Mike Schmidt (1995)


Date of Birth: 9/27/1949
Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio
College: Ohio University

Mike Schmidt first played organized baseball in Little League. He then went on to play it in high school. While at Ohio University, he helped his team win the 1970 College World Series. That year, he was the shortstop on the College Baseball All-America team.

Philadelphia Phillies

Schmidt was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies on June 8, 1971. He spent that season and most of the following one in the minor leagues, playing at shortstop, second base, and third base. He joined the Phillies for 13 games in 1972.

In 1973, his first full season in the major leagues, Schmidt batted .196 with 72 hits, 11 doubles, 18 home runs, and 52 RBIs in 132 games.

Schmidt had a strong season in 1974, leading the NL in home runs with 36. He had career highs in games played (162) and in hits (160). He finished the season with 28 doubles, 23 stolen bases, 116 RBIs, 138 strikeouts to 106 walks, and a .282 batting average. Defensively he led NL third basemen in assists with 404.

Schmidt again led the NL in home runs in 1975. He had 140 hits, a career high 34 doubles, 38 home runs, a career high 29 stolen bases, 95 RBIs, and a .249 batting average in 158 games. He walked 101 times and struck out 180 times.

In 1976, Schmidt once more led the NL in home runs. He had 153 hits, 31 doubles, 38 home runs, 107 RBIs, and a .262 batting average in 160 games. He had a good walk to strikeout ratio with 100 walks to 149 strikeouts.

An excellent fielder, Schmidt won 10 Gold Gloves as a third baseman. He won his first one in 1976 with 377 assists, 21 errors, and a .961 fielding percentage in 160 games. From 1976 through 1984, Schmidt dominated third base and he won a Gold Glove award in each of those seasons. He won his last Gold Glove in 1986. He led NL third basemen in assists in 1977 (396), 1980 (372), 1981 (249), 1982 (324), and 1983 (332).

Schmidt had another good season in 1977, again hitting 38 home runs. He also had 149 hits, 27 doubles, a career high 11 triples, 101 RBIs, and a .274 batting average in 154 games. He walked 104 times and struck out 122 times. His batting average dropped to .251 in 1978, and his power was diminished that season. He hit just 21 home runs in 145 games. He finished the season with 129 hits, 27 doubles, 19 stolen bases, 78 RBIs, and 103 strikeouts to 91 walks.

Schmidt led the NL in walks in 1979 with 120 (to 115 strikeouts). He batted .253 with 137 hits, 25 doubles, 45 home runs, and 114 RBIs in 160 games.

In 1980, Schmidt won the first of three National League MVP awards and the first of six Silver Slugger awards. He also won the Sporting News Player of the Year award, and he led the NL in home runs, RBIs, and OPS. He had career highs in home runs with 48 and in RBIs with 121. He batted .286 with 157 hits, 25 doubles, and 119 strikeouts to 89 walks in 150 games. His OPS was 1.004. He also won the World Series MVP award in 1980, batting .289 with 13 hits, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 8 RBIs in 11 games in the postseason.

Schmidt again won the NL MVP award in 1981. He also won the Baseball Digest Player of the Year award and his second Silver Slugger award, and he led the NL in home runs (31), RBIs (91), walks (73 to 71 strikeouts), and on-base percentage (a career high .435). He had career highs in batting average (.316) and OPS (1.079). The season was shortened by a strike and Schmidt played in 102 games that year.

Schmidt won his third Silver Slugger award in 1982, and he led the NL in walks (107 to 131 strikeouts), on-base percentage (.403), and OPS (.950). He finished the season with 144 hits, 26 doubles, 35 home runs, and a .280 batting average in 148 games.

In 1983, Schmidt won Silver Slugger award number four and he led the NL again in home runs (40), walks (128 to 148 strikeouts), and on-base percentage (.399). He had 136 hits, 16 doubles, 109 RBIs, and a .255 batting average in 154 games. He won the Lou Gehrig Memorial award that year.

Schmidt again won a Silver Slugger award in 1984, and once more he led the NL in home runs, RBIs, and OPS. He had 146 hits, 23 doubles, 36 home runs, 106 RBIs, 116 strikeouts to 92 walks, and a .277 batting average in 151 games. His OPS was .919. Although he had a good year in 1985, he didn't lead the NL in any categories that season and he didn't win any awards. He had 152 hits, 31 doubles, 33 home runs, 93 RBIs, and a .277 batting average in 158 games.

Schmidt won his third MVP award and his sixth and last Silver Slugger award in 1986. He was named the Sporting News Player of the Year for the second time. He led the NL in home runs for the eighth time, in RBIs for the fourth time, and in OPS for the fifth time. He batted .290 with a career high 160 hits, 29 doubles, 37 home runs, and 119 RBIs in 160 games. He had an OPS of .937. He won his tenth and final Gold Glove in 1986.

Schmidt had another good season in 1987, batting .293 in 147 games. He had 153 hits, 28 doubles, 35 home runs, and 113 RBIs. He walked 83 times and struck out 80 times. In 1988, he played in only 108 games and he had 97 hits, 21 doubles, 62 RBIs, and a .249 batting average.

Schmidt retired on May 29, 1989, after playing in 42 games with the Phillies.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Gold Glove (10 times)
  • Silver Slugger award (6 times)
  • NL MVP (3 times)
  • Sporting News Player of the Year (2 times)
  • Baseball Digest Player of the Year
  • World Series MVP
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial award
  • Led NL in home runs (8 times)
  • Led NL in RBIs (4 times)
  • Led NL in walks (4 times)
  • Led NL in on-base percentage (3 times)
  • Led NL in OPS (5 times)

Career Statistics

Schmidt played in over 100 games in each of 16 seasons (1973-1988). His batting statistics during those seasons include:

  • 6 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 160 in 1974 and 1986
  • 3 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 34 in 1975
  • 13 seasons with over 30 home runs, with a high of 48 in 1980
  • 9 seasons with over 100 RBIs, with a high of 121 in 1980

Career batting statistics for Schmidt include:

  • 2,404 games played
  • 2,234 hits
  • 408 doubles
  • 548 home runs
  • 174 stolen bases
  • 1,595 RBIs
  • 1,883 strikeouts to 1,507 walks
  • .267 batting average
  • .380 on-base percentage
  • .907 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Schmidt at third base include:

  • 2,212 games played
  • 313 errors
  • 5,045 assists
  • 450 double plays
  • 1,591 putouts
  • .955 fielding percentage

Postseason statistics for Schmidt include:

  • 6 postseasons
  • 36 games played
  • 140 at-bats
  • 33 hits
  • 9 doubles
  • 4 home runs
  • 1 stolen base
  • 16 RBIs
  • 26 strikeouts to 15 walks
  • .236 batting average

Post Playing Career

After leaving major league baseball as a player, Schmidt worked as a broadcaster for the Phillies (1990), a hitting coach in Spring training for the Phillies (2002), and a manager of a Phillies' minor league team.

Schmidt was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995 on the first ballot with 96.5% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Mike Schmidt
ESPN - Mike Schmidt
Baseball Reference - Mike Schmidt

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