View source for Mike Schmidt

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1949)}}
{{for-multi|the Canadian ice hockey player|Mike Schmidt (ice hockey)|the Oregon attorney|Mike Schmidt (lawyer)|the American college football coach|Mike Schmidt (American football)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Mike Schmidt
|image=Mike Schmidt Press Box.jpg
|caption=Schmidt with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1982
|position=[[Third baseman]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1949|9|27|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Dayton, Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date=
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 12
|debutyear=1972
|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 28
|finalyear=1989
|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.267
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,234
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=548
|stat4label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,595
|teams=
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1972}}–{{mlby|1989}})
|highlights=
*12× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1974]], [[1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1976]], [[1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1977]], [[1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1979]]–[[1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1984]], [[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986]], [[1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1987]], [[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1989]])
*[[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1980}})
*3× [[NL MVP]] (1980, 1981, 1986)
*[[World Series MVP]] (1980)
*10× [[Gold Glove Award]] (1976–1984, 1986)
*6× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1980–1984, 1986)
*8× [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|NL home run leader]] (1974–1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986)
*4× [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|NL RBI leader]] (1980, 1981, 1984, 1986)
*Hit [[List of Major League Baseball single-game home run leaders|4 home runs in one game]] on April 17, 1976
*[[Philadelphia Phillies#Retired numbers|Philadelphia Phillies No. 20]] retired
*[[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame|Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame]]
*[[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]]
*[[Major League Baseball All-Time Team]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1995 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1995]]
|hofvote=96.5% (first ballot)
}}

'''Michael Jack Schmidt''' (born September 27, 1949) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[third baseman]] who spent his entire 18-year [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) career with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] from 1972 to 1989.<ref name=statistics>{{Cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schmimi01.shtml | title=Mike Schmidt Statistics and History | work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> Schmidt was a 12-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] and a three-time winner of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] award (MVP), and he was known for his combination of power hitting and strong defense. As a hitter, he compiled 548 [[home run]]s and 1,595 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs), and [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|led the NL in home runs]] eight times and [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|in RBIs]] four times. As a fielder, Schmidt won the National League [[Gold Glove Award]] for [[third basemen]] ten times. Schmidt was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1995 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1995]] in his first year of eligibility, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest third basemen in baseball history.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/15464/where-chipper-ranks-among-all-time-3b |title=Where Chipper ranks among all-time 3B | work=[[ESPN]] |date=August 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/phillies/opinions/philadelphia-phillies-legends-series-mike-schmidt |title=Phillies Legends: Mike Schmidt | first=TOM | last=SKULSKI | magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] | date=October 25, 2021 }}</ref>

Having an unusual batting stance, Schmidt turned his back somewhat toward the [[pitcher]] and rocked his rear end back and forth while waiting for a pitch. By standing far back in the batter's box, he made it almost impossible to jam him by pitching inside.

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."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Pete Rose: A Biography |last=Jordan |first=David M. |year=2004 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=9780313328756| page=91 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dYjWQWvwI0kC&pg=PA91}}</ref>

==Early life==
Schmidt's parents were Joseph Jack Schmidt (1926–2011) and Lois Jane Philipps (1926–2019). They managed the Philipps Aquatic Club founded by Lois's great-grandfather Charles A. Philipps in 1865.<ref name=sabr>{{Cite web | url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/mike-schmidt/ | title=Mike Schmidt | work=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] | first1=Steve | last1=Ferenchick | first2=Henry | last2=Kirn}}</ref> Schmidt was a lifeguard at the club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swimmer Mike Schmidt | url=https://ishof.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2011-yearbook.pdf | work=[[International Swimming Hall of Fame]] |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624021618/http://www.ishof.org/assets/baseball-player-and-swimmer-mike-schmidt.pdf | url-status=live}}</ref>

At age 5, Schmidt climbed a tree and was electrocuted when he touched a wire; his heart stopped and he fell, causing his heart to restart. He survived with minimal burn marks.<ref name=sabr/>

Schmidt was a standout athlete in both [[Little League Baseball]] and in 3 sports at [[Dayton Public Schools, Montgomery County, Ohio#Former school buildings|Fairview High School]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]], from which he graduated in 1967. However, knee surgeries ended his participation in basketball and football.<ref name=sabr/> He then attended [[Ohio University]] in [[Athens, Ohio|Athens]], where he joined the [[Beta Theta Pi]] [[fraternity]].

