The 2008 World Series hero has traded saves for shovels as he pursues a second career in archaeology.
Lidge, remembered for throwing the final pitch that clinched the Phillies' 2008 championship, said his passion for ancient civilizations long predated his baseball fame.
"I always had more than an interest - a love - for world history, I would say, and honestly, world religions, and I got a bachelor's degree in religious studies," he said. "But when I was toward the end of my career in baseball, I started realizing that, yes, I love... of course I love baseball, it's like the thing I dreamed about doing when I was a kid, but I also had this other passion, and I was trying to figure out ways that I could actually partake in that, besides just reading about it."
While still pitching professionally, Lidge earned a bachelor's degree in religious studies, followed by a master's degree in ancient Roman archaeology.
He is now preparing for a Ph.D., specializing in the Etruscans, an ancient Italian civilization that predates the Romans.
His first excavation left a lasting impression.
"And on day one of this excavation, we were at this ancient Roman bath complex. I remember finding this Roman coin, just probably a half hour into day one. And right there and then, I was completely hooked," he said.
Lidge's academic path began in 2010 after a chance meeting with Penn Museum curators Josef and Jennifer Wegner while he was still playing in Philadelphia.
Jennifer Wegner said his involvement brings visibility to the museum and the field.
"Everyone in Philadelphia knows the name Brad Lidge and knows what he did for the city," she said. "And now with his involvement in the Penn Museum, I think he's going to shine a light on our institution and on the fields of archaeology and anthropology. And I think the Penn Museum will also help Brad in a way, because making him a consulting scholar here in the museum it sort of legitimizes him as a researcher, as a scholar, and shows that he is serious about the work he's doing for sure."
Wegner showed artifacts at the Penn Museum from near the region where Lidge has excavated. She said his success in two careers is rare.
"I think what is remarkable about this is that most people, if they have a great success in their career, they have it in one career. And Brad had that with the Phillies and the World Series win, and now he's embarking on this new career and, so far, he's having great success with that as well. And so I don't have any doubt that he will be a world champion archeologist in the future."
For Lidge, the journey feels complete.
"You know, the museum, Jen and Joe Wegner, are what initially inspired me to really, kind of think about this post-career," he said. "I got to live out that first childhood dream of playing Major League Baseball, winning a World Series, obviously in Philly, there's nothing better than that. But if there was another childhood dream, or maybe a dream that I had starting in high school, to be able to do something in world history, then I guess I get to live that out now as well."
Lidge said he hopes his path encourages other athletes to embrace bold career changes. He currently serves on the Penn Museum's Board of Advisors.