Athletes - Mike Schmidt

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	Athletes - Mike Schmidt

Michael Jack Schmidt (born September 27, 1949 in Dayton, Ohio) is a former professional baseball player, playing his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies, and is widely regarded as having been the greatest third baseman in the history of baseball.

Schmidt was accepted to Ohio University, (Athens, OH) in 1967 and became the school's best baseball player, mostly playing shortstop. In 1971 he was drafted in the second round by the Phillies. The draft pick immediately following him was George Brett, another great third baseman whose career would closely parallel Schmidt's.

Rapidly progressing through the minor leagues, Schmidt joined the Phillies in 1972. His first full season, 1973, Schmidt struggled and batted only .196; his season was perhaps the worst rookie season ever posted by an eventual Hall of Famer. He blossomed in 1974, however, leading the National League in home runs and demonstrating astounding prowess with the glove. A patient and powerful hitter, Schmidt was best known for hitting many home runs and drawing many bases on balls. For the rest of the 1970s Schmidt excelled at bat and with the glove, winning two more home run titles and a succession of Gold Glove Awards. He helped the usually awful Phillies win three straight division titles from 1976 to 1978, the team's first postseason appearances in 26 years.

A quiet, focused player, Schmidt demonstrated little emotion on the field and was perceived as being somewhat aloof. His relationship with Phillies fans was sometimes tumultuous early in his career, which Schmidt later regretted; it warmed late in his career. He had an unusual batting stance, turning his back somewhat to the pitcher and waving his posterior while waiting for the pitch. A strong, muscular man, Schmidt was one of the best athletes of his time; teammate Pete Rose once said, "To have his body, I'd trade him mine and my wife's and I'd throw in some cash." Unlike most power hitters, Schmidt tended to hit his homers to all fields; he is probably the most accomplished home run hitter in baseball history who had no tendency to pull the ball.

A tremendous third baseman, Schmidt had a powerful arm and was especially talented at fielding short grounders barehanded. His 404 assists in 1974 remain a record for third basemen. Schmidt also filled in at shortstop and first base when necessity demanded.

On June 10 1974 Schmidt hit what should have been a home run, giving him 549 for his career, when he hit the public address speaker that hung 117 feet above and 329 feet away from home plate at the Astrodome in Houston. The ball hit the speakers and fell to the turf. The ground rules in the Astrodome stated that the ball was live and in play. Since Schmidt had already started his home run trot, he was held to a single. Many experts agree this ball would have traveled in excess of 500 feet.

In 1980 Schmidt elevated his game to astonishing heights, leading the league in home runs by a margin of 13 and winning the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in a unanimous vote. The Phillies reached the World Series and, for the first time in team history, won it, defeating the Kansas City Royals, led by none other than George Brett. Schmidt was selected as MVP of the World Series, hitting two homers and driving in seven runs.

In 1981 the Phillies again reached the postseason and Schmidt won his second MVP Award.

In 1983, in celebration of the team's 100th anniversary, Schmidt was voted in a fan balloting as the greatest player in the history of the franchise, even though he still had five strong seasons ahead of him, including nearly 200 home runs. That year, Schmidt led the Phillies back to the World Series, but they were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles.

In 1986 Schmidt won his third MVP Award, a record for a third baseman.

Injuries to Schmidt's knees and back caused him to miss much of the 1988 season. After a poor start to the 1989 season, Schmidt chose to suddenly announce his retirement in San Diego, on May 29th. Known as "captain cool" by many in Philadelphia sports circles, Schmidt surprised many with his very emotional retirement speech during which he shed many tears. Despite his poor start and subsequent retirement, or because of it, fans again voted Schmidt to the NL All-Star team.

Over his career Schmidt set a vast array of hitting and fielding records. In addition to his MVP Awards, Schmidt won ten Gold Gloves, led the league in home runs eight times, in RBI four times, OPS five times, and walks four times. He was named to twelve All-Star teams. Schmidt finished his career with 548 home runs and 1,595 RBI, two of the many Phillies career records he holds.

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Athletes - Mike Schmidt

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