at October 11, 2006 05:11 PM

wnbc says fatalities are two on the plane two in the building.

Posted by: dbt at October 11, 2006 05:15 PM

Mets/Cards game maybe rained out anyway. I say cancel the game.

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:16 PM

Mayor Bloomberg is about to hold a news conference says WFAN.

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:17 PM

David -

You're almost certainly right, and it's actually rather silly for me (among others) to have floated such an idea. But I don't know there was another passenger on the plane. There's all sorts of questionable information out there right now, and the "fog of war" rule dictates that the majority of what you hear immediately after such an event like this turns out to be false.

Either way, it's a sad day, for Lidle and for those who died in the building.

Posted by: Jeff B. at October 11, 2006 05:20 PM

WFAN.com has an interview with Lidle just two days ago with Mike and the Maddog for those of you who want to listen:

WFAN.com

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:21 PM

Bloomberg says that 2 people were on the plane

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:24 PM

Bloomberg says that the other passenger was a flight instructor.

I haven't exactly covered myself in glory in this thread.

Posted by: Jeff B. at October 11, 2006 05:27 PM

Sorry:

www.WFAN.com

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:30 PM

Not speculating, just wondering: gambling / organized crime involvement?

Posted by: Mark at October 11, 2006 05:32 PM

Not speculating, just wondering: gambling / organized crime involvement?

What? Where did you get that?

Posted by: dave at October 11, 2006 05:37 PM

This is my last post on this but the NYTIMES is all over this. Pictures, audio, previous column on Lidle:

http://nytimes.com/

Also, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the Yankees and anyone who knew him. I would like MLB to cancel the Mets/Cards game tonight and I think they maybe forced to due to the weather.

Posted by: Jason McAdams at October 11, 2006 05:41 PM

Go figure. Joe Torre doesn't get fired for the Yankees plane crash of a postseason, but Corey Lidle does.

Okay, that was offsides, wasn't it?

Posted by: Corn E. Lius at October 11, 2006 06:06 PM

I write a fantasy sports site, and, if you have any interesting stories about Lidle on your fantasy team, please post them.

Corey lidle

It is a nice way to remember him, and I'll try to forward the post to his family via the Yankees or MLB or someone.

Posted by: Fake Teams at October 11, 2006 06:20 PM

the late cory lidle

Cory Lidle passed away in a terrible plane accident according to news reports today, just days after pitching in the ALDS.

I was among those who criticized Torre for starting a younger pitcher and not starting the veteran Lidle, who has an outstanding ground ball to fly ball ratio, in such an important game.

Instead, he used Lidle in relief, something that I cannot recall Lidle ever doing in two years with the Phils, and Lidle, unused to pitching relief, was hit around by the detroit batters.

Lidle was not the best of teammates and had a gruff attitude, not dissimilar to the late Thurman Munson, but he was an effective baseball player and had he pitched with the Yanks next year, could have won 15 games easily with his ground ball act.

This is a terrible blow to the Yankees' organization.

Obviously many of us who were Phils fans and watched Lidle play address our sympathies as well. He wasn't the warmest personality, but this is no way to go out.

requiescat in pacem, corey lidle.

--art kyriazis, philly

Posted by: art kyriazis at October 11, 2006 06:25 PM

An AP report says Lidle's 2004 2 year contract with the Phillies contained a clause about his airplance flying hobby. If Lidle were injured or killed as a result, the team would not have been obligated to pay the balance. He had already been paid the balance of his contract in this case, as the season was over.

Posted by: susan mullen at October 11, 2006 08:43 PM

Here's a great page on Lidle and his last days.

http://www.recordonline.com/lidle

All the best to his family and friends. We'll miss him.

Posted by: Patrick at October 11, 2006 09:37 PM

Post a comment

Baseball Info Solutions The publisher of the Bill James Handbook and a great source of stats.

ESPN.com's baseball page.

STATS, Inc. You'll find great baseball books and fantasy games here.

Baseball Direct Scoreboard This is powered by STATS, Inc. Good box scores, and good situational stats.

Baseball Reference.com It's like having Total Baseball and the Big Mac online!

Baseball Trade Rumors Thoughts on wheeling and dealing.

Baseball Prospectus.com Wonderful commentary and analysis.

Baseball Primer Baseball for the Thinking Fan.

The Hardball Times Baseball. Insight. Daily.

Minor League Spilts Database Up-to-date minor league statistics, broken down by situation.

Inside The Book A blog by the authors of The Book.

Baseboogle A search engine for baseball research sites.

Win Shares From Major League Baseball Graphs.

The Transaction Guy A baseball transactions blog.

Japan Baseball Daily An English language site for Japanese baseball news and stats.

Doug's Business of Baseball Weblog A blog with a focus on the economics of the game.

Why I Like Baseball A Yankee fan writes about her favorite team.

Skilton's Baseball Links Links to numerous baseball sources.

Dan Lewis A blog about all sports.

