NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Cory Lidle died in a plane crash Wednesday after just finishing the 2006 season as a member of the New York Yankees' pitching staff.
He was acquired from Philadelphia over the summer, and had obtained his pilot's license in the past year.
The team noted on its Web site Wednesday night that the 34-year-old Lidle had discussed his cross-country flight plan with team owner George Steinbrenner earlier in the day.
He was the pilot of the plane that crashed into the 40th floor of an apartment building in Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon. He left behind a wife and a young son.
His death was on the minds of many at Shea Stadium Wednesday night, where the Mets and St. Louis were supposed to play each other in a National League playoff game before being rained out.
"It's just sadder than sad," said Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson, who held the same job when Lidle pitched for Oakland in 2001 and 2002.
