Joe Lydic

Joseph Clifford Lydic

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 180 lb.

• School University of Pittsburgh

• Born February 20, 1979 in Pittsburgh, PA USA

Joe Lydic set numerous school records while at the University of Pittsburgh, then played four seasons in the minor leagues, reaching high A ball.

Joe hit 14 homers as a sophomore in 1999 to set a new Pitt record. In 2000, Lydic hit .340/?/.684 and broke his own home run mark by smashing 19 of them. He led the team in RBI (49), runs (57), hits (71) and slugging. He also led the Big East Conference in homers and tied the university record with 33 career home runs - doing in two years what the previous record holder (Steve Dickinson) had done in four. He made the All-Big East Conference Second Team. Two years later, Brant Colamarino tied Lydic's home run mark.

He became the highest Panther drafted since Chris Jelic had been taken in the second round in the 1985 amateur draft when the Houston Astros took him in the 7th round (217th overall) of the 2000 amateur draft. Joe made his pro debut with the Auburn Doubledays, hitting .273/.313/.427 as the club's regular third baseman.

With the Michigan Battle Cats in 2001, Lydic sipped to .245/.270/.364. Returning to the team, he only managed a .190/.257/.359 line in 70 games in 2002 and played primarily first base. In 2003, he concluded his career with the Salem Avalanche, hitting .203/.253/.281 in 58 contests.

Sources: "Houston, we don't have a problem" by Brad Cuprik in the 6/7/2000 Pitt News, Pitt Panthers news release, 2001-2004 Baseball Almanacs, Pitt News article about Lydic's record being tied