Phillies’ Mike Schmidt wins first MVP award

By 1979, Schmidt had already played in four All-Star games, captured four Gold Glove Awards at third base and led the NL in home runs three times. But in the winter of 1979, an unsatisfied Schmidt studied film of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and tinkered with his batting stance in an effort to drive the ball more to the opposite field.

The offseason work paid immediate dividends. Schmidt raised his game to another level in 1980 and simply exploded with his best statistical season. He crushed 48 home runs, setting a record for the most homers by a third baseman in a single season. Schmidt also scored 104 runs and topped the league with 342 total bases and a .624 slugging percentage.

But Schmidt’s statistics at the plate only told half the story. He also picked up his fifth consecutive Gold Glove Award at the hot corner.

"Mike Schmidt is the best player in the National League today,” said teammate Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hit king. “There's no question about that. He honestly doesn't realize how much ability he has.”

Though the BBWAA voters submit their league MVP ballots immediately following the regular season, Schmidt left little doubt about his value to the Phillies with his postseason performance. Schmidt batted .381, crushed two homers and drove in seven runs – including the series-clinching runs in Game 6 – to lift Philadelphia over the Kansas City Royals and deliver the Phillies’ first Fall Classic title in the franchise’s 97 year history.

“I got the game-winning hit in the final game of the World Series,” Schmidt said. “This has to be the highest point of my athletic career without question.”