Mike Lieberthal
Born: 1/18/1972 in Glendale, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1994-06-30 | Final Game: 2007-09-22
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Michael Scott Lieberthal
Biography
Mike Lieberthal was a professional baseball player who enjoyed a successful career as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1994 to 2007. Born in 1972, Lieberthal made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he became a key figure in the team's lineup. Over the course of his 1,212 games, he amassed 1,155 hits, including 150 home runs and 610 RBIs, while maintaining a solid batting average of .274. His offensive contributions, combined with his defensive skills behind the plate, earned him two selections to the All-Star Game, highlighting his standing among the game's elite catchers during his playing era.
Lieberthal played during a time when the game was becoming increasingly reliant on power hitting, yet he maintained a balanced approach at the plate, demonstrating both the ability to drive in runs and get on base consistently. Known for his leadership on the field and his strong work ethic, he helped mentor younger players throughout his career. After retiring on September 22, 2007, Lieberthal left a lasting legacy in Philadelphia and remains a respected figure in the annals of baseball history. His career statistics reflect not only his talent but also his commitment to the sport, making him a memorable player of his generation.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1212 | 4218 | 534 | 1155 | 257 | 10 | 150 | 610 | 8 | 335 | 571 | 0.274 | 0.337 | 0.446 | 0.783 | 2477.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | PHI | NL | 24 | 79 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.266 | -176.0 |
| 1995 | PHI | NL | 16 | 47 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0.255 | -124.9 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | 50 | 166 | 21 | 42 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 23 | 0 | 10 | 30 | 0.253 | -234.7 |
| 1997 | PHI | NL | 134 | 455 | 59 | 112 | 27 | 1 | 20 | 77 | 3 | 44 | 76 | 0.246 | -130.7 |
| 1998 | PHI | NL | 86 | 313 | 39 | 80 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 2 | 17 | 44 | 0.256 | -492.2 |
| 1999 | PHI | NL | 145 | 510 | 84 | 153 | 33 | 1 | 31 | 96 | 0 | 44 | 86 | 0.300 | 1798.3 |
| 2000 | PHI | NL | 108 | 389 | 55 | 108 | 30 | 0 | 15 | 71 | 2 | 40 | 53 | 0.278 | 398.3 |
| 2001 | PHI | NL | 34 | 121 | 21 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 21 | 0.231 | -242.8 |
| 2002 | PHI | NL | 130 | 476 | 46 | 133 | 29 | 2 | 15 | 52 | 0 | 38 | 58 | 0.279 | 629.5 |
| 2003 | PHI | NL | 131 | 508 | 68 | 159 | 30 | 1 | 13 | 81 | 0 | 38 | 59 | 0.313 | 1075.4 |
| 2004 | PHI | NL | 131 | 476 | 58 | 129 | 31 | 1 | 17 | 61 | 1 | 37 | 69 | 0.271 | 233.8 |
| 2005 | PHI | NL | 118 | 392 | 48 | 103 | 25 | 0 | 12 | 47 | 0 | 35 | 35 | 0.263 | 86.1 |
| 2006 | PHI | NL | 67 | 209 | 22 | 57 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 36 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 0.273 | 35.5 |
| 2007 | LAD | NL | 38 | 77 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0.234 | -378.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1170 | 1109 | 7829 | 490 | 72 | 64 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | PHI | C | 22 | 21 | 122 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1995 | PHI | C | 14 | 13 | 95 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | PHI | C | 43 | 41 | 284 | 20 | 3 | 4 |
| 1997 | PHI | C | 129 | 119 | 934 | 73 | 12 | 8 |
| 1998 | PHI | C | 83 | 78 | 607 | 41 | 8 | 5 |
| 1999 | PHI | C | 143 | 138 | 881 | 62 | 3 | 12 |
| 2000 | PHI | C | 106 | 102 | 724 | 40 | 5 | 4 |
| 2001 | PHI | C | 33 | 33 | 243 | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| 2002 | PHI | C | 129 | 126 | 840 | 56 | 6 | 8 |
| 2003 | PHI | C | 131 | 129 | 868 | 44 | 9 | 2 |
| 2004 | PHI | C | 129 | 123 | 859 | 43 | 6 | 7 |
| 2005 | PHI | C | 117 | 113 | 808 | 44 | 6 | 5 |
| 2006 | PHI | C | 60 | 56 | 428 | 33 | 4 | 2 |
| 2007 | LAN | C | 31 | 17 | 136 | 11 | 3 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1170 |
| Designated Hitter | 2 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | MLB Players Choice Comeback Player | |
| 2002 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1999 | Gold Glove | C |
| 1999 | Player of the Week | Week of 1999-05-22 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | LAN | NL | $1,150,000 |
| 2006 | PHI | NL | $7,500,000 |
| 2005 | PHI | NL | $7,500,000 |
| 2004 | PHI | NL | $7,500,000 |
| 2003 | PHI | NL | $7,250,000 |
| 2002 | PHI | NL | $7,333,333 |
| 2001 | PHI | NL | $6,333,333 |
| 2000 | PHI | NL | $4,833,333 |
| 1999 | PHI | NL | $2,250,000 |
| 1998 | PHI | NL | $1,200,000 |
| 1997 | PHI | NL | $215,000 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | $125,000 |
| 1995 | PHI | NL | $109,000 |
| 1994 | PHI | NL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $53,407,999 | ||