Mike Schmidt: 2019 Living Legend
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory honored National Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt with its 2019 Living Legend Award on Friday, November 8th.
View Living Legend Award Ceremony
"I’m proud to be the recipient of this year’s Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Living Legend Award," said Schmidt. "Louisville Slugger is an iconic brand that is synonymous with baseball. It’s an honor for me to be recognized by the museum and be included among the award’s past honorees,” Schmidt added.
Schmidt used several Louisville Slugger models throughout his storied career. In the early part of his career (1974-78), he swung a 36-inch K75 model. From 1979-84, his preferred bat model was the K55; a 35-inch bat with natural finish. In total, Schmidt ordered 518 Louisville Slugger bats during his career.
Mike Schmidt Highlights Mike Schmidt played his entire 18-season career for the Philadelphia Phillies, was a twelve-time All-Star and a three-time winner of the National League Most Valuable Player award. Known for his combination of power hitting and strong defense, he hit 548 home runs and 1,595 runs batted in (RBIs), while earning the Gold Glove Award 10 times as a third baseman.
Success followed Schmidt in every phase of his career, starting in college when he led Ohio University to the College World Series in 1970. He was drafted by the Phillies the following year and by 1974 led the league in home runs.
He went on to lead the National League in homers eight times during his career and his 48 home runs in 1980 set the Major League record for a third baseman, which he held for 27 years. Schmidt won six Silver Slugger Awards and was voted the National League’s MVP in 1980, 1981 and 1986.
With Schmidt leading the way, the Phillies won the National League pennants in 1980 and 1983. Philadelphia won the World Series in 1980 and Schmidt was selected as World Series MVP.
He retired from baseball in 1989 as a Philadelphia legend and is considered by many as the greatest third baseman in baseball history. His iconic number 20 was retired by the Phillies the next season. Schmidt was honored again by the Phillies in 2004 when the franchise unveiled a life-sized bronze statue outside the third-base gate at Citizens Bank Park.
In 1995 he was welcomed to Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A first-ballot inductee, he received an overwhelming 96.5% of the votes. In 1997, he was elected as the starting third-baseman by the Baseball Writers' Association of America to the Major League Baseball All-Time Team.
Outside of baseball, his professional success has been matched only by his personal generosity. Schmidt’s Winner’s Circle Charities is now in its 20th year and has raised over $2.5 million in support for Cystic Fibrosis charities.
“We are proud to include Mike Schmidt as part of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory family and honored to present him with the 2019 Living Legend Award,” said Anne Jewell, Vice President and Executive Director of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. “One of the best to ever play the game, Schmidt is a true ambassador for the sport and a fan favorite.”