Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
	Schmidt with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1987
	Third baseman
	Born: September 27, 1949; Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	September 12, 1972, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
	May 28, 1989, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB 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 leader (1974–1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986); 4× NL RBI leader (1980, 1981, 1984, 1986); Hit 4 home runs in one game on April 17, 1976; Philadelphia Phillies No. 20 retired; Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame; 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 former professional baseball third baseman who played his entire 18-season career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies. Schmidt was a 12-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 widely considered to be the greatest third baseman in baseball history.

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. 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."

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