==Baseball career==
===Amateur career===
At Ohio University, Schmidt led the [[Ohio Bobcats]] [[baseball]] team to the [[College World Series]] in {{baseball year|1970}} and was selected as the [[shortstop]] for the [[1970 College Baseball All-America Team]]. Schmidt was drafted by the Phillies in the second round of the [[1971 Major League Baseball draft]], 30th overall.<ref name=greatest>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/06/sports/baseball/mike-schmidt-1971-draft.html |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |title=The Greatest Draft Pick Ever |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 6, 2021| url-access=limited | issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Minor Leagues===
On June 11, {{baseball year|1971}}, Schmidt was signed by Phillies [[Scout (sport)|scout]] [[Tony Lucadello]], who had followed him since high school.<ref name="sabr" /><ref name="greatest" /> Six days later, Schmidt made his professional debut in an exhibition game between the Phillies and their [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] affiliate the [[Reading Phillies]] in [[FirstEnergy Stadium (Reading, Pennsylvania)|Reading]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Schmidt played the whole game at [[shortstop]] for the Phillies, hitting a game-winning [[home run]] against his future Reading teammates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ZuSUVyMx-TgC&dat=19710618&printsec=frontpage |title=Palmer Doesn't Mind The Exhibition Games | first=Duke | last=DeLuca |newspaper=Reading Eagles |date=June 18, 1971 |pages=26, 28}}</ref> Schmidt stayed in Reading, spending the rest of the 1971 season at the Double-A level. In 1972, he was promoted to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[Eugene Emeralds]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]]. Along with shortstop and third base, Schmidt also played at [[second baseman|second base]] during his time in the minor leagues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Schmidt Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=schmid002mic |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=Baseball Reference}}</ref>

===Major Leagues===
[[File:Mike_Schmidt_-_Philadelphia_Phillies.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Schmidt with the [[Philadelphia Phillies|Phillies]] in 1977]]

==== 1972–1979 ====
Schmidt spent two seasons in the Phillies' [[farm system]], where he batted .263 with 34 home runs and 122 [[runs batted in]]. After playing most of the {{baseball year|1972}} season for Triple-A Eugene, he was called up to the Phillies in September and made his major league debut against the [[New York Mets]] on September 12.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197209120.shtml |title=New York Mets 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3| work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=September 12, 1972}}</ref> Four days later, in Philadelphia on September 16, Schmidt ended [[Montreal Expos]] [[pitcher]] [[Balor Moore]]'s streak of 25 scoreless innings pitched with his first career home run.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197209160.shtml |title=Philadelphia Phillies 3, Montreal Expos 1 | work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=September 16, 1972}}</ref>

Following the 1972 season, the Phillies dealt third baseman [[Don Money]] to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] to open a spot for Schmidt in their [[infield]]. While he batted only .196 with 136 strikeouts during his first full season in {{baseball year|1973}}, Schmidt demonstrated his power potential by hitting 18 home runs.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Russ | last=Walsh |title=September 16, 1972: Mike Schmidt's first career home run is a game-winner |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-16-1972-mike-schmidts-first-career-home-run-is-a-game-winner/ | work=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref>

