SABR 43: Phillies Player Panel to include Gary Matthews, Dickie Noles, Brad Lidge

We’re pleased to announce the speakers for the SABR 43 Phillies Player Panel on Thursday, August 1 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The panel will be held from 12:30-1:45 p.m. in the Salon E room at the Marriott.

  • Gary “Sarge” Matthews, All-Star center fielder and 1973 National League Rookie of the Year. He played for the Phillies from 1981-83 and hit .429 with three home runs in the 1983 NLCS to earn Most Valuable Player honors. The following year, he led the NL in on-base percentage (.410) for the division-winning Chicago Cubs. He was a veteran of 16 seasons in the major leagues, beginning with the San Francisco Giants in 1972 and including stints with the Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners, finishing his career with more than 2,000 hits. He is also the father of major leaguer Gary Matthews Jr. and is in his seventh year as a Phillies TV broadcaster. 
  • Dickie Noles, an 11-year major league veteran who was a member of the Phillies’ 1980 World Series championship team. A right-handed pitcher from Charlotte, North Carolina, he spent a majority of his career with the Chicago Cubs and also played with the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. In retirement, he has served the Phillies as an employee assistance counselor.
  • Brad Lidge, a two-time All-Star closer who retired in 2012 after 11 major league seasons with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. He closed out the 2008 World Series-clinching victory for the Phillies in Game 5 over the Tampa Bay Rays and saved seven games during the Phillies’ postseason run. He was also named NL Comeback Player of the Year in 2008, when he finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting. He was a part of three pennant winners, with the Astros in 2005 and the Phillies in 2008-09. He recorded four 30-save seasons and finished his career with 225 saves. 
  • Moderator: Dan Baker, Philadelphia Phillies public address announcer. Now in his 42nd year with the Phillies, Dan is the longest-serving public address announcer in Major League Baseball. He has served as the PA voice for five World Series, two All-Star Games and three NFC Championship Games for the Philadelphia Eagles. A graduate of Rowan University, he is a member of the Big 5 Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

To register for SABR 43 or for more information on the national convention in Philadelphia, visit SABR.org/convention.



Originally published: July 18, 2013. Last Updated: July 18, 2013.