Lidge Received Iconic Fireman's Helmet Trophy Sunday Night in New York
FORT WASHINGTON, PA – January 25, 2009 – The makers of ROLAIDS® antacid products today announced Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Brad Lidge of the Philadelphia Phillies earned the 2008 Rolaids Relief Man Award® after finishing out the season with 62 and 41 saves, respectively. Rodriguez led the American League with 171 Relief Man points, a record in the 32 years of the award, and Lidge led the National League with 127 Relief Man points. This is the second Rolaids Relief Man Award® win for Rodriguez and the first for Lidge.
Lidge was honored Sunday night in New York at the 86th Annual Awards Banquet of the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Cole Hamels, presented Lidge with the iconic Rolaids Relief Man Award® trophy – a silver fireman's helmet mounted on a silver pedestal – which has been presented to all winners since the award's inception in 1976.
Rodriguez's regular season record-breaking 62 saves gives him 208 career saves. Rodriguez finished the season with 77 strikeouts and a 2.24 ERA. Lidge recorded 41 saves in 41 attempts this year for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Lidge now has 164 career saves and finished the season with 92 strikeouts and a 1.95 ERA.
About the ROLAIDS RELIEF MAN AWARD®
Since 1976, the Rolaids Relief Man Award® has honored the top relievers in baseball for doing what they do best – giving fans the relief that they crave. Rolaids Relief Man Award® winners earn this honor based on statistical performance only and not on subjective opinion. Some of the all-time Rolaids Relief Man greats include: Rollie Fingers, Mariano Rivera, Bruce Sutter, and Dan Quisenberry. For a complete listing of the 2008 Relief Man standings and other information, visit www.RolaidsReliefMan.com.
About ROLAIDS®
ROLAIDS® antacid products are marketed by McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., which offers a broad range of well-known over-the-counter (OTC) products around the globe. McNeil Consumer Healthcare is most widely recognized for the complete line of TYLENOL® acetaminophen products, the leading pain reliever brand in the adult and pediatric categories. Other McNeil Consumer Healthcare brands include ZYRTEC® allergy medicines; BENADRYL® allergy medicines; IMODIUM® A-D anti-diarrheal; MOTRIN® IB; PediaCare® upper respiratory medicines for children; ROLAIDS® antacid products; ST. JOSEPH® Adult Regimen Aspirin; and SUDAFED® and SUDAFED PE® nasal decongestants.