“There are things as a coach you can teach,” said Bob Wren, Schmidt’s coach at Ohio University. “But natural ability like the raw power (Schmidt) had is a rare gift you see maybe once in a lifetime.”
For Schmidt, his Astrodome blast was something of a coming-out party during his first great big league season. Drafted by the Phillies in the second round of the 1971 MLB Draft – one pick after the Royals took another future Hall of Fame third baseman, George Brett – Schmidt quickly made his way to the Major Leagues in 1972. The next year, Schmidt took over as the Phillies third baseman but hit just .196 in 132 games.
But by the end of the 1974 season, Schmidt had a National League-leading 36 home runs to go with 116 RBIs and a .282 batting average.
In the 13-year span from 1974-86, Schmidt led the NL in homers eight times, won three Most Valuable Player Awards and amassed 10 Gold Glove Awards at third base.