View source for Mike Lieberthal

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Mike Lieberthal
|image=Mike Lieberthal 081323.jpg
| image_size = 
|position=[[Catcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1972|1|18}}
|birth_place=[[Glendale, California]], U.S.
|death_date=
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 30
|debutyear=1994
|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 22
|finalyear=2007
|finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.274
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=150
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=610
|teams=
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1994}}–{{mlby|2006}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|2007}})
|highlights=
* 2× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1999]], [[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000]])
* [[Gold Glove Award]] (1999)
* [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame|Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame]]
}}

'''Michael Scott Lieberthal''' (born January 18, 1972) is an American  former [[Major League Baseball]] [[catcher]]. He batted and threw [[right-handed]].

In a 14-year career, Lieberthal played for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{baseball year|1994}}–{{baseball year|2006}}) and the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{baseball year|2007}}). He compiled a career [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of .274, with 150 [[home run]]s and 610 [[Run batted in|runs batted in]].  During his career he won the [[Gold Glove Award]], and was twice an [[All Star]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Goldman |first=David J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NACkGVm3C3wC&pg=PA17 |title=Jewish Sports Stars: Athletic Heroes Past and Present |date=January 2006 |isbn=9781580131834 |access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref>

His 1999 season (.300, 31 home runs, 96 RBIs, Gold Glove Award) was arguably the best ever of any Phillies catcher, and Lieberthal caught more games in his career than any other Phillies catcher (1,139).<ref>{{cite book |author=Westcott |first=Rich |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_e8KWxmo_kC&pg=PA53 |title=Philadelphia Phillies Past & Present |date=19 March 2010 |isbn=9781610600989 |access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref>  His career 149 home runs at catcher were the most in team history.<ref>{{cite book |author=Karabell |first=Eric |url=https://archive.org/details/bestphiladelphia0000kara |title=The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans |publisher=Sourcebooks, Inc. |year=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bestphiladelphia0000kara/page/136 136] |access-date=March 14, 2011 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Lieberthal had a .310 batting average, a .381 [[on-base percentage]], and .510 [[slugging percentage]] lifetime against left-handed pitching.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Lieberthal Career Batting Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=liebemi01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723180106/http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=liebemi01 |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Lieberthal was inducted into the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]] on August 10, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-07 |title=Lieberthal selected to Phillies' Wall of Fame |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/20120607_Lieberthal_selected_to_Phillies_Wall_of_Fame.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608232311/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/157844155.html |archive-date=2012-06-08 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref>

==Early life==
Lieberthal was born in [[Glendale, California]], and is Jewish.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |title=Mike Lieberthal |url=http://scjewishsportshof.com/lieberthal.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915040350/http://scjewishsportshof.com/lieberthal.html |archive-date=2015-09-15 |website=So Cal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref> His father is Dennis Lieberthal, who was a Major League Baseball scout for the [[Detroit Tigers]] and [[San Francisco Giants]] (among others, he signed [[Gabe Kapler]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Jeff |date=1994-07-03 |title=Rookie Catcher Lieberthal Goes From Box Seats to Phillies' Box Score |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-03-sp-11566-story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412155211/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-03-sp-11566-story.html |archive-date=2021-04-12 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web |last=Ames |first=Steve |date=2007-01-04 |title=Lieberthal returns to his roots |url=https://www.theacorn.com/articles/lieberthal-returns-to-his-roots/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515221721/http://www.theacorn.com/news/2007/0104/sports/064.html |archive-date=2008-05-15 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=The Acorn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=Ryan |date=2017-10-31 |title=Who is Gabe Kapler? A dozen fun facts about the new Phillies manager |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/who-gabe-kapler-dozen-fun-facts-about-new-phillies-manager/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=PhillyVoice |language=english}}</ref>

==High school and draft ==

He was an [[All-American]] catcher at [[Westlake High School (California)|Westlake High School]], and graduated in 1990. Lieberthal hit four home runs in a single game for his high school:  (1) a solo home run, (2) a 2-run home run, (3) a 3-run home run, and (4) a grand slam, though not in that order. Immediately after that game, Lieberthal's team was ranked among the top 3 high school teams in the United States by ''[[USA Today]]'', and advanced on that list to #1 a few days later. While at the high school, Lieberthal set career records for at runs (79), hits (105), and home runs (30).<ref name=autogenerated2 />

Lieberthal was drafted at 17 years of age by the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the [[1990 Major League Baseball Draft]], despite weighing only 155 pounds at the time.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name="google1">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GS4DAAAAMBAJ&q=mike+lieberthal&pg=PA56|title=Mike Lieberthal; Phillies' Leader Behind the Mask |journal= Baseball Digest|author=Joe O'Loughlin|access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KSsDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22mike+lieberthal%22&pg=PA33|title=Catching On; Mike Lieberthal Improves his Game Behind the Plate|journal=Baseball Digest|author= Jon Caroulis|access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref>

==Career==

===Minor leagues===
Lieberthal played in the minor leagues from 1990–{{baseball year|1995}}. He played for [[Greeneville Astros|Martinsville]] in 1990 (Rookie League), [[Spartanburg Phillies|Spartanburg]] ("A"; for which he batted .305) and [[Gulf Coast Phillies|Clearwater]] ("A+") in {{baseball year|1991}}, [[Reading Phillies|Reading]] in {{baseball year|1992}} ("AA"), and [[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons|Scranton/Wilkes-Barre]] from 1992 to 1995 ("AAA").

