Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt Third baseman Born: (1949-09-27) September 27, 1949 (age 65) Dayton, Ohio Batted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut September 12, 1972 for the Philadelphia Phillies Last MLB appearance May 28, 1989 for the Philadelphia Phillies Career statistics Batting average .267 Hits 2,234 Home runs 548 Runs batted in 1,595 Teams Philadelphia Phillies (1972–1989) Career highlights and awards 12× All-Star (1974, 1976, 1977, 1979–1984, 1986, 1987, 1989) World Series champion (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× NL home run champion (1974–1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986) 4× NL RBI champion (1980, 1981, 1984, 1986) Hit 4 home runs in one game on April 17, 1976 Philadelphia Phillies No. 20 retired Major League Baseball All-Century Team Major League Baseball All-Time Team Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction 1995 Vote 96.5% (first ballot) Michael Jack Schmidt (born September 27, 1949) is an American baseball third baseman who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies. Schmidt was a twelve-time All-Star and a three-time winner of the National League (NL) 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 runs and 1,595 runs batted in (RBIs), and led the NL in home runs eight times and 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 Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995 and is considered one of the greatest third baseman in baseball history. Having an unusual batting stance, Schmidt turned his back somewhat towards 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. Schmidt was one of the best athletes of his era; 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."
