Whether you were around to see him play or simply watched his hightlights and heard the folklore, there’s no denying Michael Schmidt’s iconic status with the Phillies. Widely regarded as one of if not the best third baseman of all-time, the MLB Network is looking to give Schmidt his flowers with their upcoming Michael Jack Schmidt documentary slated to air on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. ET. This will mark the first time MLB Network has extensively covered a Philadelphia subject in its acclaimed documentary series.
Now 35 years removed from his final game, the program features a candid Schmidt reflecting on his legendary career, including the back-and-forth love, tension and conflict he’s shared with the passionate Philadelphia Phillies fans. The program will cap off MLB Network’s wall-to-wall coverage of the MLB Winter Meetings, and an embeddable clip from the program can be seen here.
Baseball Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and George Brett will expound on Schmidt’s “captain cool” demeanor and seemingly effortless style of play that resulted in a remarkable three MVP Awards, 12 All-Star Game appearances, 10 Gold Glove Awards and the 1980 World Series Championship. Brett says during the film, “He’s regarded as the best third baseman in Major League Baseball history. I wish I played defense like him. I wish I had power like him. Mike Schmidt was a star.”
Basketball Hall of Famers Charles Barkley, Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Doug Collins discuss what it’s like being a Philadelphia star, and the special mindset you must have to succeed in such a great and demanding sports city like the ‘City of Brotherly Love.’ Phillies Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer John Middleton opens up on what Schmidt has meant to Philadelphia and how beloved an icon he became following his Hall of Fame Induction in 1995, ultimately granting him peace of mind.
With legendary Phillies announcer Harry Kalas often belting his trademark “Michael Jack Schmidt,” the program features behind-the-scenes insight from many of Schmidt’s former teammates, including Larry Andersen, Larry Bowa, Von Hayes, John Kruk and Garry Maddox. Philadelphia native, Hall of Fame baseball writer and longtime Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Jayson Stark and Schmidt’s wife of 50 years, Donna Schmidt, discuss her husband’s path to stardom, and the personal demons he has faced and conquered throughout his life.
The most recent MLB Network Presents documentary profiled Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in One of a Kind this past August. In addition to Schmidt, MLB Network Presents has produced films on many of his contemporaries, including Bench, Brett, Dennis Eckersley, Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly and Dave Parker. Now in its 10th year, MLB Network Presents launched in 2015.