===Philadelphia Phillies (1994–2006)===
He made his major league debut on June 30, 1994, at the age of 22 as the starting catcher against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL8nb9lVIIoC&q=%22mike+lieberthal%22&pg=PA115|title=Baseball in Ventura County|author=Jeffrey Wayne Maulhardt|year=2007|isbn=9780738547398|access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref> Lieberthal recorded his first career base hit in the 4th inning against [[Pedro Astacio]]. On July 16, 1994 he hit his first home run off of Ramon Martinez in the 3rd inning of a 10–6 Phillies victory against the Dodgers.

In {{mlby|1996}}, he had surgery for torn [[cartilage]] in his left knee. In June {{mlby|1997}}, Lieberthal won Player of the Month award after batting .400,<ref name="google2"/> but his season was shortened by a [[pelvic fracture|pelvic stress fracture]] injury. In 1996, Lieberthal threw out 36% of runners attempting to steal.  In 1997 he allowed only .64 steals per 9 innings, 3rd-best in the league.  In 1999, Lieberthal led National League receivers with a .997 fielding percentage.  Lieberthal caught [[Kevin Millwood]]'s [[no-hitter]] on April 27, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B04270PHI2003.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Philadelphia Phillies 1, San Francisco Giants 0|publisher=Retrosheet.org|date=April 27, 2003|access-date=January 23, 2011}}</ref>

In {{mlby|1999}}, Lieberthal hit 31 home runs and 96 RBIs for the Phillies, while hitting .300 with a career-best .551 slugging percentage. He was an All Star for the first time, only the third Phillie catcher ever to receive the honor (joining Darren Daulton and [[Bob Boone]]).<ref name="google3">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VeyuZSvEcFgC&q=+lieberthal&pg=PA92|title=Legends of the Philadelphia Phillies|author=Robert Gordon|date=January 2005|isbn=9781582618104|access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref> He also won a [[Gold Glove Award]], after posting a .997 fielding percentage—a new Phillie record at catcher.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google3"/>  He joined [[Johnny Bench]], [[Lance Parrish]], and [[Iván Rodríguez]] as the only catchers to have hit 30 home runs in the same season that they won the Gold Glove Award.<ref name="google1"/> He also became the eighth major league catcher to bat .300 and hit 30 homers in the same season.<ref name="google2"/> He also became the first Phillie to bat .300 and hit 30 home runs since [[Greg Luzinski]], in 1977.<ref name="google3"/> [[File:Mike Lieberthal.jpg|thumb|Mike Lieberthal catching for the Philadelphia Phillies during a game on August 28, 2006.]]

In {{mlby|2000}}, Lieberthal was again an All-Star. A play at the plate involving a collision with [[Bernie Williams]] however, resulted in an ankle injury that knocked him out for the rest of the season.<ref name="google1"/> In September 2000, he had surgery to remove a [[bone spur]] in his right elbow.

In May {{baseball year|2001}}, Lieberthal was picked off at first base and tore his [[Anterior cruciate ligament injury|ACL]] and [[Medial collateral ligament|MCL]] and [[cartilage]] in his knee while attempting to dive back to the bag.<ref name="autogenerated2" /><ref name="google3"/> He had surgery in June, and missed the rest of the season.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google3"/>  In October {{baseball year|2002}}, he injured the same knee as he stepped out of a golf cart near his home. He tore the [[Meniscus (anatomy)|meniscus]], and had surgery.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mandel |first=Ken |date=October 17, 2002 |title=Lieberthal recognized for comeback |url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/news/phi_news.jsp?ymd=20021017&content_id=159460&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060108101042/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/news/phi_news.jsp?ymd=20021017&content_id=159460&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp |archive-date=January 8, 2006 |access-date=January 23, 2011 |work=MLB.com}}</ref>

In 2002, he was selected the ''[[Sporting News]]'' [[NL Comeback Player of the Year]], the first catcher to win it, and also was a co-winner of the [[Players Choice Award|Player's Choice NL Comeback Player award]].<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite book |author=Trucks |first=Rob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rcD6maXmDaQC&q=%22mike+lieberthal%22&pg=PA55 |title=The Catcher |year=2005 |isbn=9781578601646 |access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref>

Lieberthal never reached the playoffs while with the [[Phillies]], being promoted to the majors the year after their [[1993 World Series|World Series]] loss to [[Toronto Blue Jays|Toronto]], and leaving via free agency before their return to the postseason in 2007.

