Don Liddle

Don Liddle
Pitcher
Born: May 25, 1925(1925-05-25) Mount Carmel, Illinois
Died: June 5, 2000(2000-06-05) (aged 75) Mount Carmel, Illinois
Batted: Left	Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 17, 1953 for the Milwaukee Braves
Last MLB appearance
September 19, 1956 for the St. Louis Cardinals
Career statistics
Win-Loss record	28–18
Earned run average	3.75
Innings	427⅔
Teams
Milwaukee Braves (1953) New York Giants (1954–1956) St. Louis Cardinals (1956)
Career highlights and awards
As a starting pitcher, won decisive Game 4 of the 1954 World Series

Donald Eugene Liddle (May 25, 1925 — June 5, 2000) was an American left-handed pitcher in professional baseball who played four seasons in the Major Leagues for the Milwaukee Braves, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals from 1953 through 1956. Born in Mount Carmel, Illinois, he batted left-handed, stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 165 pounds (75 kg).

Liddle is most remembered as the man who, in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, threw the pitch to Vic Wertz that resulted in The Catch — Giant centerfielder Willie Mays' historic back-to-home-plate, over-the-shoulder grab of Wertz' line drive with two men on base in the deepest part of centerfield at the Giants' home field, the Polo Grounds. Had the ball fallen safely, the opposition Cleveland Indians would have taken the lead 4–2 late in the game. But Mays' catch preserved a 2–2 tie, the Giants won the game in extra innings, and swept the Series in four straight contests. Wertz was the only batter Liddle faced that day. Reportedly, he commented breezily on his arrival afterward to the dugout, "Well, I got my man." Liddle later started and won the decisive Game 4 in Cleveland, pitching 6⅔ innings and giving up only one earned run.

Earlier in 1954, Liddle was part of a pivotal, five-player trade, coming to the Giants with fellow left-handed pitcher Johnny Antonelli from the Braves in exchange for 1951 playoff hero Bobby Thomson. Antonelli won 21 games for the 1954 Giants, leading them to the National League pennant, and topped the Senior Circuit in earned run average.

Don Liddle appeared in 117 Major League games played, 54 as a starting pitcher. In 427⅔ innings, he gave up 397 hits and 203 bases on balls, striking out 198. He retired from baseball after the 1957 season, which he spent in minor league baseball. He died, aged 75, in his hometown of Mount Carmel, Illinois.

Before Don Liddle played in the professional league he played for local baseball teams in Wabash County, IL. In the late 1920s, Don Liddle played for a team named the Grand Rapids Steppers that was owned and managed by the Grand Rapids Hotel.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

Persondata
Name	Liddle, Don
Alternative names
Short description	American baseball player
Date of birth	May 25, 1925
Place of birth	Mount Carmel, Illinois
Date of death	June 5, 2000
Place of death	Mount Carmel, Illinois