Bob Schmidt (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Robert Benjamin Schmidt is an American
former professional
baseball
player who played catcher
in the Major Leagues
from 1958 to 1965. He played for the San Francisco Giants
, Washington Senators
, Cincinnati Reds
, and New York Yankees
.
in 1958
, Schmidt was selected to be on the National League
team in the 1958 All-Star Game
. On August 31, 1958, Schmidt hit a home run
and had six runs batted in against future Hall of Famer
Sandy Koufax
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
, including a first-inning
grand slam
. In 1961
, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Ed Bailey
. Schmidt played as a reserve to regular catcher Jerry Zimmerman
during the Reds' pennant
-winning season of 1961
, although he didn't make the post-season roster when the Reds lost to the New York Yankees
in the World Series
. In 1962
he was traded along with Dave Stenhouse
to the Washington Senators for Marty Keough
and Johnny Klippstein
. Schmidt ended his career with the New York Yankees in 1965
.
, accumulating 317 hits
in 1305 at bats for a .243 career batting average along with 39 home run
s and 150 runs batted in. Schmidt led the American League
in fielding percentage
in while playing for the Washington Senators. He had a career fielding percentage of .988. He holds the Major League record for most putout
s in an extra inning game with 22, set on June 22, .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who played catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in the Major Leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1958 to 1965. He played for 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....
, Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, 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....
, and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Major League career
As a rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in 1958
1958 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season involved the 80-74 team finishing in third place in the National League standings, twelve games behind the NL Champion Milwaukee Braves in their inaugural season in The Golden Gate City.- Offseason :...
, Schmidt was selected to be on the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
team in the 1958 All-Star Game
1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 25th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 8, 1958, at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland the home of...
. On August 31, 1958, Schmidt hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and had six runs batted in against future Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
1958 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers took the field before 78,672 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on April 18, 1958, to usher in the beginning of the team's new life in Los Angeles...
, including a first-inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
. In 1961
1961 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds winning the National League pennant with a record of 93-61, four games over the runner-up Los Angeles Dodgers, but losing the World Series in five games to the New York Yankees. The Reds were managed by Fred...
, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Ed Bailey
Ed Bailey
Lonas Edgar Bailey, Jr. was an American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from through . Bailey batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee...
. Schmidt played as a reserve to regular catcher Jerry Zimmerman
Jerry Zimmerman
Gerald Robert Zimmerman was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1968...
during the Reds' pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
-winning season of 1961
1961 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds winning the National League pennant with a record of 93-61, four games over the runner-up Los Angeles Dodgers, but losing the World Series in five games to the New York Yankees. The Reds were managed by Fred...
, although he didn't make the post-season roster when the Reds lost to the New York Yankees
1961 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 59th season for the team in New York, and its 61st season overall. The team finished with a record of 109-53, eight games ahead of the Detroit Tigers, and won their 26th American League pennant. New York was managed by Ralph Houk. The Yankees played their home...
in the World Series
1961 World Series
The 1961 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Cincinnati Reds , with the Yankees winning in five games to earn their 19th championship in 39 seasons. This World Series was surrounded by Cold War political puns pitting the "Reds" against the "Yanks"...
. In 1962
1962 Washington Senators season
The Washington Senators season involved the Senators finishing 10th in the American League with a record of 60 wins and 101 losses, 35½ games behind the World Champion New York Yankees. 1962 was the first season in which the Senators played their home games at D.C...
he was traded along with Dave Stenhouse
Dave Stenhouse
David Rotchford Stenhouse is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators from to . Stenhouse batted and threw right-handed. He is the father of outfielder Mike Stenhouse....
to the Washington Senators for Marty Keough
Marty Keough
Richard Martin Keough is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs...
and Johnny Klippstein
Johnny Klippstein
John Calvin Klippstein was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for a number of teams throughout his career. The most prominent portion of his career was spent early on with the Chicago Cubs . In 18 years, he finished with an 101-118 record and a 4.24 ERA in 711 games...
. Schmidt ended his career with the New York Yankees in 1965
1965 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 63rd season for the Yankees in New York and their 65th overall. The team finished with a record of 77-85, finishing 25 games behind the Minnesota Twins. New York was managed by Johnny Keane. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.This season marked the beginning...
.
Career statistics
In a 7 year career, Schmidt played in 454 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 317 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 1305 at bats for a .243 career batting average along with 39 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 150 runs batted in. Schmidt led the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
in while playing for the Washington Senators. He had a career fielding percentage of .988. He holds the Major League record for most putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in an extra inning game with 22, set on June 22, .