===Los Angeles Dodgers (2007)===
Lieberthal signed as a [[free agent]] with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 6, 2006. He received a $1.15 million contract, with a club option for 2008.<ref name="autogenerated2" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/32040/the-boys-of-summer-and-seder-baseball-passover-share-openers/|title=The boys of summer and seder: Baseball, Passover share openers|publisher=Jweekly.com|date=March 30, 2007|author=Martin Abramowitz|access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref> He made more money than the Dodgers' starting catcher, All-Star [[Russell Martin (baseball)|Russell Martin]].

After playing in only 38 games in 2007 and hitting .234, Lieberthal's $1.4 million option was not picked up by the Dodgers, who instead bought out the contract for $100,000, and he became a free agent on October 30, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ken Gurnick|url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071030&content_id=2289022&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102072605/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071030&content_id=2289022&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 2, 2007|title= Dodgers decline options on two players|work=MLB.com|date=August 25, 2007|access-date=January 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 27, 2007 |title=Dodger Inside Pitch |url=http://braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=2&c=695240 |access-date=January 23, 2011 |website=Scout}}</ref>

In January {{baseball year|2008}}, Lieberthal announced his retirement. "I'm done," Lieberthal said.  "If [the Dodgers] had picked up my option, I probably would have played 1 more year. But I didn't want to go anywhere else. There were a lot of reasons. The money was great as a backup, but I have made [enough] money in baseball. I just didn't want to go through what I have to go through with my body to play 20–25 games a year. It's not worth it."<ref name="philly.com">{{Cite web |date=2008-01-28 |title=Phillies - Lieberthal hangs 'em up after 14 seasons in majors |url=http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080128_Phillies_-_Lieberthal_hangs_em_up_after_14_seasons_in_majors.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406035425/http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080128_Phillies_-_Lieberthal_hangs_em_up_after_14_seasons_in_majors.html |archive-date=2008-04-06 |website=Philadelphia Daily News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

It was suggested that while it was unlikely that Lieberthal would choose to coach, enjoying golf and married life for the immediate future, he had expressed an interest in being a television analyst.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mandel |first=Ken |date=December 8, 2008 |title=Coaching future for Lieberthal? |url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080128&content_id=2357550&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130025523/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080128&content_id=2357550&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |archive-date=January 30, 2008 |access-date=January 23, 2011 |work=MLB.com}}</ref>

===Retirement===
On April 28, 2008, Lieberthal announced that he would sign a one-day contract with the Phillies on June 1, throw out the ceremonial first pitch and then officially retire. He would be the first Phillies player to retire in the same manner since [[Doug Glanville]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txphillieslieberthal&prov=st&type=lgns|title=Lieberthal to retire with Phillies|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|date=April 28, 2008|access-date=January 23, 2011}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Through 2010, Lieberthal had hit the 5th-most career home runs of any Jewish major league baseball player, behind [[Hank Greenberg]], [[Shawn Green]], [[Sid Gordon]], and [[Al Rosen]], and was 7th on the all-time list in hits (behind Gordon) and RBIs (behind Rosen).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jewishmajorleaguers.org/crrldrs/crrldrs.html |title=Jewish Major Leaguers Career Leaders |publisher=Jewishmajorleaguers.org |access-date=January 23, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711003607/http://jewishmajorleaguers.org/crrldrs/crrldrs.html |archive-date=July 11, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abramowitz |first=Martin |date=2007-03-07 |title=New exodus: Jewish players in '07 |url=https://www.jta.org/2007/03/07/united-states/new-exodus-jewish-players-in-07 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref> Lieberthal's father is [[Jewish]], and he is considered Jewish by Reform Judaism, and is also listed as such by the American Jewish Historical Society and others.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jewish Baseball Players |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/Jewish_baseball_players.shtml |access-date=January 23, 2011 |website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lowenfish |first=Lee |date=2006-03-24 |title=New Cards Mine Baseball’s Jewish Bench |url=https://forward.com/news/6844/new-cards-mine-baseball-s-jewish-bench/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eskenazi |first=Joe |date=2006-08-11 |title=Shalom run! Giants to host Jewish heritage night |url=https://jweekly.com/2006/08/11/shalom-run-giants-to-host-jewish-heritage-night/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=The Jewish News of Northern California}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reds.enquirer.com/2004/08/30/red2a.html|title=Hall of Fame celebrates Jewish players|author=Craig Muder|publisher=Reds.enquirer.com|date=August 30, 2004|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714041812/http://reds.enquirer.com/2004/08/30/red2a.html|archive-date=July 14, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Doyle |first=Al |title=Shawn Green Emerges as All-Around Star for Blue Jays |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XisDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22mike+lieberthal%22+jewish&pg=PA74 |journal=Baseball Digest |access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Francis|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040830&content_id=842659&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|title=Jewish players celebrated at Hall|work=MLB.com|date=August 30, 2004|access-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629211959/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040830&content_id=842659&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  The next Jewish player for the Phillies was [[Michael Schwimer]], who debuted in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/phillies/don-t-expect-much-from-phils-at-next-trade-deadline/article_aa325f62-6dcc-5e91-ab67-656e73d62029.html |title=Don't expect much from Phils at next trade deadline |publisher=phillyBurbs.com |date=August 19, 2011 |author=Randy Miller |access-date=August 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903122346/http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/phillies/don-t-expect-much-from-phils-at-next-trade-deadline/article_aa325f62-6dcc-5e91-ab67-656e73d62029.html |archive-date=September 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/071907aag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918000923/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/071907aag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012|title=Matt Kamine Named to Jewish Sports Review All-America Baseball Team|publisher=CSTV|date=July 19, 2007|access-date=August 21, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://njjewishnews.com/kaplanskorner/2011/08/18/one-mans-ceiling-is-another-mans-floor/|title=One man's ceiling is another man's floor|work=New Jersey Jewish News|date=August 18, 2011|author=Ron Kaplan|access-date=August 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728182405/http://njjewishnews.com/kaplanskorner/2011/08/18/one-mans-ceiling-is-another-mans-floor/|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="jewishbaseballnews1">{{cite news|url=http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/tag/michael-schwimer/|title=Newest MLB Jew: Phillies call-up reliever Michael Schwimer|work=Jewish Baseball News|date=August 17, 2011|author=Scott Barancik|access-date=August 21, 2011}}</ref>

