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Philadelphia Phillies: 50 greatest players of all-time

Mike Schmidt,Third and First Baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies prepares to bat the during the Major League Baseball National League East game against the Chicago Cubs on 28 June 1988 at Wrigley Field, Chicago, United States. Cubs won the game 6 - 4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images)
Mike Schmidt,Third and First Baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies prepares to bat the during the Major League Baseball National League East game against the Chicago Cubs on 28 June 1988 at Wrigley Field, Chicago, United States. Cubs won the game 6 - 4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images) /

player. 6. . 3B. 1972-89. Mike Schmidt . 1

The undisputed greatest Philadelphia Phillies player of all-time is the man Harry Kalas adoringly called Michael Jack Schmidt.

Drafted one pick behind George Brett in the second round of the 1971 draft, Schmidt’s career didn’t take off like that of a Hall of Famer. In his first 145 games over two seasons, the kid from Dayton, Ohio hit .197 with 19 home runs and 55 RBI.

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The following three seasons, Schmidt led the league in home runs and earned MVP consideration. His first MVP award came in 1980 when he led the league in home runs, slugging, OPS and OPS+ en route to a World Series victory.

Schmidt repeated as the National League MVP in the 1981 strike-shortened season during which he led baseball in nine categories.

After finishing in the top seven in MVP votes for three years, Schmidt clinched his third MVP award in 1986 when he hit a league-high 37 home runs. Schmidt is the only player to win three MVPs while primarily playing third base.

Not only is Schmidt regarded as the greatest Phillie of all-time, but he’s arguably the greatest third baseman of all-time. He’s the all-time home run leader for third basemen and is ninth all-time in home runs by a Hall of Famer.

Schmidt led the league in home runs eight times, second only to Babe Ruth’s 12.

After retiring 42 games into the 1989 season, his 12th all-star campaign, Schmidt became the fourth player in Phillies history to have his number retired.

In 1995 Schmidt was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after receiving 96.5 percent of the votes on the first ballot.

Schmidt resides at the top of 22 all-time lists in Philadelphia Phillies history, including home runs, WAR, games played, plate appearances, RBI, walks and extra base hits. Until recently, he was the all-time hits leader until Jimmy Rollins surpassed him.

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Schmidt is one of a handful of players with a statue at Citizens Bank Park. He is undoubtedly the greatest Philadelphia Phillie of all-time.

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