Philadelphia Phillies: The 11 greatest games of Mike Schmidt’s career

Many consider Philadelphia Phillies legend Mike Schmidt to be the greatest third baseman in the game’s history.

There’s good reason to do so. Schmidt is the career leader among third basemen in home runs (548) and WAR  (106.8). He ranks fourth all-time in RBI (1,595), slugging average (.527) and OPS (.908). He won 10 Gold Gloves and was three times voted Most Valuable Player.

That more than adequately explains his selection as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1995.

Mid-May is an appropriate time to look back on the 18-season career of Schmidt because it coincides with the anniversary of probably his most memorable game. On May 17, 1979, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Schmidt was the centerpiece of a Phillies offense that won a 23-22 shootout with the Cubs.

Schmidt had two hits, both home runs, that day, and drove in four runs. His second homer, coming in the 10th inning off Bruce Sutter, was the game-winner. He also walked four times, twice intentionally, achieving a Win Probability Added for that game of .589.

As odd as it sounds, that particular game only ranks 11th among the greatest of Schmidt’s career as measured by WPA. Yes, from a standpoint of actually influencing the game’s outcome, Schmidt had 10 better games than that one during his career.

Win Probability Added is used because it calculates the individual’s role in influencing the game’s outcome. For that reason, it emphasizes late-inning game-turning accomplishments. It judges the player’s contribution within the broader context of winning the game.

In which 10 games did Mike Schmidt attain a higher Win Probability Added than that May afternoon in Chicago? Here are the details.

10. June 2, 1984, Phillies 3, Cubs 2. At Veterans Stadium a crowd of 40,000 cheered Schmidt’s game-tying fifth inning double off Dennis Eckersley, which scored Juan Samuel. But the Cubs led 2-1 when Schmidt came up again in the bottom of the eighth, facing Lee Smith with Von Hayes on base. Schmidt homered and, when Al Holland retired the Cubs in order in  the ninth, the Phillies had a 3-2 victory. Win Probability Added: 0.601.

9. May 13, 1978, Reds 4, Phillies 3. With Fred Norman in full control, the Reds clung to a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning. But when Norman walked Jerry Martin and gave up a one-out single to Jose Cardenal, Sparky Anderson went to bullpen ace Doug Bair against Schmidt. The move made sense until Schmidt deposited a Bair pitch into the Veterans Stadium seats for a three-run home run and a 3-2 lead. But in the ninth, an error by second baseman Jim Morrison allowed the Reds to score twice and emerge with the 4-3 victory. Win Probability Added: 0.608.

8. June 10, 1977, Phillies 7, Braves 5. At Fulton County Stadium, Schmidt homered in the first and singled a run home in the fifth. But Philadelphia trailed 5-4 when he came up again in the seventh, this time with Jerry Martin and Larry Bowa on base. The Braves reliever missed his location and Schmidt sent it into the left field seats for what proved to be a game-turning three-run home run. Win probability Added: 0.610.

7. May 5, 1981, Phillies 8, Dodgers 7. The Dodgers led 2-0 until Bob Welch weakened in the sixth, loading the bases for Schmidt on a walk, a base hit and a hit batter. When Schmidt also walked, forcing Larry Christenson home, it was game’s end for Welch. But the Phillies still trailed 7-6 when Schmidt came up in the bottom of the ninth with one out and runners at first and second. His double into the gap in left scored the tying run, and two batters later Manny Trillo’s fly ball got the winning run home. Win Probability Added: 0.631

6. April 6, 1974, Phillies 5, Mets 4. Opening Day of the 1974 season featured Schmidt coming off a rookie campaign in which he had batted .196 and fanned in 30 percent of his plate appearances. But things were about to change. With his team trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Schmidt stood in against Tug McGraw with one out and Billy Grabarkewitz at second. Schmidt’s home run was the first walkoff hit of his brief career, giving the Phillies a 4-3 Opening Day decision. Win Probability Added: 0.642.

5. July 17, 1982, Phillies 5, Giants 3. At Candlestick Park, a crowd of 30,000 watch Schmidt’s eighth-inning home run give the Phillies a 3-2 lead. But the Giants tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, sending it into extra innings. In the 11th, Schmidt faced Jim Barr with two out and runners at first and second. His double to left-center scored both runners, and the Phillies held on in the bottom of the 11th. Win Probability Added: 0.654.

4. July 13, 1986, Phillies 5, Astros 4. At the Astrodome, Schmidt’s three-run sixth inning home run off Bob Knepper broke a 1-1 tie. But a Schmidt error in the seventh helped Houston plate three-game tying runs and send the game into extra innings. There is no atonement quite like an 11th-inning home run, and that’s what Schmidt delivered off reliever Dave Smith. It gave Philadelphia the victory. Win Probability Added: 0.722

3. April 18, 1987, Phillies 8, Pirates 6. At Three Rivers Stadium, the Phillies quickly built a 5-0 lead, then between the fourth and eighth innings squandered it all away. Pittsburgh led 6-5 with one out and Juan Samuel at third base when reliever Don Robinson made the brutal mistake of walking Von Hayes ahead of Schmidt. He may have been 36, but he was also the reigning home run champion with 499 of them as he stood in. Schmidt watched three wide ones then leaned into a fat Robinson offering and powered it into the left field seats for his historic 500th home run. Win Probability Added: 0.724.

2. Oct. 2, 1981, Phillies 9, Cubs 7. As pre-strike champions, the Phillies were prepping for their playoff series with the Montreal Expos when they met the Cubs at Veterans Stadium. On his way to a .316 season and with 29 home runs, Schmidt was not in the starting lineup, getting a day of rest. But with the Cubs leading 7-6, two runners on and two out in the bottom of the ninth, Dallas Green turned to Schmidt as a pinch hitter for Larry Bowa. For his career, Schmidt hit 78 home runs against the Cubs, 16 more than any other opponent, so it should have come as no surprise when he blasted a Dick Tidrow pitch into the left field seats. He would hit No. 31 the following day. Win Probability Added: 0.811

1. July 25, 1980, Phillies 5, Braves 4. On their way to the franchise’s first world championship, Schmidt’s two-run first-inning home run helped Philadelphia forge a 4-4 tie into extra innings at Veterans Stadium. It also set a franchise record; the 260th of his Philadelphia career, breaking a record he had shared with Del Ennis. The bases were loaded with two out when Braves reliever Larry Bradford was called on to retire Schmidt and send the game into a 13th inning. Mission spectacularly unaccomplished: Schmidt looked over a low 3-1 pitch for ball four and a walkoff base on balls. Win Probability Added: 0.821.