The INSANE Prime of Mike Schmidt (Feat. @Hatbilly)

Mike Schmidt has been regarded as the greatest third baseman in baseball history. To even be considered at the top of such a crowded list of all time greats is an honor in itself. But how did Schmidt enter the conversation to begin with? Well, he established himself as one of the most prolific power hitters of his generation, played extraordinary defense, and was as clutch as they come. With 2 outs and runners in scoring position, he posted a .905 OPS for his career. That figure beats out all time great third basemen like George Brett, Adrian Beltre, and Wade Boggs! As you can already tell, there’s a lot to discuss surrounding the life and career of Mike Schmidt. 

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Players relevant to the video: Steve Yeager, George Brett, Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays, Ron Key, John (Dave) Hilton, Bob Gibson, Tug McGraw, Dick Allen, Pete Rose, Dave Cash, Garry Maddox, Babe Ruth, Harmon Killebrew, Mickey Mantle, Adrian Beltre, Wade Boggs

0:00 Intro
1:07 Biography (Hatbilly)
5:22 The INSANE Prime Begins
9:35 Captain Schmidt
11:58 (World) Series Schmidt
14:52 Mike’s Maniacal Numbers
16:47 Steady Schmidt
18:15 Meditation Mike (Hatbilly)
23:39 Hall of Fame Philly
24:39 Conclusion

#mlb #Phillies #1980s

Make sure to leave a like if you enjoyed...

All music from Epidemic Sound
Outro: "Catching Flights" by Sarah, The Illstrumentalist

Additional tags: Mike Schmidt biography, Mike Schmidt Hall of Fame, Mike Schmidt career, Mike Schmidt career stats, Mike Schmidt silver slugger, Mike Schmidt gold glove, Number 22, Number 20, Mike Schmidt Dayton Ohio, Mike Schmidt hometown, Mike Schmidt young, Mike Schmidt documentary, Mike Schmidt captain, Mike Schmidt fishing, Mike Schmidt charity, Mike Schmidt interview, Mike Schmidt Phillies fans, Mike Schmidt 500 home runs, 500 home run club, Mike Schmidt postseason, Mike Schmidt Danny Ozark, Mike Schmidt Tug McGraw, 1976 Phillies Reds NLCS, 1977 Phillies Dodgers NLCS, 1978 Phillies Dodgers NLCS, 1980 Phillies Astros NLCS, 1980 Phillies Royals World Series, 1980 World Series, 1981 Phillies Expos NLDS, 1983 Phillies Dodgers NLCS, 1983 Phillies Orioles World Series, Mike Schmidt home run leader, Mike Schmidt defensive highlights, Mike Schmidt offensive highlights, Mike Schmidt stolen bases, Mike Schmidt third base, Mike Schmidt first base, Mike Schmidt MVP, Mike Schmidt awards, Mike Schmidt postseason stats, Mike Schmidt postseason highlights, Mike Schmidt home runs, Mike Schmidt 30/30, Mike Schmidt All Star Game, Mike Schmidt injuries, Mike Schmidt missed time, Mike Schmidt All Star, Mike Schmidt retirement, Mike Schmidt Hall of Fame, 1995 Baseball Hall of Fame class, 1974 Mike Schmidt, 1976, Mike Schmidt, 1977 Mike Schmidt, 1980 Mike Schmidt, 1981 Mike Schmidt, 1986 Mike Schmidt, Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Phillies, Mike Schmidt Hall of Fame induction, Mike Schmidt Hall of Fame speech, Mike Schmidt melanoma, Mike Schmidt ceremonial first pitch, Mike Schmidt story, Mike Schmidt biography, 1980s baseball, 1990s baseball, 1980s baseball, Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly, Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Craig Biggio, Larry Walker, Vladimir Guerrero Sr.

Sources:

[dirtymikesnow]

Schmitty hit 4 homers on my birthday in 1976. After that, he became my favorite player of all time, even though I wouldn't be born for another 6 years .

[BrianMcKnight]

Lifelong Reds fan here; Mike Schmidt is an absolute legend. A total beast with the bat and the glove. Respect.

[robthompson]

I grew up in northern Delaware and I still remember when he retired in '89. Everybody was shook up. Mike Schmidt was a big deal in Philly.

[Moejoedajoejoe]

Mike Schmidt was also instrumental in the origin and proliferation of Franklin batting gloves.

[johnlarson]

7.7 WAR in 1981's strike-shortened season of 1981.

7.7 WAR...in 102 games! That is just unbelievable. Schmidt often played 160+ games during the regular season, so if we extrapolate his 7.7 WAR out to 162 games, this amounts to a full-season WAR of 12.2!