Schmidt had a breakout season in {{baseball year|1974}}, increasing his [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] to .282 and playing in the first of his twelve [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS197407230.shtml |title=1974 All-Star Game | work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=July 23, 1974}}</ref> On June 10, in the [[Astrodome]] in [[Houston, Texas]], Schmidt hit a ball off Houston Astros' pitcher [[Claude Osteen]] that looked like a sure home run. The ball hit a public address speaker suspended 117 feet above and 329 feet away from home plate, falling into [[Baseball field#outfield|center field]]. By the ground rules, it remained in play and Schmidt was held to just a [[single (baseball)|single]], with the runners on first and second each advancing just one base. It is believed that had the ball not hit the speaker, it would have traveled beyond 500 feet.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gutman |first=Bill |title=Baseball's Belters: Jackson Schmidt Parker Brett |pages=80–81|publisher=Ace Books |year=1981}}</ref> For the season, Schmidt finished sixth in [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Most Valuable Player]] balloting as he batted .282 with 116 RBIs and a league-leading 36 home runs to help the Phillies avoid a last-place finish in the [[National League East]] for the first time since {{baseball year|1970}}. His 404 [[Assist (baseball)|assists]] in 1974 remains a record for NL third basemen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Assists as 3B |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/A_3b_season.shtml |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Schmidt's batting average hovered below .200 through May {{baseball year|1975}}. After solid performance in July and August, his average rose to .249 by the end of the season as he led the league in home runs for the second year in a row, with 38. Schmidt started the {{baseball year|1976}} season by hitting 12 home runs in Philadelphia's first 15 games, including four in one game on April 17, placing him on the [[list of Major League Baseball single-game home run leaders]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197604170.shtml |title=Philadelphia Phillies 18, Chicago Cubs 16 | work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=April 17, 1976}}</ref> and becoming the 10th player in major league history to accomplish that feat. For the season, Schmidt drove in 107 [[run (baseball)|runs]], led the league in home runs for the third year in a row (38), and won his first of ten Gold Gloves to lead the Phillies to their first division crown since division play started in {{baseball year|1969}}.

In 1977, Schmidt signed a contract with the Phillies that paid him $561,500 per year ({{Inflation|US|561500|1977|fmt=eq|r=-4}}), making him the highest-paid player in baseball history to that point and the first to surpass $500,000 annually.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sabr.org/research/baseball-s-major-salary-milestones | last=Haupert | first=Michael |title=Baseball's Major Salary Milestones | work=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |date=Fall 2011}}</ref>

The Phillies captured the NL East crown three years in a row; however, they were swept by [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati's]] "[[Big Red Machine]]" in 1976, and lost to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in {{baseball year|1977}} and {{baseball year|1978}}. On December 5, 1978, the Phillies signed Pete Rose as a [[free agent]], temporarily making Rose the highest-paid athlete in team sports with a four-year, $3.2 million contract. With Rose on board, the Phillies were early favorites to repeat as division winners in {{baseball year|1979}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1979-09-01 |title=Phillies Drop Ozark as Pilot (Published 1979) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/01/archives/phillies-drop-ozark-as-pilot.html |access-date=2025-08-20 |work=New York Times |agency=UPI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-06 |title=Fans Better Take A Lesson From The 1979 Phillies |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/fans-better-take-lesson-from-1979-phillies-bryce-harper-pete-rose/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=CBS News Philadelphia}}</ref> Instead, the Phillies finished the season at 84–78, in fourth place in NL East. For his part, Schmidt broke the club record for home runs in a season with 45, eclipsing [[Chuck Klein]]'s 43 homers in {{baseball year|1929}}.

====1980–1986====
On October 3, {{baseball year|1980}}, the Phillies played against [[Montreal]], tied with the Expos for first place in the NL East. With a [[sacrifice fly]] in the first, and a solo home run in the sixth, Schmidt led the Phillies to a 2–1 victory to capture first place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON198010030.shtml| title=Philadelphia Phillies 2, Montreal Expos 1 |work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=October 3, 1980}}</ref> A day later, Schmidt hit his 48th home run of the season in the 11th inning to give the Phillies the 6–4 [[extra innings]] victory over the Expos, and clinch the division.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON198010040.shtml |title=Philadelphia Phillies 6, Montreal Expos 4| work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=October 4, 1980}}</ref> His career high 48 home runs broke his own team record, and led the National League by a margin of 13 over his nearest competitor. Coupled with a league-leading 121 RBIs (also his career best), his home runs made Schmidt a unanimous choice for the [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|National League's Most Valuable Player Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/players-who-won-unanimous-mvp-awards |title=All for one: Unanimous MVP Award winners | first=Dylan | last=Svoboda | work=[[Major League Baseball]] | date=November 16, 2023}}</ref>

