Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career. Lidge throws a four-seam fastball that consistently reaches 91 or 92 miles per hour, as well as a hard, sharp breaking slider that ranges from 85 to 87 mph. He sealed the Phillies' 2008 World Series Championship with the final out, a strikeout of Eric Hinske in Game 5. Brad Lidge was born in Sacramento, California on December 23, 1976. At a... young age, the Lidge family moved to Englewood, Colorado. Growing up, Lidge was very active, playing football, basketball and baseball among other sports. Lidge attended Cherry Creek High School. Lidge attended Notre Dame. He won the Big East player of the year award during his junior season under coach Paul Mainieri, leading the conference with an 8–2 record and 93 strikeouts in 80.1 innings. Lidge was a 1st round draft pick by the Houston Astros, taken 17th overall in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.
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