Lidle had been a licensed pilot for less than a year. The 26-year-old Stanger was a veteran pilot and teacher who ran a tiny flight school in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles. Investigators have not determined the cause of the crash or who was at the controls.

At the reception at Faith Community Church in West Covina, family and friends lined up outside a semitrailer for burgers from In-N-Out, the iconic, family owned Southern California chain.

“He was always bugging me to get him an endorsement,” said Jordan Feagan, Lidle’s agent and friend of 14 years.

During the service, family and friends mostly recalled Lidle’s life away from baseball.

“Cory would have been so amazed at all the people here who admired him,” said Peters, Melanie’s sister. “He was a loving husband and an awesome father.”

Two of Lidle’s longtime friends, Paul Felberg and Warren Reed, took turns speaking, calling him by his nickname “Snacks,” a reference to the pitcher’s habit of devouring candy between innings.

“We were more like the ‘Goonies’ than the entourage of studs you would expect him to be with,” Felberg said.

Both men promised Melanie Lidle they would always look after her and the couple’s son.

Small, the former Yankees pitcher, had been friends with Lidle and his twin brother, Kevin, since age 9. His father, Art, presided over the funeral.

“If there was a baseball game being played, me and Cory and Kevin were in it,” the younger Small said, his voice breaking. “Cory was more than a friend. He was like a little brother to me.”

Lidle pitched for seven teams during his nearly 10 years in the major leagues, posting an 82-72 record with a 4.57 ERA. He came to the Yankees in July, traded from Philadelphia, where he had signed a $6.3 million, two-year deal in November 2004.

Stanger’s survivors include his pregnant wife, Stephanie, and an infant daughter. A service for Stanger is set for Saturday.

Lidle’s family requested that donations be made to Stanger’s family.

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