Editing Mike Schmidt (section)

== Phillies Career ==

Michael Jack Schmidt was born on September 27, 1949, in Dayton, Ohio, attending Ohio University before the Phillies drafted him in 1971. His early major league seasons suggested potential without immediately revealing the greatness that would follow—he led the league in strikeouts in 1973 while hitting only .196. The adjustments he made, developing the power stroke and plate discipline that would define his prime, transformed him from struggling prospect to elite performer.<ref name="westcott">{{cite book |last=Westcott |first=Rich |title=Mike Schmidt |year=1995 |publisher=Chelsea House |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>

The mid-1970s established Schmidt as baseball's dominant third baseman. He led the National League in home runs eight times, his combination of power and consistency unmatched among contemporaries. His defensive excellence—ten Gold Glove awards at third base—complemented offensive production that placed him among the sport's elite. The complete player he became represented a level of performance that contemporary third basemen could not approach.<ref name="schmidt"/>

Veterans Stadium, where Schmidt played his home games, provided the setting for performances that defined his career. The stadium's reputation for demanding fans created an environment that Schmidt, with his analytical personality and preference for technical excellence over emotional display, sometimes found uncomfortable. Yet his achievements transcended any disconnect with fans, his production earning respect that his demeanor might not have generated alone.<ref name="westcott"/>