The Phillies defeated the [[Houston Astros]] in the [[1980 National League Championship Series]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1980_NLCS.shtml |title=1980 National League Championship Series| work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=October 7–12, 1980}}</ref> to reach the [[World Series]] for the third time in franchise history. Though Schmidt had just a career .191 post-season batting average with no home runs and five RBIs, his bat came alive in the [[1980 World Series]], hitting two homers and driving in seven runs against the [[Kansas City Royals]]. The Phillies beat the Royals in six games to win the first World Series in franchise history, and Schmidt won the [[World Series MVP Award]]. Following the World Series, Schmidt and four of his Phillies teammates appeared on ''[[Family Feud]]'' for one week in 1980. He, [[Larry Bowa]], [[Garry Maddox]], [[Dick Ruthven]] and [[Del Unser]] took on five members of the Kansas City Royals: [[Dennis Leonard]], [[Dan Quisenberry]], [[Paul Splittorff]], [[John Wathan]] and [[Willie Wilson (baseball)|Willie Wilson]].

Schmidt's best season may have been the strike-shortened {{baseball year|1981}} season. His 31 home runs were seven more than anyone else in the league. He also led the NL in [[runs scored]], RBIs, [[total bases]] and walks, and set personal highs in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He won his second consecutive MVP award, this time with 96% of the vote.

The Phillies led the NL East by 3.5 games when the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike]] hit. As a result, the Phillies were named NL East champions for the first half of the season; however, they lost to the second-half champion Montreal Expos in the [[1981 National League Division Series]].

In {{baseball year|1983}}, in celebration of the team's 100th anniversary, Schmidt was voted by fans the greatest player in the history of the franchise. That year, he led the league in home runs for the sixth time in his career to lead the Phillies back to the postseason. Schmidt led his team with a .467 batting average and scored five runs as they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the [[1983 National League Championship Series]]. It was, however, a much different story against the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the [[1983 World Series]]. The Phillies were held to a .195 team batting average; Schmidt went just 1-for-20 with a single.

Following the 1983 season, Schmidt was awarded the [[Lou Gehrig Memorial Award]]. That off-season, [[Pete Rose]] left the Phillies as a [[free agent]] and signed with the Montreal Expos. With a hole at [[first baseman|first base]], the Phillies played [[Tim Corcoran (first baseman)|Tim Corcoran]] and [[Len Matuszek]] in a [[platoon system]] during the {{baseball year|1984}} season. Neither player provided the offensive spark Rose did, and so a change was in order. Early in the {{baseball year|1985}} season, Schmidt agreed to move to first base (starting from late May) through the end of the season with [[Rick Schu]] assuming third base duties. The Phillies finished with a record below .500 for the first time since 1974.

In {{baseball year|1986}}, the Phillies moved [[outfielder]] [[Von Hayes]] to first base and shifted Schmidt back to third base. He responded by winning his third MVP award, a record for third basemen,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/20/sports/schmidt-joins-an-elite-club.html | title=Schmidt Joins an Elite Club | first=Thomas | last=Rogers | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 20, 1986 | url-access=limited}}</ref> with a league-leading 37 home runs and 119 RBIs. As of 2025, Schmidt is the most recent player to have led his league in RBIs four times.

====1987–1989====
[[Image:Mike Schmidt HR vs. Cincinnati Reds at Veterans Stadium July 20, 1987.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Schmidt homers against the [[Cincinnati Reds]] at [[Veterans Stadium]] on July 20, 1987]]
Trailing the [[1987 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] 6–5 in the top of the ninth [[inning]] at [[Three Rivers Stadium]] on April 18, {{baseball year|1987}}, Schmidt became a member of the [[500 home run club]], hitting a three-run shot off of [[Don Robinson (baseball)|Don Robinson]]. It put the [[1987 Philadelphia Phillies season|Phillies]] ahead 8–6, and ended up being the game-winner.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT198704180.shtml | title=Philadelphia Phillies 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 6 | work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] | date=April 18, 1987}}</ref>

