The Ultimate Tribute To Michael Jack Schmidt

The ultimate honor in sports these days is for the elite player to be memorialized outside their home stadiums for all fans to see.

And that is just what the Phillies did for Schmidt in front of their ballpark, Citizen’s Bank Park.

The statue looks great, and I am sure that it brings back tons of memories for all of the fans that come into contact with it as they enter and leave the stadium.

Honoring Schmidt and his mighty baseball swing, the statue really does look life-like.  And I am sure that there are tons of photos and baseball cards in collections all of the United States that bear a similar pose of one of the greatest power hitters that the game has ever seen!!!

Mike Schmidt And His Cooperstown Plaque

There are many pieces of art in the baseball world that don’t do the player justice.  Heck, I’ll admit that there are certain Hall of Fame plaques and Diamond Kings baseball cards out there that I would never connect to the player that they were designed for.

But with that being said, this Hall of Fame plaque of Michael Jack Schmidt is perfect!!

There is no mistaking who this guy in the Phillies hat is.  And rightfully so.  He is arguably the greatest Philadelphia Phillies player of all-time and many consider him the best third baseman in the history of the game as well.

During his first year of eligibility, Schmidt received 444 of 460 votes for entry into the Hall of Fame.  For you stat geeks out there(I’m one too!!), that is good for a 96.52%. 

Mike Schmidt’s Retirement

Just like watching Mike Schmidt belt his 500th career home run, watching him announce his retirement from the sport he played since his youth is another memory I will always have.

I admit that I got choked up watching this years ago, and it is still a little tough to sit through…

This was the first truly human side that I saw from a baseball player.  Yeah we saw joy and the thrill of victory, but this was raw emotion.  And as a young kid watching this, it left a lasting impression on me that remains today. 

Mike Schmidt Is A 3-Time MVP. And He Could Have Won More…

Schmidty is a 3-time MVP Award winner.  And there is no other player that played throughout the entire decade of the 1980′s that is more deserving of that honor.

Here is a quick summary of those 3 amazing seasons.

Year	Hits	BA	HR	RBI	Runs	Notes
1980	157	0.286	48	121	104	WS, AS, GG, SS
1981	112	0.316	31	91	78	AS, GG, SS
1986	160	0.290	37	119	97	AS, GG, SS

 

Pretty impressive stuff huh???  That’s why I proclaimed a few months back that if Major League Baseball decided to modernize the names of their individual awards, I felt that the MVP award should be called the ‘Mike Schmidt Most Valuable Player Award’. 

Oh, and for the record, Schmidt finished in the Top 10 for the MVP 6 more times during his career.  A true Top-Performer!!!!

Mike Schmidt And The 500 Home Run Club

I remember this 500th home run more than any that I had seen prior or since.

And, No I wasn’t there. 

But the visuals are engrained in my head of Mike Schmidt belting the 500th home run of his career.  And it is a memory that is as strong with me today as it was back in 1987.

Twenty-Two years ago, on April the 18th, the joy and relief that Mike Schmidt shared with us as he blasted #500 and then fist-pumped his way around the base paths was wonderful to watch.  You could see how enjoyable the moment was for Schmidt and his teammates as he finally conquered a goal that seemed eventual.  His joining of the 500 Home Run Club solidified him as one of the great power hitters of his generation.

Schmidt retired with 548 career homers and currently ranks at 14th on the All-time list.

Mike Schmidt Likes Gold. A Lot.

Mike Schmidt owns 10 Gold Glove awards. 

He received these shiny trophies during an 11-season span from 1976 to 1986.

With a powerful arm, suprising range, and the desire to put his body on the line to help the team, Schmidt excelled. 

The owner of a career .961 fielding percentage at the game’s hardest infield position, Schmidt added the hard-earned skill of great defenseman to his very impressive resume.

Mike Schmidt – The 1980 World Series Most Valuable Player

Mike Schmidt’s first trip to the World Series was quite memorable.

Not only did Schmidt’s team win the championship in 6 games against the Kansas City Royals, but he also won the Series’ Most Valuable Player Award.

In that match-up, Schmidt hit .381 while going 8 for 21.  He crushed 2 home runs, collected 8 hits, scored 6 runs while driving in 7.  Quite the hero, Schmidt had an on-base percentage of .462 in the 6-game battle!!! 

Mike Schmidt – The 12-time All-Star

A 12-time All-star, Mike Schmidt was a fixture at the mid-season classic for most of his amazing career.

With the sport’s biggest stars on display for the whole world to enjoy, Mike Schmidt was center stage often.  An All-star in just his second full season in the big leagues, Schmidt made an immediate impact on the game and it lasted throughout his entire 18 season long career. 

‘Same Card, Different Paths’ – Card #6

‘Same Card, Different Paths’ – Card #6

1973 Topps - Card #615 – AKA – ‘The Mike Schmidt Rookie Card’

Ron Cey – A 6-time All-star, Ron Cey was a solid contributor to the dominant Dodger teams of the mid-to-late 1970′s.  Cey offered a great blend of contact and power hitting along with a knack for driving in timely runs.  In 1981, Cey won the World Series MVP award as he helped his Dodgers team with the championship.  In that series, Cey hit .350 while collecting 7 hits and driving in 6 runs in 6 games.

John Hilton – No information found…

Mike Schmidt – The top third baseman of the 1970′s and 1980′s, Schmidt was a perennial All-star and top MVP candidate every season.  A member of the 500 home run club and Baseball’s Hall of Fame, Schmidt will go down as one of the greatest power hitters of all-time and the game’s most well-rounded third baseman in the history of the sport.

** on a side note, if Ron Cey’s rookie card featured any other player that debuted in the 1973 season besides Mike Schmidt, the card would certainly be known as the ‘Ron Cey Rookie Card’.

On His 60th Birthday, I Tag Today As ‘Mike Schmidt Day’!!!

Michael Jack Schmidt turns 60 years old today.

So in typical ’30-YOC’ fashion, I will dedicate each and every post on the blog today to one of the greatest players from the 70′s and 80′s.

 

Happy Birthday Mr. Schmidt!!!!