Former Phillies closer Brad Lidge with Spector Sports for a 2008 World Series baseball card
Sixteen years ago, Brad Lidge and 2008 Philadelphia Phillies celebrated franchise’s second World Series title and a parade on Broad Street. Baseball card fans and collectors can soon get their hands on the ultimate commemorative limited edition card.
Lidge and singer Jordan Spector teamed up for the “Lights Out” Immortals collectible trading card, available for pre-order now.
Each purchase comes with a 4×6 Immortals V1 embossed holographic box, one card case, and one “Lights Out” limited edition. It also comes with one certificate of authenticity and one authentication token.
“It’s for the fans to have a piece of their own from 2008,” said Lidge.
In an upcoming episode of “Gallen of Questions,” Lidge tells CBS News that Pat Gallen’s Philadelphia numbers play an important role in the collection. The former Phillies closer said there are 2008 cards in total, and he signed 54 of them (his jersey number). Former Phils catcher Carlos Ruiz signed the cards, as did Spector.
The trading cards have included game-used baseballs since the 2008 postseason, including the final ball of 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 the games he completed in 2008 when he went 48 for 48. After each shutout, he would get the ball from Ruiz or any teammate who reported the last out. He gave Spector some balls for the Immortals project.
According to Spector Sports Art, the Immortals trading cards “offer a reinterpreted look at the remarkable people who have undoubtedly shaped our world of sports.”
Other cards include Lidge on his knees celebrating the last game of the 2008 World Series.
Lidge split the finals of the 2008 World Series
It’s a sound etched forever in Phillies fans’ memories: 0-2 slider downfield to Eric Hinske, caught and missed. A famous phone call from Harry Kalas followed, and a few days later, Lidge said “the biggest party ever” was riding Broad Street.
This week marks 16 years since the championship and parade. On this week’s “Gallen of Questions”, Lidge watches the final episode and explains it to fans.
The video starts with Lidge looking at Ruiz, coming in and delivering the deciding slide, but you don’t see Ruiz giving the close signal. Here is the reason.
“If you look at Carlos Ruiz right now, he doesn’t put a finger on it,” Lidge said. “Because before Hinske went up, when we had a meeting on the mountain, [pitching coach Rich] Dubee came out, and we said, ‘what did you do first? I said, ‘I faced him one time, and we hit a fastball off the wall over me.’ So, no need to throw fastballs here. “
Lidge recalled Ruiz saying they were going with sliders and that he wouldn’t put his toes down.
“I had a good slider that day, and I knew he was the right guy to throw,” Lidge said. “But obviously, you have to execute. Here, you have 0-2. You are ahead of the number. I think, you have a chance to leave him, that right there.
“As soon as I heard that catch, I knew it was going to be forgotten. When I threw it… it was like this crazy feeling where I was down on my knees, and I thought I was said, ‘My God, he won the World Series.’ I really don’t know what I said, but in my mind, that’s what I was saying. Then I looked up, and suddenly, before I knew it, I was on the back of twenty Ryan Howard and two, 200-plus pounds jumping up, and I was screaming with joy.”
“Gallen of Questions” airs Saturday nights on PHILLY57 and on-demand on CBS News Philadelphia’s YouTube channel.
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