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, IL – CIRCA 1987: Mike Schmidt #20 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the Chicago Cubs during an Major League Baseball game circa 1987 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Schmidt played for the Phillies from 1972-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt had many great moments in a Phillies uniform. Here are the top ten moments of Schmidt’s Career
There has been an unmistakably remarkable enthusiasm for Phillies baseball since the signing of Bryce Harper to the longest, most lucrative contract in MLB history. If Harper plays out his full 13 years, he will be the fourth-longest tenured Phillie in franchise history, behind only Mike Schmidt, Jimmy Rollins, and Steve Carlton. The Harper era is set to begin with likely plenty of astounding moments. We take a look back at the top moments for the franchise’s best player of all time, Michael Jack Schmidt.
10. Monster Shot off Speaker in Astrodome (June 10, 1974)
Schmidt struggled in the early part of his career, hovering around .200 batting average with 19 home runs and 151 strikeouts in 483 at-bats. He began showing his incredible power potential in 1974, blasting 14 home runs by June 9.
On the night of June 10, Schmidt hit a remarkable blast in the first inning off of Claude Osteen (who later became the pitching coach for the Phillies). With Larry Bowa at first and Dash Cash at second, Schmidt smashed a ball off a public-address speaker hanging from the roof of the Astrodome in center field. At nearly 300 feet from home plate and 117 feet in the air, the speaker got in the way of a sure mammoth home run. The ball fell into the field of play and the long shot turned out to be a single with runners advancing one base.
The Phillies won the game, 12-0 and Schmidt ended up leading league home runs with 36 and in slugging percentage at .546.
(Original Caption) 7/11/1989- Anaheim, CA – Former Philadelphia Phillie 3rd baseman Mike Schmidt waves to the crowd at the All Star game opening ceremonies 7/11. though Schmidt retired earlier this year he was the leading vote getter for the 3rd base position. /
9. Walk-off Home Run Versus Bob Gibson (April 22, 1973)
Schmidt had a cup of coffee with the Phillies in 1972, appearing in 13 games. He hit just .206 with a home run and 15 strikeouts in 34 at-bats. In an early-season game in his rookie season of 1973, Schmidt faced baseball legend, Bob Gibson. Although towards the tail end of a Hall of Fame Career, Gibson still had plenty left in the tank and the upper hand on the rookie.
Gibson gave up a run in the first but shut the Phillies out through the next seven. In a pitcher’s battle, Dick Ruthven allowed only a single run through 7.2 innings. With the score tied in the ninth, Gibson retired Greg Luzinski and Bill Robinson on a ground out and fly out. Schmidt came to the plate having already struck out twice in two at-bats. This time Schmidt got the better of Gibson, driving an offering out of the park for a walk-off home run.
The homer was just Schmidt’s second of his career. He struggled throughout the rookie season but showed glimpses of his power potential. Schmidt finished the season with a .196 average with 18 home runs, none of which were more important than the game-winner off Gibson.
8. Final Home Run (May 2, 1989)
Schmidt entered the 1989 season coming off a season in which he hit just 12 home runs in 108 game, largely due to a shoulder injury. He was just a season removed from a 35 home run campaign, so a rebound was expected from Schmidt in 1989, even as he approached 40 years old.
Schmidt was off to a solid start at the plate in 1989, hitting five home runs during April. On May 2, he faced Jim DeShaies of the Astros in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs and a man on, Schmidt drove an 0-1 pitch on the line down the left field line for a home run.
At the time, the home run appeared to be just like any other for Schmidt. However, his hitting slipped and his defense became nearly painful to watch as the month progressed. Seemingly out of nowhere, Schmidt retired in San Diego on May 30, 1989. The home run off Deshaies was his 548th and last of 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.
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.
4. Four Home Run Game (April 17. 1976)
Schmidt had already established himself as the premier home run hitter in the league by the time the 1976 season began. He led the league in home runs in 1974 with 36 and in 1975 with 38.
After hitting one home run over the first four games of the season, Schmidt faced the Cubs in Chicago on April 17, 1976, and had a game for the record books. He flew out in the second off Rick Reuschel and all the while Steve Carlton had an uncharacteristically bad game, failing to get out of the second inning.
Schmidt singled in the fourth and then down 13-2 in the fifth, Schmidt hit a two-run homer off Reuschel to cut the deficit to 13-4. Cutting the lead to 13-6 in the seventh, Schmidt again took Reuschel out and the Phillies trailed by only six.
With the score now 13-9 in the eighth, Schmidt hit his third consecutive home run, this time off Mike Garman to cut the deficit to 13-12. After the Phillies went ahead by a 15-13 score in the ninth, the Cubs tied it off Tug McGraw.
Schmidt became the hero in extra innings, connecting on his fourth consecutive home run, this time off Paul Reuschel. The Phillies held on to win another wild one at Wrigley Field, 18-16.
