Mike Schmidt

Michael Jack Schmidt (born September 27, 1949) is an American former professional baseball third baseman who spent his entire 18-year Major League Baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies, from 1972 to 1989. Over those seasons he established himself through a rare combination of power hitting and strong defense. Schmidt compiled 548 home runs and 1,595 runs batted in, leading the National League in home runs eight times and in RBIs four times. He was named to 12 All-Star teams and won the National League Most Valuable Player award three times. Defensively, he earned the National League Gold Glove Award for third basemen ten times.

Schmidt used an unusual batting stance, turning his back somewhat toward the pitcher and rocking his rear end back and forth while waiting for a pitch. By standing far back in the batter's box, he made it nearly impossible for pitchers to jam him by working inside. His teammate Pete Rose once remarked, "To have his body, I'd trade him mine and my wife's, and I'd throw in some cash."

Schmidt was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995, his first year of eligibility, and is widely considered one of the greatest third basemen in baseball history.