Boss Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Charles "Boss" Schmidt was an American catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers
(1906–1911).
Schmidt was born in Coal Hill, Arkansas
and began his professional playing career in the Missouri Valley League
in 1902. Joining the Tigers in 1906, Schmidt shared playing time with two other catchers on the team's roster, John Warner and Fred Payne
. The following season, he became the team's starting catcher as the Tigers won three consecutive American League
pennants from 1907 to 1909.
Schmit had 6 hits and 5 RBIs in three World Series from 1907-1909. He also holds the dubious distinction of having committed five errors and allowed 16 stolen bases during the 1908 World Series—both records which still stand today.
Schmidt also made the last out in consecutive World Series in 1907-08, the only player ever to do so. Schmidt also let the 3rd strike with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth of Game 1 of the 1907 Series get away, allowing a run to score, which tied the game. After 12 innings the game was called on account of darkness and the game was ruled a tie. Also, in the 1907 World Series, Schmidt gave up a record 7 stolen bases in Game 3, the most against one catcher in one Series game.
Schmidt's best season was 1908, in which he had career highs in hits
(111), runs batted in
(38), walks
(16), and batting average
(.265). In 477 career games, Schmidt batted .243 with 360 hits and 3 home run
s. He also served as a base umpire
in three games in 1906-07, as active players were often used as substitute umpires.
As a young man, Schmidt worked in the coal mines and developed a muscular and powerful physique. According to the Detroit Tigers information office, Schmidt beat Cobb in several fights. In the second fight, Schmidt knocked Cobb unconscious but admired Cobb's resiliency while fighting and stayed to revive Cobb as he lay motionless on the Tiger dressing room floor. Despite their clashes, Schmidt and Cobb (both tough as nails) became close friends until Schmidt's death in 1932. http://baseballguru.com/bburgess/analysisbburgess04.html
Schmidt also played a role in Cobb's March 1907 fist fight with an African American groundskeeper. When the groundskeepr tried to shake Cobb's hand, Cobb slapped him and chased him to the clubhouse. The groundskeeper's wife yelled at Cobb, and Cobb began to choke her. Schmidt intervened and stopped Cobb from hurting her further. Cobb and Schmidt then got into a fight and had to be separated by their teammates.
Schmidt was a skilled brawler who reportedly even fought an exhibition match with the heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson. He felt that he was the best fighting baseball player in the league and challenged all baseball players to a match.
Aside from his prowess as a fighter, Schmidt was also known for other displays of his physical toughness. As a catcher, Schmidt never wore shinguards. He could force nails into the floor with his bare fists. He once visited a local carnival with some of his teammates and wrestled and pinned a live bear. Schmidt's career was shortened due to numerous fractures sustained over the years of his thumb and fingers.
Walter Schmidt
, also a major league catcher, was his younger brother.
After he left baseball, Boss returned to the coal mines for a while but returned to the minors and eventually coached and managed.
Schmidt died in 1932 in Clarksville, Arkansas.
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 Major League Baseball
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...
who played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1906–1911).
Schmidt was born in Coal Hill, Arkansas
Coal Hill, Arkansas
Coal Hill is a city in Johnson County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,001 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coal Hill is located at ....
and began his professional playing career in the Missouri Valley League
Missouri Valley League
The Missouri Valley League was an American minor league baseball league which operated from 1902 through 1904.-1902:New teams in Nevada, Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, Fort Scott, Kansas, Sedalia, Missouri, Joplin, Missouri, Coffeyville, Kansas, Jefferson City, Missouri, and Iola, Kansas formed...
in 1902. Joining the Tigers in 1906, Schmidt shared playing time with two other catchers on the team's roster, John Warner and Fred Payne
Fred Payne
Frederick Thomas Payne was a Major League Baseball player who played 6 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox ....
. The following season, he became the team's starting catcher as the Tigers won three consecutive 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...
pennants from 1907 to 1909.
Schmit had 6 hits and 5 RBIs in three World Series from 1907-1909. He also holds the dubious distinction of having committed five errors and allowed 16 stolen bases during the 1908 World Series—both records which still stand today.
Schmidt also made the last out in consecutive World Series in 1907-08, the only player ever to do so. Schmidt also let the 3rd strike with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth of Game 1 of the 1907 Series get away, allowing a run to score, which tied the game. After 12 innings the game was called on account of darkness and the game was ruled a tie. Also, in the 1907 World Series, Schmidt gave up a record 7 stolen bases in Game 3, the most against one catcher in one Series game.
Schmidt's best season was 1908, in which he had career highs in 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....
(111), runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(38), walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(16), and batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.265). In 477 career games, Schmidt batted .243 with 360 hits and 3 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. He also served as a base umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in three games in 1906-07, as active players were often used as substitute umpires.
As a young man, Schmidt worked in the coal mines and developed a muscular and powerful physique. According to the Detroit Tigers information office, Schmidt beat Cobb in several fights. In the second fight, Schmidt knocked Cobb unconscious but admired Cobb's resiliency while fighting and stayed to revive Cobb as he lay motionless on the Tiger dressing room floor. Despite their clashes, Schmidt and Cobb (both tough as nails) became close friends until Schmidt's death in 1932. http://baseballguru.com/bburgess/analysisbburgess04.html
Schmidt also played a role in Cobb's March 1907 fist fight with an African American groundskeeper. When the groundskeepr tried to shake Cobb's hand, Cobb slapped him and chased him to the clubhouse. The groundskeeper's wife yelled at Cobb, and Cobb began to choke her. Schmidt intervened and stopped Cobb from hurting her further. Cobb and Schmidt then got into a fight and had to be separated by their teammates.
Schmidt was a skilled brawler who reportedly even fought an exhibition match with the heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson. He felt that he was the best fighting baseball player in the league and challenged all baseball players to a match.
Aside from his prowess as a fighter, Schmidt was also known for other displays of his physical toughness. As a catcher, Schmidt never wore shinguards. He could force nails into the floor with his bare fists. He once visited a local carnival with some of his teammates and wrestled and pinned a live bear. Schmidt's career was shortened due to numerous fractures sustained over the years of his thumb and fingers.
Walter Schmidt
Walter Schmidt (baseball)
Walter Joseph Schmidt , was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals....
, also a major league catcher, was his younger brother.
After he left baseball, Boss returned to the coal mines for a while but returned to the minors and eventually coached and managed.
Schmidt died in 1932 in Clarksville, Arkansas.