What an unbelievable season. What an unbelievable player.

[CaptCrunge]

i was at the 6th game of the World Series in 1980. My brother and I ( Age 19 and 15) got up early and stood in line for six hours for tickets-hoping to get tickets to game 2. They sold out in front of us. So we got tickets to Game 6...assuming the Series wouldn't make it to six games.
We were in the 700 Section on the first base side. The stadium exploded on the final out-including fans who were vandalizing seats for souvenirs.
It's all a blur now...but I remember the buzz in the air as we exited the Vet.
It never occurred to me to even ask my parents to take the day off from school for the parade. I had to go to school!
It was amazing to see Schmidt play in the WS...I was happy for the team.

[mysticakhenaton]

this is for MIKE. 👍👍👍👍and I forgive you for beating up my Cub Teams when I was growing up. LOL

[rufuspipemos]

I started following baseball in 1977. Schmidt was a machine. Every year he was top 3 in HRs and RBI and a shockingly good fielder for a big guy. So consistent, year after year. He was inevitable. Imagine Don Mattingly in his prime, but take away 30 batting average points and add 15 HRs. And instead of having a 4-year stretch of greatness like Don, extend it for 12 years.

[davmarren]

We had season tickets to the Phillies games in 1979, our seats we’re right along the 3rd base line, Schmidt was amazing to watch live and always my favorite player growing up!!

[compass]

My favorite baseball player growing up. I chose #20 in honor of Schmitty when I played short and second in HS. That 1980 series against the Expos was epic. I was jumping up and down uncontrollably when Schmidt hit that blast in the late innings. The 5-game series against the Stros was the best series I've ever seen. Better than the series against the Royals for the WS win.

[sfan]

Thanks for the great video! I was a big fan of Mike Schmidt, although I was living in NY during his prime years. He is the best all around third baseman I have ever seen and one of the best position players ever! Although he won 3 MVP awards, it's quite remarkable how low he was in the MVP voting for years in which he led the league in home runs and RBIs! His strike shortened year in 1981 was one of the best all around seasons ever by anyone and really a shame he didn't have a full 162 games to expand on his stats! He was one of a kind!

[antonchigurh]

To this day Mike is my all-time favorite baseball player. The best I ever saw. 5 tool player

[VidiverseExplorer]

One of my all times, up there with Nolan Ryan, Ryne Sandberg, and Dave Winfield!

[Sky_]

Day one of asking for Jason Kendall, severally under rated catcher!

[jasonfullerton]

I watched 2008 WS G5 Part 2 in San Jose, CA on a pre-scheduled work trip, at a random sports bar, with maybe 10 other people in there, cheering by myself like I was at the game in person.

After it was over, the owner comes over and introduces himself. He asks me who is my favorite Phillie.

"Mike Schmidt"

He expected me to name a current player, but I passed his test even before he asked where I was from. He offered me some champagne and congratulations - and then we talked about how I was a native and life long Phillies fan.

[NoNameNo.]

Not only the greatest Phillie, but hands down, the greatest third baseman of all time. Phenomenal defense, he could rake, and that mustache/ mullet combo in the late 80s is legendary, and he did it at the highest level for nearly 2 decades.

[peteshallcross]

Great job, big thumbs up! Not a Phillies fan and was not for them in the '80 WS . White Sox fan who loved Dick Allen. I always liked Mike Schmidt but after watching this I love the man, where he came from and his charity work currently. What a stud! And I loved what he did to the Chicago northsiders, 4 dingers!

[pinpointpinpoint]

He hit the hardest hit I ever saw at old river front stadium. The home run barely cleared the lf wall but the sound the ball made hitting the front facade of the blue seats echoed so loudly. That, and the Crack of the bat I remembered vividly. It was like thunder.

[johnradovich]

Good to see this. Grew up a Dodger fan. We’re the same age. Best third baseman I’ve ever seen!

[erml]

Great work, guys. I'm a Philly fan who didn't start watching the game until after he had retired. This video has taught me 95% of what I know about the man. It is wild to see how tough the fans were on him back then, considering how he is revered now. Growing up, all there was to learn about the guy was he was the greatest third baseman of all time.
I certainly enjoy hearing him on the broadcast, especially when he's there with Kruk rather than in place of him. He doesn't talk like he's one of the greatest ever.
Because of the era, and how I am only able to enjoy his greatness through the recollection of others, I put him right there with Dr. J for Philly folklore. Great stuff. Thanks, guys.