By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
We've reached the top spot on our list of the Top 25 Players to ever play a game for the Phillies. And at the top is a guy who hardly played in just one game. After 2,404 games over 18 seasons, all in Phillies pinstripes, it should be no surprise that the greatest player to ever play one game with the Phillies is the guy who played the most with the Phillies, Mike Schmidt.
For all of the Hall of Famers to ever suit up for the Phillies, and there are many on this list, Schmidt was the only player to spend his entire career with the Phillies. In doing so, Schmidt defined an era of Phillies baseball by being the centerpiece of a team that won a World Series, cementing himself as one of the greatest third basemen in the history of baseball in the process.
Schmidt had it all as a player. His power was second to none in Phillies history, with a total of 548 career home runs, but he could hit for contact and average as well. He was the franchise’s all-time leader in hits until 2014, when Jimmy Rollins overtook him in that category.
Schmidt also got it done defensively. He won 10 Gold Glove Awards, showing field prowess that made him such a well-rounded player in all phases of the game.
More than anything, Schmidt was a leader. He played with a passion that embodied the city. He played with energy and heart that captured the city. He had skill. He was the perfect representative of Philadelphia on the diamond. And after 97 years without a championship in baseball, Schmidt was the most valuable player to a team that took the title and erased an unfathomable drought.
Schmidt’s numbers do pale in comparison to others on the list in some ways. His single-season home run record was overtaken by a young Ryan Howard. And before that, it was nearly overtaken by Jim Thome, who eventually topped Schmidt’s career home run total. Schmidt never had a 50 home run season. He only reached the 40 home run mark three times. But as the league-leader in home runs eight times, essentially the top power hitter in the game for nearly a decade over the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Following an emotional end to his playing career in May 1989, Schmidt remained a lifelong Phillie, serving as a central figure in the organization. Schmidt is a part-time broadcaster for the team and assists as a spring training instructor and team ambassador.
It really is no different than when we ranked Schmidt among the greatest Phillies of all-time — limiting the list to players who spent the majority of their career with the Phillies. There is no greater player in Phillies history than Mike Schmidt.
Career Accomplishments
- 12-time All-Star (1974, 1976, 1977, 1979-1984, 1986, 1987, 1989)
- World Series champion (1980)
- Three-time NL Most Valuable Player (1980, 1981, 1986)
- World Series MVP (1980)
- 10-time Gold Glove Award winner (1976-1984, 1986)
- Six-time Silver Slugger winner (1980-1984, 1986)
- Ranks 16th All-time in Home Runs (548), one of 27 players to hit 500 home runs
- 1995 Hall of Fame inductee, receiving 96.5 percent of vote on first ballot
- No. 20 retired by the Phillies
*Awards were not factored into the formula
Career-Defining Moment
Mike Schmidt’s most defining moment may be one of the greatest regular-season moments in Phillies history.
Reaching the 500-home run mark is essentially a clincher for Hall of Fame status and on April 18, 1987, Schmidt reached the mark with a dramatic three-run home run to put the Phillies ahead of the Pirates, 8-6, in the ninth inning.
More than just the moment itself — Schmidt turning on the 3-0 pitch from Don Robinson, the ball jumping off the bat and Schmidt’s celebration to follow — was the call. The great Harry Kalas made one of his signature calls, so perfectly capturing the moment. The video is below.
Reasoning for ranking
Schmidt blew away the rest of the competition in our formula, finishing with a total of 90 points. His career WAR of 106.5 was easily tops on the list and his average of 5.91 WAR over his 18 seasons was also easily the highest on the list. Schmidt had 14 seasons with 2+ WAR, but was unmatched with 14 seasons as 5+ WAR and also had four seasons where he was 8+ WAR, totaling 76 points.
Schmidt scores high with 548 career home runs, ranking 16th all time, and 1,595 RBI, ranking 39th all time. His OPS of .908 also ranks 56th all time. While he wasn’t the biggest average hitter, just a .267 career average, and ranks 174th all time with 2,234 hits, it was his power numbers that defined his career. Based on the rankings in major offensive categories, Schmidt scored 14 points.
Obviously, Schmidt scores a 10 on the importance scale in our ranking, because, well, you don’t spend your entire 18 seasons with the Phillies and not define the franchise.
Explanation of scientific formula
The player rankings formula combines both traditional and advanced statistics/metrics and assigns a point total to each category.
First, single-season WAR is a primary factor in our rankings. According to Baseball Reference's WAR calculations, 2+ WAR is considered a starter, 5+ WAR is All-Star caliber, and 8+ WAR is MVP level. We totaled the number of seasons that a player performed at a 2+ WAR, 5+ WAR, and 8+ WAR level and assigned a set point value for each category, (+1), (+3), and (+5) respectively. For example, in 1980, Mike Schmidt compiled an 8.8 WAR. This was counted as a 2+ WAR season, a 5+ WAR season, and an 8+ WAR season. So, for 1980 alone, Mike Schmidt earned nine points for WAR.
Next, we assigned point values for being among the top 25, top 50, top 100, and top 200 all-time in particular statistical categories, such as batting average, hits, doubles, triples, RBI, home runs, and OPS for hitters; and ERA, wins, and WHIP, FIP, BB/9, H/9, and K/9 for pitchers.
Finally, all statistical categories were totaled up using our point based system and ranked accordingly, with historical columnist Matt Albertson and managing editor Tim Kelly reserving the right to move players up the list, within reason, based on an "importance" factor. A player will score higher in this subjective category if his acquisition corresponded with a great team career or if they contributed to the club's rebuild or playoff run. A player will score lower if their career didn't correspond with a particularly good season(s) or with a playoff run. It will also be low if this player was traded by the club and became one of the best players in the game after the trade, thus negatively effecting the club's performance or extending a rebuild. An explanation of why a player is ranked in a certain spot will be provided, as will an overall score breakdown.
Previous Players
- No. 25 – Ryan Howard
- No. 24 – Roy Oswalt
- No. 23 – Kenny Lofton
- No. 22 – Jimmy Rollins
- No. 21 – Cole Hamels
- No. 20 – Cliff Lee
- No. 19 – Tony Perez
- No. 18 – Bobby Abreu
- No. 17 – Scott Rolen
- No. 16 – Richie Ashburn
- No. 15 – Chase Utley
- No. 14 – Ryne Sandberg
- No. 13 – Dick Allen
- No. 12 – Jim Bunning
- No. 11 – Fergie Jenkins
- No. 10 – Jim Thome
- No. 9 – Curt Schilling
- No. 8 – Roy Halladay
- No. 7 – Robin Roberts
- No. 6 – Joe Morgan
- No. 5 – Pedro Martinez
- No. 4 – Pete Rose
- No. 3 – Steve Carlton
- No. 2 – Jimmie Foxx
