EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Mike Schmidt to appear at tonight's R-Phils game

Published on June 25, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


Reading, PA - Former Reading and Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt will return to the place he began his professional career on Wednesday, June 25 when the Reading Phillies host the Harrisburg Senators at 7:05 PM.

Schmidt will be appearing as part of a Prostate Awareness Program. Schmidt will address the crowd pre-game, throw out a ceremonial first pitch and host a 30-minute autograph session in the right field food court once the game begins. In the interest of keeping the line moving so that more fans can get an autograph no personal items will be signed, only the one oversized card provided to fans for free, and no posed pictures will be allowed.

Schmidt and Minor League BaseballTM have teamed up to launch the BPH Game Plan Starts with U: Catch the Whole Game, a national program to raise awareness of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as enlarged prostate, and to urge men to get annual prostate screenings and to talk to their doctors.

A 1995 inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, Schmidt played for 18 seasons in the Major Leagues, all with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was a three-time National League Most Valuable Player, a 12-time All-Star, 10-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner at third base and an 8-time home run champion. His 548 career home runs were 7th all-time when he retired in 1989. The first of his three NL MVP awards came in 1980. The Phillies won the World Series that fall and he earned MVP honors for the Series as well.

The Phillies 2nd round pick in the 1971 draft, Schmidt inked his first pro contract on June 11 that same year. The Phillies then assigned him to Double-A Reading where he made his professional debut at shortstop for the then 5-year old franchise.

Schmidt, along with Joe Buzas and Greg Luzinski, was part of the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 1987. On June 20, 1991 he became the first former Reading Phillies player to have his jersey retired. He wore No. 24 for the R-Phils. Jackie Robinson (42) and Ryne Sandberg (26) are the only other players to have their numbers retired in Reading.

It's been 10 years since Schmidt's last visit to Baseballtown. On August 27, 1998 he took part in a pre-game celebration for the City of Reading's 250th Anniversary that included the annual Reading Baseball Hall of Fame Night and the announcement of the city's All-Time Team. Schmidt was the highest vote getter on the team in a fan contest.

One of six former R-Phils to earn MVP honors in the Majors, Schmidt is still active with the Philadelphia Phillies. He serves as a special instructor during spring training. In 2004 he managed the Clearwater Threshers, the Phillies Class-A Advanced team in the Florida State League.

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