Lieberthal goes from All-Star catcher to superhero
Mike Lieberthal was an All-Star catcher for the Phillies. Following retirement in Southern California, he became addicted to golf.
His greatest golfing achievement to date was winning the championship at his club, North Ranch, in Westlake Village, Calif. He celebrated by jumping into a pond that left him without something dry to wear. The only outfit that could be located was a Captain America uniform, which someone had probably used for Halloween.
So, welcome the new golf champ, Captain Lieberthal.
Honors
Greg Luzinski will be among the 2013 inductees into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame during the offseason ... Rob Ducey will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 29.
Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, who pitched for the Phillies from 1911-17 and one season in 1930, is being remembered in his hometown of St. Paul, Neb. A new nursing and rehabilitation facility named Brookefield Park is dedicating a baseball themed wall in the therapy gym that will include panels of Alexander's career with the Phillies along with his time with the Cubs and Cardinals.
Elsewhere
Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning represented the Phillies during the first round of June's First-Year Player Draft held at the MLB Network studios.
One of the players selected by the Phillies, right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter, is the son of the former pitcher by the same name.
The Dodgers selected left-handed pitcher J. D. Underwood, son of the late former Phillies pitcher, Tommy Underwood.
Brad Lidge is retiring with the Phillies on August 1, throwing out the first pitch against the Giants. He joins Doug Glanville, Lieberthal and Pat Burrell who opted to officially and ceremoniously retire with Philadelphia.
Condolences
Our deepest sympathies are extended to the families of Stan Lopata and Gene Freese, two alumni who passed away in mid-June.
Lopata's passing leaves only four members of the 1950 Whiz Kids: Bob Miller, Curt Simmons, Putsy Caballero and Jack Mayo.
Did You Know?
Curt Schilling will become the fourth right-handed pitcher in the Toyota Wall of Fame. Induction takes places Friday evening, Aug. 2, at 7:05 p.m.
"Schill" joins Robin Roberts, Alexander and Bunning.