Birds in the Belfry A site about the Orioles. Articles and research.

Only Baseball Matters A baseball blog by a John J. Perricone.

Jocksalot Lots of sports links.

Al's Ramblings A Brewer's blog.

Futility Infielder Jay Jaffe's baseball site. More than just a blog.

Mike's Baseball Rants Mike Carminati's baseball blog.

Aaron's Baseball Blog A general interest baseball blog.

Boy of Summer Travis Nelson on baseball.

Baseball Crank Dan McLaughlin's blog on baseball, the war and politics.

Bambino's Curse Edward Cossette's blog about the Red Sox.

Oakland Athletics Blog David Levens writes about the A's.

Ducksnorts Articles and Blog by Geoff.

Boston Sports Media Bruce Allen's roundup of the Boston Sports Media.

The Diamond Angle An online baseball magazine.

The Cub Reporter A Chicago Cubs blog.

Bronx Banter A baseball blog by Al Belth.

At Home Plate Articles by Jonathan Leshanski.

Dodger Thoughts Jon Weisman on the Dodgers.

The Clark & Addison Chronicle A Chicago Cubs web log.

Baseball Writing Joe Zibell's essays on baseball.

The Eddie Kranepool Society A Mets blog.

Mariners Weblog The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's weblog written by Shannon Fears

PortlandSoxFan.com A Red Sox blog from Portland, CT.

The Detroit Tigers Weblog Two Tigers fans and their take on the Motor City team.

A Rookie's Life The blog of Cleveland Indians' rookie Jody Gerut.

The Baseball Desert An Englishman living in France writes about the American game.

ChiSox Daily Mike Lubuda writes about the White Sox.

Shallow Center A blog mostly about the Phillies.

The House that Dewey Built Jeff Kuhn writes about the Red Sox.

SethSpeaks.net A blog by a Twins fan.

Frank's Field of Dreams News about Asian players in the United States.

Jay's Giants Blog William Jay blogging about the Giants.

Baseball Savant Cutting edge baseball news and analysis updated everyday from all aspects of the greatest show on dirt!

Athletics Nation Blogging about the A's.

Red Reporter JD Arney writes about the Reds.

Dominican Players Raul Tavares writes about players from his home country.

The Pearly Gates An Anaheim Angels Blog.

Red Sox Haven Randy Booth on baseball.

Tigers Weblog The Detroit News weblog on the Tigers, written by Tom Gage.

Management by Baseball Jeff Angus writes on how business can learn from baseball.

The View From the Bleachers A Chicago Cubs blog.

Cubs Now! Brian Hipp on the Cubs.

Honest Wagner A Pittsburgh Pirates weblog.

All-Baseball.com A collection of excellent baseball weblogs.

Soxaholix A comic strip blog about the Red Sox.

Most Valuable Network Blogging all 30 teams.

Baseball, Etcetera Andrew Godfrey's baseball blog.

Most Valuable Network, Astros Lisa Gray and others write about the Astros.

fenwayfanatics.com A Boston Red Sox blog.

Balls, Sticks & Stuff A sports blog with an emphasis on baseball.

Phillies Nation Brian Michael writes about the Phillies.

Batgirl Less stats, more sass.

Sabernomics Economic thinking about baseball.

Fire Brand of the American League A blog about the Red Sox.

Ivy Chat Chicago Cubs and other rants.

Baseball Evolution A group website writing about baseball.

The Cubdom.com Byron Clarke blogs about the Cubs.

Red Sox Stats Sabermetric numbers for the Red Sox system.

DRays Bay A blog devoted to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Baseball Analysts Rich Lederer and Bryan Smith combine their baseball expertise into a single site.

Over the Monster A Red Sox blog by Randy Booth.

Viva el Birdos Ghosts of the St. Louis Cardinals past, present, and future.

Black Sox Blog A look at the current and historical teams of the South Side of Chicago.

Redleg Nation A group blog about the Cincinnati Reds.

Barry's Journal Barry Bonds' web log.

Hardball Dollars Keeping track of major league salaries.

Clem's Baseball and it's "Green Cathedrals" The resource for baseball stadiums on the web.

The Baseball Zealot Looking at the game of baseball from all sides of the spectrum .

Was Watching Laconic commentary from a Yankeeland zealot.

Bleed Cubbie Blue A Chicago Cubs blog.

Beaneball A's baseball from the heart of New York City.

The Writers A collection of sports writers express their opinions.

Yard Work What the Baseball Tonight crew would write if it could.

United States of Baseball Peter Handrinos' baseball columns.

Beer Leaguer Alternative veiwpoints on the Philadelphia Phillies.

Red Sox Connection Links to everything Red Sox.

Baseball Pilgrimages Stories of visits to baseball parks.

Fangraphs Multi-year charts of player stats.

Roto Authority Unique fantasy baseball information.

Yanksfan vs. Soxfan A Yankees fan and a Red Sox fan battle it out in the blogosphere.

