Jonathan Ray Lieber (born April 2, 1970 in Council Bluffs, Iowa) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1994-1998), Chicago Cubs (1999-2002 and 2008), New York Yankees (2004), Philadelphia Phillies (2005-2007). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was drafted out of the University of South Alabama.
In a 14-season career, Lieber compiled a 131-124 record with 1,553 strikeouts and a 4.27 ERA in 2198.0 innings pitched.
Liebers most productive season came in 2001, when he posted a career-high 20 victories, was selected an All-Star, and finished 4th in the Cy Young Award vote. In the same year, he one-hit the Cincinnati Reds, 3-0, ending the team's NL-record streak of 208 games in a row without being shut out. He missed the entire 2003 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2002. Lieber signed a two-year contract with the Yankees following the 2002 season. After recovering from the surgery, Lieber rewarded the Yankees' investment in 2004 by winning 14 games (tied for the team lead) and becoming the team's most consistent pitcher down the stretch.
Before the 2005 season, Lieber signed as a free agent with the Phillies. In 2005, Lieber led the team with 17 wins. His tenure with the Phillies ended early in the 2007 season after an ankle injury required season-ending surgery.
On January 16, 2008, Lieber signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
According to his agent Rex Gary he retired after the 2008 season.
Lieber married Jessica Conway on September 18, 1992; the couple has one daughter, Jillian (born 10-22-1997) and three sons, Jared (born 7-27-2000) Justin (5-8-2003) and Jonah (6-1-2007).
Famous quotes containing the word jon:
“The dog is mentioned in the Bible eighteen times—the cat not even once.”
—W.E. Farbstein. Quoted in “Hundkeit,” Mondo Canine, ed. Jon Winokur, Dutton (1991)