Injuries to Schmidt's [[rotator cuff]] caused him to miss the last month and a half of the {{baseball year|1988}} season. He returned healthy for the {{baseball year|1989}} season. However, after a poor start, Schmidt suddenly chose to announce his retirement in [[1989 San Diego Padres season|San Diego]], on May 29. Although he typically demonstrated little emotion on the field, and was known as "Captain Cool" by many in Philadelphia sports circles, Schmidt surprised many with an emotional, and occasionally tearful, retirement speech. He said in his retirement press conference, <blockquote>"Some 18 years ago, I left Dayton, Ohio, with two very bad knees and a dream of becoming a major-league baseball player; I thank God this dream came true."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/30/sports/schmidt-retires-after-17-years-and-548-homers.html | title=Schmidt Retires After 17 Years and 548 Homers | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=May 30, 1989 | url-access=limited | issn=0362-4331}}</ref></blockquote> His last game was May 28, 1989, against the [[1989 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198905280.shtml | title=San Francisco Giants 8, Philadelphia Phillies 5 | work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] | date=May 28, 1989}}</ref>

Despite his own perceived subpar start and subsequent retirement on May 29, fans once again voted Schmidt to be the starting third baseman for the NL All-Star team. He decided not to play, but he did participate in the opening ceremony of the [[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] in uniform.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS198907110.shtml | title=1989 All-Star Game | work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] | date=July 11, 1989}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
<div align="left">
{| class="wikitable"
|Games
|[[Plate appearances|PA]]
|[[At-bat|AB]]
|[[Run (baseball)|Runs]]
|[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|[[double (baseball)|2B]]
|[[triple (baseball)|3B]]
|[[Home runs|HR]]
|[[Runs batted in|RBI]]
|SB
|[[Walk (baseball)|BB]]
|[[Strikeout|SO]]
|[[Batting average (baseball)|Avg.]]
|[[On-base percentage|OBP]]
|[[Slugging percentage|Slg.]]
|OPS
|[[fielding percentage|Fld%]]
|-
|2,404
|10,062
|8,352
|1,506
|2,234
|408
|59
|548
|1,595
|174
|1,507
|1,883
|.267
|.380
|.527
|.908
|.961
|}
</div>

Over his career, Schmidt set a vast array of hitting and fielding records. In addition to his MVP Awards, Schmidt won ten [[Gold Glove]]s, led the league in home runs eight times, in RBIs four times, [[Baseball statistics|OPS]] five times, and walks four times. He was named to 12 All-Star teams. He is the Phillies' all-time leader in games played, at-bats, plate appearances, runs scored, home runs, RBI, walks, strikeouts, total bases, runs created, sacrifice flies, outs, Adj. Batting Runs, Adj. Batting Wins, Extra Base Hits, Times On Base, and Power-Speed number. Schmidt's 548 home runs are the most ever hit by a player who spent his entire career with just one team.

Schmidt is one of only three players (along with [[Willie Mays]] and [[Ken Griffey Jr.]]) to win 10 Gold Gloves and hit at least 500 home runs, and is the only infielder ever to do so.

==Post-playing career and accolades==
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = PhilsSchmidt.PNG
|Name   = Mike Schmidt
|Number = 20
|Team   = Philadelphia Phillies
|Year   = 1990
}}

In 1990, Schmidt was named "The Player of the Decade" of the 1980s by ''[[The Sporting News]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/tsn-archives-nobody-did-it-better-schmidt-selected-tsn-player-decade-jan-29-1990/xtvodwdhburtbajw1wylmz6b | title=TSN Archives: Mike Schmidt Selected TSN Player of Decade (Jan. 29, 1990) | work=[[The Sporting News]] | date=June 17, 2022}}</ref>

His uniform number 20 was retired by the Phillies before a game at [[Veterans Stadium]] on May 26, 1990. That same season, Schmidt was inducted as a member of the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]]. He had previously been inducted as the third baseman for the Phillies' Centennial Team in 1983.

In 1991, he and Nolan Ryan were inducted into the [[Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum]]'s Hall of Excellence, established in 1988, thereby becoming only the second and third MLB players inducted into the Hall.

In 1995, on his first [[ballot]], Schmidt was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] with what was at the time the fourth highest voting percentage ever, 96.52%.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/10/sports/baseball-schmidt-again-puts-up-big-numbers.html |title=BASEBALL; Schmidt Again Puts Up Big Numbers | first=Claire | last=Smith | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 10, 1995 | url-access=limited}}</ref>

In 1997, Schmidt was elected as the starting third-baseman by the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] to the [[Major League Baseball All-Time Team]]. The event was celebrated at the [[1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] in [[Cleveland]], Ohio.

