Mike Lieberthal to Retire a Phillie

Where Have You Gone Mike Lieberthal?, originally uploaded by Fen Branklin

If you can forget about the last few years when he was part of the infamous Black Hole with David Bell, Mike Lieberthal actually had a pretty nice career in Philadelphia. He's returning to the city that made him a Major League ball player and will be a Phillie for one more day.

On June 1st, Lieberthal will retire as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

"Philadelphia has always been a second home to me, so I'm really
looking forward to this," Lieberthal said in a statement released by
the Phillies. "I spent half my life there and still follow the team
closely on television."

>>Lieberthal to officially retire as a Phillie [MLB]

Comments

[ill]

dude needs to go out for a run and should probably take his girl out with him.

also should get a cap to cover his thinning head of hair.

[Dan Levy]

It's a good thing Ed Wade's gone. He'd probably try and sign Lieby to a one day, six million dollar deal with full no trade clause.

[Chamomiles Davis]

This one goes out to Lieby, for old time's sake: BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

/happy trails, Mike

[John Kruk]

@ Dan Levy: +1!

[TJB]

hilarious comment by dan.

his last years were kinda rough, but he was a two time all star and career .270+ hitter with 150 homers. not legendary, but defintely respectable.

[Paul]

You know it wasn't so much that anyone hated Mike Lieberthal here in Philly, to be honest I'm glad he is retiring with us. It was just frustrating to watch him play after he tore up his knees because he was so slow. Before that injury he was the second or third best catcher in the national league, behind Piazza and Kendall. Then after he was the king of the gdip. The other thing that was frustrating was that the Phillies refused at that point to admit Lieberthal wasn't the same player and never went out and got a good starting catcher to supplant him.

[How do you spell retard?]

Good for Lieby. I've always appreciated him in a Chris Wheeler, Joe Morgan, Chuck Norris way.

[jeremy]

Mike Lieberthal's OPS+, by year:

1999: 123
2000: 106
2001: 73 (injures himself, limited PA)
2002: 113 (injures himself again, but still had 500+ PA)
2003: 121
2004: 97
2005: 93
2006: 94

To dispel some misconceptions about Lieberthal:

Lieberthal was not done after he injured himself. He actually posted his 2nd and 3rd best years (OPS+ wise) after hurting himself.

Lieberthal was never a black hole at the bottom of the line up. Sure, he wasn't as good after 2003 as he was from 1999-2003, but he was still putting up above average numbers for a catcher offensively.

The only reason Lieberthal was ever viewed as being a poor hitter was because he was being compared to his former abilities and the formidable hitters that composed the rest of Philadelphia's lineup from 2004-2006.

[EL Ricko]

> How do you spell retard?

I have no idea what you are trying to say. A "Chris Wheeler, Joe Morgan, Chuck Norris way"? You mean Lieberthal would walk into a room with two other morons and walk out gnawing on two morons' femurs?

[Frank]

hey Lieby i will really miss you playing MLB baseball you were one of the best players to put on a phillies uniform, and you did alot of support for the fans and for the Childrens Hospital Of Philadelphia that's where i had seven operations as a baby. I was born with a cleft lip and palete.