Cory Lidle
A journeyman pitcher whose career and life ended tragically in a plane crash in New York City.
1972–2006 (age 34)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 22·Generation X
Biography
Cory Lidle's baseball story was one of perseverance, carved out as a crafty right-hander rather than a power arm. He bounced through the minor leagues and several major league organizations before finally securing a lasting spot, most notably with the Oakland Athletics where he was part of their famed 'Moneyball' era. Lidle was known for his meticulous preparation and a sharp curveball, pitching effectively for the Reds and Phillies later in his career. His life was tragically cut short at age 34 when the small plane he was piloting crashed into a Manhattan high-rise. His death sent shockwaves through the baseball community, highlighting his passion for flying and leaving behind a career defined by steady competence and a relentless drive to stay in the game.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Cory was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cory Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Cory's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2006Died at 34
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- Won 13 games for the Oakland Athletics in 2001, contributing to their playoff run.
- Pitched a complete-game shutout for the Cincinnati Reds against the Atlanta Braves in 2005.
- Was a member of the New York Yankees' 2006 American League East division-winning team.
Did You Know?
He earned his pilot's license during the 2003-04 baseball offseason.
He and his teammate Tyler Yates purchased the plane involved in the crash together.
He was a contestant on the poker game show 'Celebrity Blackjack' in 2004.
“I succeeded by outthinking hitters, not overpowering them.”
