Phillies: Top ten moments of Mike Schmidt’s Hall of Fame career

7.  All-Star Game Go-Ahead Home Run (August 9, 1981)

A 12-time All-Star during his career, Schmidt appeared in ten games, hitting .278 in 18 at-bats.  Four of his five career All-Star Game hits came in the 1979 and 1981 game. He went 2-for-3 with double, triple, two runs scored and RBI in the 1979 contest.

In the 1981 game during the strike-shortened season, the National League trailed 4-3 after seven after jumping out to a 2-1 lead. The American League went to Rollie Fingers in the eighth and the future Hall of Famer uncharacteristically struggled with his control, walking two.  Schmidt delivered the key blow with Mike Easler on first and one out. He sent a Fingers’ pitch out of the park to deep center to give the National League a 5-4 lead and proved to be the game-winning hit.

Schmidt finished 2-for-4 with two RBI but lost out on MVP to Expos catcher Gary Carter, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

6. Home Run Game One NLCS Versus Dodgers (October 4, 1983)

The Phillies were a powerhouse from 1976 through 1981, appearing in the postseason five times and winning the first World Series in franchise history in 1980. Trying to make one last run, the Phillies acquired Joe Morgan and Tony Perez in 1983, joining what became known as the “Wheeze Kids”. The veteran group had several players near the end of storied careers.

The Phillies won the NL East and faced the Dodgers in the NLCS. Getting off to a fast start can be key in any series and the Phillies did just that against Dodgers left-hander Jerry Reuss. Schmidt came to the plate with two outs and no one on in the first. Having had good success against Reuss throughout his career, Schmidt drove one out of the park to dead center field. The run held up as Steve Carlton and Al Holland shut out the Dodgers.

The Phillies won the series in four games to advance to the World Series for the second time in four seasons.