Mike Lieberthal

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Mike Lieberthal
Los Angeles Dodgers — No. 14
Catcher
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
June 30, 1994 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Selected MLB statistics
(through 2006)
AVG     .275
HR     150
RBI     609
Former teams

Mike Lieberthal, born Michael Scott Lieberthal (January 18, 1972, in Glendale, California), is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws right-handed.

Lieberthal has a .313 batting average, .385 on base percentage, and .515 slugging percentage lifetime against lefties, through 2006.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Lieberthal was an all-American catcher at Westlake High School and graduated in 1990. As a 4-11, 98-pound high school freshman, he played shortstop and second base. His coaches told him he was too small to catch. But as a junior he made the switch to catcher at the suggestion of pro scouts, including his father, Dennis, a scout for the Detroit Tigers.[2] Lieberthal established 2 single-season records that still stand at the high school: total bases (94) and home runs (14). He still holds career records at Westlake for at-bats (289), runs (79), hits (105), and home runs (30).[3]

Lieberthal was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1990 amateur entry draft.

[edit] Career

[edit] Minor leagues

Lieberthal played in the minor leagues from 1990-95, and then played another 4 games in the minors in 2006.

In 1991 he batted .305 for Spartanburg of the South Atlantic League.

[edit] Philadelphia Phillies (1994-2006)

He made his Major League debut on June 30, 1994 at the age of 22.

In 1996 he threw out 36% of runners attempting to steal, but had surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee.

In 1997 he allowed only .64 steals per 9 innings, 3rd best in the league, but his season was shortened by a pelvic stress fracture injury.

In 1998 he hit .339 in games that were late and close.

In 1999 he hit 31 home runs and 96 RBIs for the Phillies, while hitting .300 with a career-best .551 slugging percentage. He hit .377 against left-handers, and was 8th in the league with 8 sacrifice flies and 11 HBP. He was an All Star for the first time.

In 2000 Lieberthal was again an All Star, and hit .350 against left-handers. In September 2000 he had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow.

In 2001, Lieberthal was picked off at first base and tore his ACL and MCL and cartilage in his knee.[4]

In 2002 he was 5th in the league in HBP (14), and hit .346 against left-handers. He was the Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year.

In 2003 Lieberthal hit .313, and was 8th in the league in HBP (12).

In 2005 he was 6th in the league with 14 intentional walks, and struck out only 35 times, while walking 35 times.

In 2006 Lieberthal batted .310 in games that were late and close.

[edit] Los Angeles Dodgers (2007-present)

Lieberthal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 6, 2006. He received a $1.15 million contract, with a club option for 2008.[5]

[edit] Fielding

In 1999 Lieberthal led National League receivers with a .997 fielding percentage, and won a Gold Glove at catcher.

[edit] Movie appearance

Lieberthal appeared in the motion picture "Summer Catch" in 2001 alongside teammates Doug Glanville and Pat Burrell, as well as fellow major league baseball stars Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., and Dave Collins, among others.

[edit] Miscellaneous

  • Lieberthal's father is Jewish, and he is therefore considered Jewish under Reform Judaism, and is also listed as such by the American Jewish Historical Society and others.[6][7][8][9]
  • Since 1998 has sponsored "Lieby's VIPs," in which he purchases $30,000 worth of tickets for children with cancer, and their families; in addition, treats children to a Halloween party the following season.
  • Served as 2000 Chairman of C.A.D.E.'s (Corporate Alliance for Drug Education) fundraising drive.
  • Since 2001 has co-hosted a celebrity billiards tournament, with Doug Glanville and Randy Wolf, to raise money for the Philadelphia Futures mentor program (since 2001, the event raised over $325,000 for the Futures program).

[edit] Highlights

[edit] See also

Preceded by
Matt Morris		 NL Comeback Player of the Year
2002		 Succeeded by
Javy López

[edit] External links

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