Major League Baseball Player. He began his professional playing career in the Missouri Valley Leagues in 1902 and made his debut as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers on April 30, 1906. He played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1906-11) and 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. Schmidt was also known for other displays of his physical toughness and as a catcher, he never wore shin-guards. His career was shortened due to numerous fractures sustained over the years and left the game with a record of 360 hits, 3 homeruns, 124 runs batted in and a .243 batting average. For a while he played in the minor leagues, where he eventually coached and managed.
Major League Baseball Player. He began his professional playing career in the Missouri Valley Leagues in 1902 and made his debut as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers on April 30, 1906. He played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1906-11) and 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. Schmidt was also known for other displays of his physical toughness and as a catcher, he never wore shin-guards. His career was shortened due to numerous fractures sustained over the years and left the game with a record of 360 hits, 3 homeruns, 124 runs batted in and a .243 batting average. For a while he played in the minor leagues, where he eventually coached and managed.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Schmidt memorials in:
Advertisement