In 1999, he ranked number 28 on ''The [[Sporting News]]'''s list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml |title=Baseball's 100 Greatest Players | work=[[Baseball Almanac]]}}</ref> the highest-ranking third baseman, and the highest-ranking player whose career began after 1967.

Also in 1999, he was elected to the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]] as the starting third-baseman. The event was celebrated at the [[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] in [[Boston]], Massachusetts.[[File:Mike Schmidt - Hall of Famer (2795682869).jpg|thumb|upright=1|Schmidt's plaque on the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]] at [[Citizens Bank Park]]]]Schmidt was honored with a [[statue]] outside the third-base gate at [[Citizens Bank Park]] in 2004.

On September 27, 2006, Schmidt was announced as the Phillies representative for the [[DHL Hometown Heroes]] promotion, beating out [[Steve Carlton]], [[Richie Ashburn]], [[Robin Roberts (baseball)|Robin Roberts]] and [[Chuck Klein]] as most outstanding player in Phillies history.

In October 2014 the [[Ohio Bobcats baseball|Ohio University Bobcats]] retired his number 10. Schmidt led the Bobcats to the College World Series in 1970.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.athensmessenger.com/sports/ohiouniversity/ohio-finally-honors-mike-schmidt/article_2ca941e7-1c96-5478-8d5b-759fa593cc66.html | title=Ohio, finally, honors Mike Schmidt | first=Jason | last=Arkley | work=[[The Athens Messenger]] | date=October 11, 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, Schmidt was named one of the Phillies "Franchise Four" as voted by the fans, along with Steve Carlton, Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/greatest-living-players-franchise-fours-named/c-136694204 | title=MLB unveils greatest living players, Franchise Four | first=Mark | last=Newman | work=[[Major League Baseball]] | date=July 15, 2015}}</ref>

Schmidt was a vocal advocate for the reinstatement of Pete Rose to baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Dave |title=Mike Schmidt: 'There's always going to be the issue of Pete Rose off the field' |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2025/05/14/mike-schmidt-on-pete-rose-cooperstown-baseball-hall-of-fame-candidacy-cloud/83633633007/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=The Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref>

In July 2005, on [[Bob Costas]]'s [[HBO]] show ''[[Costas Now]]'' Schmidt said, "if I had played during that era, I would have taken steroids". In his 2006 book, ''Clearing the Bases: Juiced Players, Monster Salaries, Sham Records, and a Hall of Famer's Search for the Soul of Baseball'', he somewhat recanted that statement, saying that he understood the desire to get a competitive advantage even though he could not condone breaking the rules to do so.

===Coaching===
Starting in 2002, Schmidt worked with the Phillies as a hitting coach during each [[Spring training]]. In October 2003, Schmidt was named the manager of the Phillies' [[List of minor league baseball leagues and teams#High-A leagues|Single A]] [[Florida State League]] affiliate, the [[Clearwater Threshers]]. He managed them for just the 2004 season, then resigned. In 2009, he served as third base coach for [[United States national baseball team|Team USA]] in the [[2009 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]].

===Broadcasting===
[[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] used Schmidt as a guest analyst for Game 1 of the [[1989 National League Championship Series|1989 NLCS]]. Schmidt subsequently, did on-field reporting throughout the series. Schmidt also provided periodic commentary (albeit, taped prior to the playoffs) for [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]] during the [[1988 National League Championship Series|1988 NLCS]].

Schmidt spent the 1990 season as a [[color analyst]] with the Phillies broadcast team on the [[PRISM (TV channel)|PRISM channel]], where he was partnered with play-by-play announcer Jim Barniak. He was known to be very candid and honest with his commentary, but left the booth after just one season. Schmidt returned to broadcasting as a color analyst for [[The Baseball Network]] during its two seasons of existence in 1994 and 1995.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/20140226_Schmidt_to_join_Phillies__Sunday_telecasts.html | title=Schmidt to join Phillies' Sunday telecasts | last=Lawrence | first=Ryan | work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=February 26, 2014}}</ref> Starting in 2014, he provided commentary during Phillies Sunday home games on [[NBC Sports Philadelphia]]. In 2015, Schmidt also provided commentary during Saturday home games, creating a "Weekends with Schmidt" format that continued through 2018. Schmidt returned exclusively to home Sunday games in 2019, though he will occasionally provide commentary on a Saturday if the Phillies have a nationally televised Sunday home game.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