Sawxblog.com A Red Sox fan writes about the home town team.

Oriole Magic An MVN blog about the Orioles.

The Baltimore Chop Joseph Jackson on the Orioles.

Lookout Landing A Seattle Mariners blog.

Sons of Bart Brush A blog about the Harvard baseball team.

Base Blogging A resource for sports and baseball bloggers.

Three True Outcomes A group blog by on major league baseball.

Cardinals Diaspora A blog for Cardinals fans living away from St. Louis.

Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke? A Pittsburgh fan chronicles life in the Grand Canyon.

Brew Crew Ball A blog about the Milwaukee Brewers.

Getting Paid to Watch Posts by a former trainer for the NY Mets.

The Gas House Gang An historical St. Louis Cardinals Blog.

6-4-2 An Angels/Dodgers double play blog.

El Guapo's Ghost Rambles on about the Red Sox Baseball and the Red Sox.

Baseball Etc

Tiger Tales A Detroit Tigers web log.

The Baseball Card Blog A blog about baseball cards.

Sox1Fan A Red Sox blog.

Out of Left Field Another Red Sox blog.

New York Yankees Update A Yankees blog with lots of photos.

Liberty Ball A current and historical Phillies blog.

Crawfish Boxes A Houston Astros blog.

MLB Rumors Clearinghouse News from around the majors.

Roar From 34 A group blog about the Orioles.

Blogging Baseball All-time baseball highlights and real-time commentary.

Rubber Arm A group blog about major league baseball.

Fenway Nation More news about the Red Sox.

Rays of Light A Devil Rays blog.

Fantasy Baseball Chronicle Information for fantasy players.

American Legends A sports blog.

Duffy's Cliff An interactive Red Sox site, featuring a lexicon of the Red Sox.

Oriole Post - The World of Baseball and Beyond An Orioles blog.

DRays Bay A Devil Rays blog.

Mets Heads A blog about the New York Mets.

The Soul of Baseball Joe Posnanski promotes his book on Buck O'Neil and blogs about baseball.

My Baseball Bias A blog about East Coast baseball.

Sports Business Radio Articles and talk about the business of sports.

The Game of Baseball A blog about Major League Baseball.

Baseball Hot Corner Opinionated observations for the thinking fan.

FantasyDope.com Fantasy baseball news.

Peter's Red Sox Forever A Red Sox blog.

Sox Nest Commentary on the Red Sox.

The Big Oz A Florida Marlins blog.

Baseball Reflections Where old school baseball meets sabermetrics.

The Sommer Frieze A Yankees blog.

Fenway Nation A Red Sox fan site.

In-Between Hops A Milwaukee Brewers blog.

Right Field Bleachers Another Milwaukee Brewers blog.

On Baseball and the Reds Another Cincinnati Reds blog.

Crooked Pitch A fantasy baseball blog.

Bless You Boys A Detroit Tigers blog.

Cubs f/x Pitch f/x and the Chicago Cubs.

The Hot Corner

Eephus Pitch Tossing pure junk about New York baseball since 2006.

It Is High, It Is Far, It Is Caught A tribute to John Sterling.

Baseball GB Baseball from a British perspective.

Nick and Nick's Twins Blog A couple of Nicks write on the Twins.

SkyKing162 Baseball with a hint of lime.

Center Field A Red Sox blog.

Empyreal Environs Writing about the Red Sox.

Trophy League Planet Aggregating the baseball blogosphere.

Cardinals Best News Links Aggregating St. Louis Cardinals news.

Zell's Pinstripe Blog A Yankees Blog.

HSAC Blog Official Musings of the Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective.

The Baseball Fix A general baseball blog.

MLB Roundup A baseball video blog.

Fantasy Dope Fantasy Baseball News.

The Cubs Brickyard Hilarious fake news.

Spitting Seeds A blog about Major League baseball.

Infield Chatter A blog covering all aspects of baseball.

The Bronx View A blog and podcast about the Yankees.

Jorge Says No A blog about the Yankees.

Ivy League to MLB Shawn Haviland blogs about his efforts to rise through the Oakland Athletics system.

This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes Blog of a girl who somehow has found a way to balance being a baseball purist with being a New York Yankees fan.

Baseball from Wrigley A Chicago Cubs blog.

Sliding into Home A Yankees blog.

Boras Blog Blogging about Scott Boras.

Injury Tool Fantasy Pitch F/X offers complete information on injuries.

Instapundit Politics and the law. This site inspired me to start blogging.

Rookie Cards Baseball Card grading.

Wild Treasure Treasure hunts through the blogosphere.

San Diego Ticket Finder San Diego Ticket Information.

Prize Sports.net Baseball Collectibles.

Fantasy Sports R Us The #1 Fantasy Baseball Leagues site on the web.

RotoRank - Fantasy Baseball Draft Guides Customized For Any Fantasy Baseball League.