That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies All-Decade Team 1970s: Homegrown Talent at the Forefront

By Kerry Kauffman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - CIRCA 1980: Pitcher Steve Carlton #32 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carlton played for the Phillies from 1972-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - CIRCA 1980: Pitcher Steve Carlton #32 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carlton played for the Phillies from 1972-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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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) /

Mike Schmidt

There’s clearly no doubting that the greatest player in Phillies history and the greatest third baseman of all-time makes this list.

Schmidt’s career started very slowly, going 7-for-34 with 15 strikeouts in 1972 and hitting only .196 with 18 home runs and 136 strikeouts his rookie campaign.  Things began to click for Schmidt in 1974, leading the league in home runs with 36, to go along with 116 RBI.

Schmidt paced the National League in home runs in 1975 and 1976, hitting 38 each season.  He made his second All-Star team in 1976, won his first Gold Glove Award and finished third in the MVP voting.

After another 38 home run season in 1977 with another Gold Glove Award and All-Start to his resume, Schmidt struggled in 1978. His home run total dropped to 21, which would be only season from 1974 through 1987 that he failed to hit at least 30 home runs. Despite the offensive woes, Schmidt earned another of his ten career Gold Glove Awards.

As all stars do, they rebound from subpar seasons. Schmidt more than doubled his home run output in 1979, smashing 45 with 114 RBI and a league-high 120 walks.  Schmidt was just entering his prime and dominated offensively for much of the next eight seasons.

Schmidt hit 235 home runs during the decade with 666 RBI, four All-Star appearances and four Gold Glove Awards.

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