It isn’t hard to pick which Phillies #20 had the best seasons
20 – Mike Schmidt (1981)
The best third-baseman in league history and top player in franchise history, there’s no surprise that Schmidt makes yet another all-time list. The question is which season would rank as his best?
The list of Schmidt’s accomplishments includes 12-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove award winner, three-time NL MVP, World Series MVP, eight-time home run leader, four-time RBI leader. In addition, he belted 30 or more home runs 14 times, knocked in 100 or more runs nine times, scored over 100 runs in a season six times and seven times walked over 100 times.
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Many consider Schmidt’s 1980 season as his best ever, and why not? He hit 48 home runs, the most ever by a third baseman in a single season, and knocked in 121 runs, both leading the league. His blast against the Expos to clinch the NL East is one for the ages, and he was instrumental in bringing the first World Series to Philadelphia.
Looking purely at raw numbers and Schmidt’s 1981 strike-shortened season was even more incredible. In just 102 games, Schmidt led the league in home runs (31), RBI (91), runs (78), walks (73), intentional walks (18), on-base percentage (.435), slugging percentage (.644), and OPS (1.080). One could argue that Schmidt may have cooled off making his 1980 season stats better, but he was in the middle of his prime and my bet is Schmidt likely would have surpassed both the home run and RBI totals from the previous season.
Whichever season you pick as Schmidt’s best would easily make this list. Schmidt retired with 548 home runs, 1506 runs, 1595 RBI, and 1507 walks.