by Leroy Coffie

Created on: October 01, 2010

Phillies Third Baseman

Mike Schmidt Great Homerun Hitter

Heroes Of Baseball

Mike Schmidt was always my hero of baseball. I grew up in Philly in the seventies and listened to nearly all of the Phillies games on a little AM radio. I had a hard family life and became lost in my little AM radio. I fell in love with the Phillies. I still remember Steve Carlton as the lefty struck out the batters with the baseball bouncing before it reached the plate. I still remember Gary Maddox as he jumped high to steal homeruns from the other team. Mostly, I remember the great play of Mike Schmidt at third base. Mike Schmidt was the best third basemen I have ever seen in Major League Baseball. Of course, he is still my greatest hero of baseball. The Phillies in the seventies were a decent team. They kept a young kid like me interested in the sport of baseball. It helped when Mike Schmidt would blast one of his 548 homeruns over the fence.Mike Schmidt is the best third basemen is Major League history.

Mike Schmidt his 548 homeruns in his career. His career began in 1972 and ended in 1989. Mike Schmidt spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a batting average of .267 for a power hitter, he knocked in 1595 runs, he was selected as an All-Star twelve times and he won ten Gold Glove Awards. Mike Schmidt was the NL MVP three times; he won six silver slugger awards and was the 1980 World Series MVP. 1980 was the only year that Mike Schmidt won the World Series. This was the first time the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series.

Mike Schmidt was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1995. This was the first time Mike Schmidt was eligible for the honor. He was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame with 96.5% of the vote. Mike Schmidt became a hitting coach for the Phillies and eventually managed their minor league team in Clearwater beginning 2003 and he resigned in 2004. Mike Schmidt was also a third base coach for Team USA in 2009 during the World Baseball Classic. Mike Schmidt was always an unassuming player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He showed his emotions through his unusual batting stance and his excellent third base play. Mike Schmidt is also an advocate for allowing Pete Rose to be put into the Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame. You can see Mike Schmidt’s name as one of Sporting News as one of baseball’s hundred greatest players. He is listed number one as third basemen. Mike Schmidt is the best third basemen in Major League history.

Mike Schmidt has always been my baseball hero. I followed his illustrious career through to the end in 1989. I always wanted to meet Mike Schmidt, but have never had the chance to meet him. He is proof how heroes of baseball can affect children for the good by the way they play the game of Major League Baseball. We need more Major League baseball players in the game who bring integrity, desire and love for the game into the game. Mike Schmidt is one of the great heroes of baseball.

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