The Toronto Blue Jays lost a member of its family when Cory Lidle died Wednesday, club president Paul Godfrey says.
"We're all saddened here in Toronto," Godfrey told CBC Newsworld when asked about Lidle, a former Blue Jay pitcher who was killed when his plane crashed into a Manhattan apartment building.
"If you're a Jay at one time, you're a Jay forever," Godfrey said.
Cory Lidle spent one season with the Toronto Blue Jays.
(Aaron Harris/Associated Press)
"We lost a member of our family."
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi acquired Lidle in an off-season deal with the Oakland Athletics prior to the 2003 season. The right-handed pitcher impressed in his first two months in the Jays' rotation, but struggled as the season progressed.
Left Toronto as free agent
He finished the season with an unimpressive 12-15 record and a 5.75 earned-run average and left as a free agent during the off-season.
"I knew Cory well from the time he spent with the A's in Oakland and, of course, when he came to join us in Toronto," Ricciardi said in a statement issued Wednesday.
"I am numb with today's tragic news. My sympathies go out to his entire family and especially his young son."
In addition to stints with the A's and Blue Jays, Lidle spent time in the Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies organizations.
Most recently, Lidle pitched for the New York Yankees.
"He was always a very friendly guy and a good teammate," Godfrey said. "He was a journeyman in baseball, but he was a contributor wherever he went."
The Jays flirted with the idea of bringing Lidle back this season, but he ended up getting shipped to the Yankees in the deal that brought star outfielder Bobby Abreu to the Big Apple from Philadelphia
Lidle played his final game last Saturday, pitching against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series. It was the only post-season appearance of his career.
