t’s not uncommon for a young American boy to dream of becoming a major league baseball player. The chances of the making it are slim. Slimmer yet are the chances of your four best friends making the big leagues with you. And what are the chances of you and your best friends playing on the same major league teams? Amazingly, Cory Lidle shared that dream come true with four teammates from his South Hills High School baseball team in Covina, Calif.: Jason and Jeremy Giambi, Shawn Wooten and Aaron Small. There’s no chance any of them dreamed about a day like last Wednesday. Amid the media overkill, gratuitous talk-show conjecture and official statements issued by everyone from George Steinbrenner to the NTSB, we offer something you won’t read anywhere else. Below are eulogies of sorts—touching and plain-spoken—from four guys who knew Cory Lidle best.
Shawn Wooten, Minnesota Twins
Cory was one of my best friends. I’ve known him for 20 years—him and his brother (Kevin). We grew up together, went through the ranks together. Hell, Kevin and I went to high school and junior college together. We signed with the Tigers together and we were roommates in Double A. When I got to the big leagues with Anaheim—basically living back home—Cory was already out there with Oakland. So we spent a lot of time together. Cory was just an all-around great guy. It just breaks my heart. I remember I called him to congratulate him when he got traded to New York. We figured he’d get a chance to pitch in the playoffs and play for ring, which is what we all play for. I was really excited for him. I can’t believe it. I’m still in shock. I called Kevin and (pauses) I don’t know, there just aren’t enough words that I can say about what’s happened. When we played on the Phillies together, my wife and his wife Melanie became really good friends. We’d all go to the field together and they would hang out. It’s just devastating. This really puts friendship and baseball and life in perspective.
Jason Giambi, New York Yankees
Right now, I am really in a state of shock, as I am sure the entire MLB family is. My thoughts are with Cory’s relatives and the loved ones of the others who were injured or killed in this plane crash. I have known Cory and his wife Melanie for over 18 years and watched his son grow up. We played high school ball together and have remained close throughout our careers. We were excited to be reunited in New York this year. I am just devastated.
Aaron Small, New York Yankees
I was at home in Tennessee watching the plane hit the building and thinking, “what a tragic story.” That was before I even knew it was Cory. Then I went to church Wednesday night. A woman in the church said that I needed to go turn on the TV in the church office. I turned it on and I was stunned. Totally shocked and devastated. I grew up with Cory and Kevin Lidle. I’ve known them since they were about eight years old. If there was a baseball game I was playing in—from eight year’s old to high school—Cory and Kevin Lidle were playing in it with me. Cory was like a younger brother to me. He was like family. As pro-ball players the years passed. You kind of drift away and you make other friends. But every now and then, when I saw him, it’d be like old times. I now wish I could’ve been closer to him the last few years. But I was in Tennessee and he was on the other side of the country in California. Cory was the kind of guy a lot of people said “he couldn’t do things.” Couldn’t get drafted out of high school? He signed as a free agent out of high school. That just proves the kind of guy Corey Lidle was. He had a ton of fight in him.
He wasn’t a big guy, but he was a competitor. And he loved baseball. He loved life and enjoyed doing a lot of different things. And when he did something he was good at it. The last couple days I’ve been reflecting on a lot of things we did growing up. I remember one instance at the little league park when I was 11, Cory and Kevin were defending my younger sister when some girls were picking on her. They were always there to defend my younger brother or sister like they were family. That kinda sounds silly but, now that he’s gone, it makes you think about, what a great man and good friend he was. He’ll be deeply missed.
Jeremy Giambi (semi-retired)
The world needs more people like Cory Lidle. A great person—very caring, funny and a great sense of humor. He was a great baseball player. Through the years, he has shown all the people that he was a warrior. He never gave up, battled through the toughest of times—truly never gave up—and chased his dream. He lived that dream, but also cherished it. In addition, he was a great father, loved his family, wife, children and friends. He would put others before himself. To know and to play with Cory Lidle was an honor and will never be forgotten.
