Sixteen years ago, Brad Lidge and the Philadelphia Phillies 2008 celebrated the franchise second World Series title ever immediately parade down Broad Street. Baseball card fans and collectors will soon be able to get a limited edition card commemorating the Finals.
Lidge and artist Jordan Spector collaborated on a “Lights Out” Immortals collectible card, which is available for pre-order now.
Each purchase comes with a holographically embossed 4×6 Immortals V1 box, card case, and a limited edition “Lights Out” collectible. It also comes with a certificate of authenticity and an authentication token.
“It’s for the fans to have some kind of piece that they can hold on to from 2008,” Lidge said.
In an upcoming episode of “Gallen of Questions,” Lidge tells CBS News that Philadelphia’s Pat Gallen songs played a role in the collection. The former Phillies closer said there are 2,008 cards in total, and he signed 54 of them (his jersey number). Former Phils catcher Carlos Ruiz signed some cards, as did Spector.
The trading cards include some game-used baseballs from the 2008 postseason, including the final pitch from Game 5 of the National League Championship Series when the Phillies won the pennant over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Lidge has a collection of baseballs from games he finished in 2008 when he went a combined 48 for 48. After every game he finished, he would get the ball from Ruiz or whichever teammate recorded the final out. He gave Spector some balls for the Immortals project.
According to Spector Sports Art, Immortals trading cards offer “a redefined perspective on remarkable individuals who have undeniably shaped our sports world.”
In some cards, Lidge is on his knees celebrating the 2008 World Series finale.
Lidge breaks down the 2008 World Series finale
It’s a pitch forever etched in the minds of Phillies fans: an 0-2 slider down and away to Eric Hinske, swung at him and missed. A legendary phone call from Harry Kalas followed, and a few days later Lidge said the “biggest party ever” had paraded down Broad Street.
This week marks the 16th anniversary of the championship and parade. In this week’s episode “Gallen of Questions,” Lidge takes a look at the finale and explains it to fans.
The video starts with Lidge looking at Ruiz, cums and delivers the decisive slider, but you don’t see Ruiz signaling the closer. This is why.
“If you look at Carlos Ruiz now, he doesn’t lay a finger,” Lidge said. ‘Cause before Hinske came up, when we had a meeting on the hill, [pitching coach Rich] Dubee came out and we were like, ‘What have you done before?’ I said, ‘I faced him once, and we threw a fastball off the wall at me.’ So there’s no reason to throw fastballs here.”
Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Lidge recalled Ruiz saying they would go with sliders and he wouldn’t put any fingers down.
“I had a good slider that day and I knew he was the right person to throw it to,” Lidge said. “But of course you have to execute. Here you have 0-2. You are ahead in the count. I think you have a chance to put him away, that one there.”
“Once I felt that grip, I knew this was going to be the pitch. When I threw it… it’s still that crazy feeling where I’m on my knees, and I think I said, ‘Oh my God, we just won the World Series.’ I really don’t know what I said, but in my mind that’s what I said. Then I looked up and I looked at the fans And suddenly, before I knew it, I was on my back underneath Ryan Howard, over twenty guys. over 200 pounds jumping on top, and I was still screaming with joy.”
“Gallen of Questions” airs Saturday nights on PHILLY57 and on-demand on the CBS News Philadelphia YouTube channel.
