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

By Kerry Kauffman

CHICAGO - 1987: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies fields during an MLB game versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois during the 1987 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CHICAGO - 1987: Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies fields during an MLB game versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois during the 1987 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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5.  Go Ahead Home Run 23-22 Game (May 17, 1979)

The Phillies and Cubs played in one of the wackiest games in Major League history on May 17, 1979. With the wind blowing out in Wrigley Field, it was clear early on that this would be a high scoring contest.

The Phillies jumped out to a 7-6 lead after one and 15-6 after three.  After a 21-9 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Cubs mounted a huge comeback.  Chicago scored 13 of the next 14 runs tying the game at 22 heading into the ninth.

Schmidt, having already homered off of Dennis Lamp in the first, faced the extremely tough Bruce Sutter in the tenth. Schmidt proceeded to send a Sutter offering deep into the seats, giving the Phillies a 23-22 lead and the win.

The wild and crazy game saw a combined 11 balls leave the park. Dave Kingman of the Cubs led the way with three. Steve Ontiveros, Bill Bucker, and Jerry Martin also went deep for the Cubs., Schmidt connected on two of the five for the Phillies with Randy Lerch, Bob Boone and Garry Maddox hitting the others.

Schmidt went on to hit 45 home runs and knock in 114 during the 1979 season. It began arguably the best stretch of his career, hitting 40 or more home runs in three of the next five seasons. Only the strike-shortened 1981 season likely kept Schmidt from topping 40 home runs again. Schmidt hit 199 home runs during the five-year stretch and earned two of his three MVP awards.

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