After five games, Schmidt led the league in home runs with five. He went to hit 38 for the season, leading the league for a third consecutive season. He did not lead the league again in home runs until 1980 but finished his career leading eight times.
3. World Series MVP (1980)
Although all the other moments on the list are for a single-game occurrence, a World Series MVP deserves a place on this list. After losing in the NLCS three consecutive seasons from 1976 through 1978, the Phillies made the most of their opportunity in 1980, winning the first World Series in franchise history, four games to two over the Royals.
The Phillies took Game One by a 7-6 score. Bake McBride knocked in three with a bomb in the third inning. Schmidt did his part at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two walks.
In Game Two, the Phillies came back from two runs down with a four-run eighth to win the game, 6-4. Again, Schmidt was instrumental in the win, knocking in McBride for the go-ahead run on a double off Dan Quisenberry. Schmidt finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
Schmidt homered in Game Three, but it was his only hit in five at-bats in the Phillies 4-3 loss at Kansas City. The Royals evened the series by winning Game Four by the score of 5-3. Schmidt went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the loss.
In the critical Game Five in Kansas City, Schmidt got the Phillies off to the lead in the fourth inning on a two-run home run off Larry Gura. Despite the early lead, the Phillies needed to come from behind in the ninth in order to avoid a sweep in Kansas City. Schmidt led off the inning with a single and scored the tying run on double down the right-field line by Del Unser. The Phillies went on to win, 4-3.
With the game scoreless in the home third, Schmidt knocked in Bob Boone and Lonnie Smith with a single to right-center. That was all that was needed for Steve Carlton and Tug McGraw, who held the Royals to a single run.
The Phillies took the series for their first championship in their 97-year franchise history. Schmidt went 8-for-21 with two home runs and seven RBI, winning MVP honors.
2. Home Run to Clinch NL East (October 4, 1980)
The Phillies held a one-game leading heading into the penultimate game of the season. The weather was chilly, even for Montreal in early October. The Expos got off to the early lead, scoring two in the third off Larry Christenson. The Phillies got a run back in the fifth on an RBI single by Pete Rose, scoring Larry Bowa.
With the Phillies trailing by one in the seventh, they took the lead on a wacky play. Bake McBride, Rose, and Schmidt were aboard with one out when Greg Luzinski roped a double. Schmidt tried to score and was thrown out. Then, Luzinski got caught between second and third and was thrown out in a rundown to end the inning.
The Expos went back in front and then the Phillies tied in the ninth on an RBI single by Bob Boone, scoring McBride.
The game reached extra innings and after Rose singled to start the inning and McBride popped out, the stage was set for Schmidt. With rookie Don McCormack on deck, Expos Stan Bahnsen grooved a 1-1 fastball and Schmidt did not miss it. His drive was a home run off the crack of the bat. Montreal left fielder Jerry White just turned and watch the ball land well into the seats.
As Phillies radio broadcaster called it, “Long drive by Schmidt, he buried it. He buried it. Way back, outta here home run Mike Schmidt, puts the Phillies up, 6-4!! What a drive by Schmidt, unbelievable!”
Indeed the home run by Schmidt had to be one of the longest of his career and at the most clutch spot. The home run was also his 48th, passing Eddie Mathews for most home runs in a season by a third baseman. It was the deciding factor, as the Phillies won, 6-4 and clinched NL East.
1. 500th Home Run (April 18. 1987)
Mike Schmidt entered the 1987 season needing five home runs to reach the 500-home run club. After a hot start, Schmidt had four home runs for the season after the first ten games. However, the Phillies were just 2-8 on the season.
The final game of a weekend series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Phillies got off to a quick start, scoring five in the first three innings. However, as was the case early on, the Phillies couldn’t hold a lead. Leading 5-2 in the eighth, Steve Bedrosian got hammered, giving up four runs, seeing his ERA balloon to 11.05. Ironically, Bedrosian would rebound after his dreadful month of April to save 40 and earn Cy Young award honors.
Trailing by the score of 6-5 heading into the ninth, Don Robinson was on the hill for the Pirates. After a ground out by Gross, a Milt Thompson single, and Juan Samuel hitting into a fielder’s choice, it was up to Von Hayes to keep the game alive. After a Samuel steal and Hayes walk, it set the stage for Schmidt.
Schmidt had gone 0-for-3 on the day and didn’t come close to a home run in any at-bat. After getting ahead in the count, 3-0, Schmidt got the green light and did not miss the next offering. His blast got out of the park in near record time, deep to left. Bobby Bonilla of the Pirates could only turn and watch.
Phillies legendary announcer Harry Kalas made the call of his career:
“Swing and a long drive, there it is! Number 500! The career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt and the Phillies have regained the lead in Pittsburgh, 8-6! The Phillies dugout comes swarming out to home plate!”
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The home run also proved to be the game winner. Schmidt went on to hit 35 home runs that year and finished his career two years later with 548 home runs, good for seventh-most at the time.