==Personal life==
In February 1974, Schmidt married Donna Wightman; they had two children. In 1979, they bought a 12,000 square foot home in [[Upper Providence Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania]] for $490,000.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/mike-schmidts-former-delco-home-is-for-sale/ | title=Mike Schmidt's former Delco home is on the market for $3.8 million | first=MICHAELA | last=ALTHOUSE | work=PhillyVoice | date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> In 1991, they bought an 8,500 square foot house in the Admiral’s Cove golf community in [[Jupiter, Florida]] for $425,000.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://archive.tcpalm.com/news/mike-schmidt-wife-decide-to-stay-at-admirals-cove-just-in-a-smaller-home-ep-396643460-347266562.html | title=Mike Schmidt, wife decide to stay at Admiral's Cove, just in a smaller home | first=Kit | last=Bradshaw | work=[[Treasure Coast Newspapers]] | date=November 3, 2009}}</ref>

In 2014, Schmidt disclosed that he had stage-3 [[melanoma]] in the summer of 2013, but that he was now cancer-free.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/20140317_Schmidt_discusses_his_battle_with_melanoma.html | title=Schmidt discusses his battle with melanoma | work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] | date=March 16, 2014 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> In conjunction with the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, the City of Philadelphia, and [[Independence Blue Cross]], the Phillies placed 12 [[Sunscreen|sunblock]] dispensers around Citizens Bank Park in May 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-26 |title=Mike Schmidt shows off new sunscreen dispensers at Citizens Bank Park |url=https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/mlb/mike-schmidt-shows-off-new-sunscreen-dispensers-at-citizens-bank-park/405497/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=NBC Sports Philadelphia |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Philanthropy===
In {{baseball year|2001}}, Schmidt began sponsoring an annual [[fishing]] tournament in [[Grand Bahama Island]]. It has raised a total of over $2.5 million for charities including the [[Cystic Fibrosis Foundation]], [[American Cancer Society]], and [[Cleveland Clinic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://winnerscirclecharities.org/ | title=Mike Schmidt's Winner Circle Charities}}</ref>

In 2008, Schmidt released a [[wine]] called Mike Schmidt 548 [[Zinfandel]], a reference to his 548 career home runs, with proceeds also going to the [[Cystic Fibrosis Foundation]].<ref name="v378">{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Michael |date=2008-05-04 |title=Inqlings: Try a slug of this with your pizza |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/local/20080504_Inqlings__Try_a_slug_of_this_with_your_pizza.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref>

He also regularly participates in charity [[golf]] tournaments.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
*[[List of Major League Baseball home run records]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
*[[500 home run club]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball single-game home run leaders]]
*[[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]
*[[DHL Hometown Heroes]]

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aVKoiLHY48cC | last=Kashatus | first=William C | year=2008 | title=Almost A Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the 1980 Phillies | publisher=Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press | isbn=9-780812240368}}
* {{Cite book |title=Always on the Offense |last1=Schmidt |first1=Mike| first2=Barbara | last2=Walder | year=1982 |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |isbn=0-689-11165-7 | url=https://archive.org/details/alwaysonoffense0000schm |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |title=Mike Schmidt: Philadelphia's Hall of Fame third baseman |last=Kashatus | first=William C. |year=2000 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |location=Jefferson, North Carolina | isbn=0-7864-0713-1 |page=94}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mike Schmidt}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|schmidt-mike}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=121836|espn=256|br=s/schmimi01|fangraphs=1011586|brm=schmid002mic|retro=S/Pschmm001}}
*{{Sabrbio|0d3c83cf}}
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=schmimi01 Mike Schmidt] at Baseball Almanac
*{{IMDb name|1734414}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYeOOxlbBbs Famed call] by [[Harry Kalas]] of Schmidt's 500th homerun at [[Three Rivers Stadium]], April 18, 1987, MLB

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{{Succession box | before = [[Willie Mays]] | title = [[Batters with 4 home runs in one game]]| years = April 17, 1976 | after = [[Bob Horner]]}}
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