Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Mike Lieberthal to Retire as a Phillie

Longtime Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal has decided to retire as a Phillie on June 1st. 

Lieberthal was the third overall pick for the Phillies in the 1990 draft. He got to the majors during the 1994 season and played with the Phillies through 2006. Last year he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .234 and playing in 38 games as the backup to Russell Martin. Lieberthal made the All-Star team twice, in 1999 and 2000 and ends his career with a .274 average, 150 home runs, and 610 RBI. He is one of only six catchers to ever hit for a .300 average and 30 home runs in the same year (1999). 

Just as it was right for Doug Glanville to retire as a Phillie back in 2005, it is very befitting that Lieberthal retire as a Phillie. Lieberthal never wanted to leave the Phillies anyway. 

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