When it was pointed out to Lieberthal that he, [[Brad Ausmus]], and [[Jesse Levis]], were all catchers, and that Jewish kids were thought to be smarter than to subject themselves to the rigors of that position, he responded with a smile:  "We are smart.  You don't have to hit to catch. We don't have to hit 40 homers. We don't have to run. We don't have to steal bases. All you have to do is catch, and you'll be in this league forever. We get beat up a little bit, but it's the quickest way to the major leagues."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/18/sports/baseball-notebook-umpires-taking-huge-gamble-with-threats.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|title=Umpires Taking Huge Gamble With Threats|author=Murray Chass|work=New York Times|date=July 18, 1999|access-date=January 23, 2011}}</ref>

Lieberthal was inducted into the [[Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame|So Cal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2015, and into the [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2016.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Lieberthal |url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/Mike-Lieberthal.htm |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref>

===Film and television appearances===
Lieberthal appeared in the motion picture ''[[Summer Catch]]'' in 2001 alongside teammates [[Doug Glanville]] and [[Pat Burrell]], as well as fellow major league baseball stars [[Hank Aaron]], [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], and [[Dave Collins (baseball)|Dave Collins]], among others.

A [[bobblehead]] of Lieberthal is a regularly shown, but never explained, background prop in ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]''. Its inclusion may be a joke based on the name of the character [[Michael_Scott_(The_Office)|Michael Scott]], which is  the same as Lieberthal’s first and middle names. Another reason for its inclusion may be Lieberthal's time spent playing for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, since the show takes place in Scranton.

===Charitable fundraising===
In 1998, he sponsored "Lieby's VIPs", in which he purchased $30,000 worth of tickets for children with cancer, and their families.<ref name="google1"/>  He also treated the children to a Halloween party.<ref name="google1"/>  He served as the 2000 chairman of the Corporate Alliance for Drug Education fundraising drive.

With Doug Glanville and [[Randy Wolf]], Lieberthal co-hosts a celebrity billiards tournament on behalf of the Philadelphia Futures mentor program.

==See also==
* [[List of Jewish Major League Baseball players]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|mlb=117759|espn=3110|br=l/liebemi01|fangraphs=959|brm=lieber001mic|retro=L/Pliebm001}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1035660}}

{{Philadelphia Phillies}}
{{NL Comeback Players of the Year}}
{{NL C Gold Glove Award}}
{{1990 MLB Draft}}
{{Philadelphia Phillies 1st round}}
{{Philly Baseball Wall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lieberthal, Mike}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Clearwater Phillies players]]
[[Category:Gold Glove Award winners]]
[[Category:Jewish American baseball players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:Reading Phillies players]]
[[Category:Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Glendale, California]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Martinsville Phillies players]]
[[Category:Spartanburg Phillies players]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Westlake High School (California) alumni]]