Augie Schmidt
Encyclopedia
August Robert Schmidt IV (born June 28, 1961, in Kenosha, Wisconsin
) is the current head coach
of the Carthage College
baseball team. He was a minor league baseball
shortstop
from 1982 to 1986.
Schmidt attended Mary D. Bradford High School
in Kenosha, Wisconsin
. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
in the ninth round (230th overall) of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign with the team. Instead, he opted to attend the University of New Orleans
, where he played college baseball
. In 1982 he won the Golden Spikes Award
, an award given to the top amateur baseball player in the United States.
Schmidt was drafted second overall in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Toronto Blue Jays
. After signing with the team, he spent the rest of the 1982 season with the Kinston Blue Jays, hitting .297 in 50 games. The following season he was promoted to the Knoxville Blue Jays, where he played in 135 games and had a batting average of .266 and 28 doubles. In 1984, he was again promoted, splitting time between Knoxville and the Syracuse Chiefs. At Syracuse however, he had problems with both his fielding and hitting, and only had a batting average of .201 in 46 games.
Despite advancing to Triple-A by 1984, Schmidt never made the majors with the Blue Jays, because of issues with injuries and a logjam at shortstop in the Blue Jays organization. At the end Schmidt was traded to the San Francisco Giants
along with Jim Gott
for pitcher Gary Lavelle
; he began the season with the Phoenix Giants, getting a fresh start in 1985. He played in 59 games for Phoenix and 12 more for the Shreveport Captains, then spent the 1986 season with the Kenosha Twins
of the Minnesota Twins
organization, where he hit .226 in 71 games.
He retired in 1986 and in 1987 was an assistant coach at Carthage College
in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin
, where his father, Augie Schmidt III, had been head coach from 1962 to 1980. He became the head baseball coach in 1988, and has been the head coach since.
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
) is the current head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Carthage College
Carthage College
Carthage College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin midway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the campus is on the shore of Lake Michigan and is home to 2,500 full-time and 900 part-time...
baseball team. He was a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
from 1982 to 1986.
Schmidt attended Mary D. Bradford High School
Mary D. Bradford High School
Bradford High School is a high school that serves students in grades 9 to 12 located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is the primary high school for students on the north side of the city.-History:...
in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the ninth round (230th overall) of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
, but did not sign with the team. Instead, he opted to attend the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
, where he played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
. In 1982 he won the Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
, an award given to the top amateur baseball player in the United States.
Schmidt was drafted second overall in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft
1982 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*Barry Bonds was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft, but did not sign...
by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. After signing with the team, he spent the rest of the 1982 season with the Kinston Blue Jays, hitting .297 in 50 games. The following season he was promoted to the Knoxville Blue Jays, where he played in 135 games and had a batting average of .266 and 28 doubles. In 1984, he was again promoted, splitting time between Knoxville and the Syracuse Chiefs. At Syracuse however, he had problems with both his fielding and hitting, and only had a batting average of .201 in 46 games.
Despite advancing to Triple-A by 1984, Schmidt never made the majors with the Blue Jays, because of issues with injuries and a logjam at shortstop in the Blue Jays organization. At the end Schmidt was traded to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
along with Jim Gott
Jim Gott
James William Gott , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from 1982-1995.Fourth round pick, June draft, of St. Louis Cardinals in 1977....
for pitcher Gary Lavelle
Gary Lavelle
Gary Robert Lavelle is a retired professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1974–1985 and 1987....
; he began the season with the Phoenix Giants, getting a fresh start in 1985. He played in 59 games for Phoenix and 12 more for the Shreveport Captains, then spent the 1986 season with the Kenosha Twins
Kenosha Twins
The Kenosha Twins began play in the Midwest League in 1984 when the club relocated from Wisconsin Rapids. In 1992, the team was sold, and the following year, they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where they became known as the Fort Wayne Wizards. They played their home games at Simmons Field, located...
of the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
organization, where he hit .226 in 71 games.
He retired in 1986 and in 1987 was an assistant coach at Carthage College
Carthage College
Carthage College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin midway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the campus is on the shore of Lake Michigan and is home to 2,500 full-time and 900 part-time...
in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
, where his father, Augie Schmidt III, had been head coach from 1962 to 1980. He became the head baseball coach in 1988, and has been the head coach since.