Walter Schmidt
Born: 3/20/1887 in London, AR, USA
Died: 7/4/1973 in Modesto, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1916-04-13 | Final Game: 1925-09-07
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 159 lbs
Full name: Walter Joseph Schmidt
Biography
Walter Schmidt was a professional baseball player born in 1887, whose career spanned from 1916 to 1925. He played primarily as a position player and made a notable contribution to the game during the early 20th century, a time characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-driven style of play. Over the course of his career, Schmidt appeared in 766 games, where he compiled a batting average of .257. He recorded 619 hits, including 3 home runs, and drove in 234 runs, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively to his teams.
In addition to his hitting, Schmidt was also known for his speed on the base paths, finishing his career with 57 stolen bases. His playing style reflected the evolving nature of baseball during his era, as players began to embrace more aggressive offensive strategies. Schmidt's performance on the field left a mark on the teams he played for, and his statistics reflect a solid career during a period of significant change in Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 766 | 2411 | 216 | 619 | 63 | 20 | 3 | 234 | 57 | 137 | 105 | 0.257 | 0.301 | 0.303 | 0.604 | -6103.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | PIT | NL | 64 | 184 | 16 | 35 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 0.190 | -736.3 |
| 1917 | PIT | NL | 72 | 183 | 9 | 45 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 0.246 | -250.6 |
| 1918 | PIT | NL | 105 | 323 | 31 | 77 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 0.238 | -784.0 |
| 1919 | PIT | NL | 85 | 267 | 23 | 67 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 5 | 23 | 9 | 0.251 | -389.3 |
| 1920 | PIT | NL | 94 | 310 | 22 | 86 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 24 | 15 | 0.277 | -267.2 |
| 1921 | PIT | NL | 114 | 393 | 30 | 111 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 0.282 | -1285.8 |
| 1922 | PIT | NL | 40 | 152 | 21 | 50 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.329 | -51.4 |
| 1923 | PIT | NL | 97 | 335 | 39 | 83 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 10 | 22 | 12 | 0.248 | -1346.4 |
| 1924 | PIT | NL | 58 | 177 | 16 | 43 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 0.243 | -639.3 |
| 1925 | STL | NL | 37 | 87 | 9 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0.253 | -353.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 734 | 0 | 2598 | 858 | 69 | 86 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | PIT | C | 57 | 0 | 232 | 88 | 8 | 6 |
| 1917 | PIT | C | 61 | 0 | 229 | 84 | 7 | 9 |
| 1918 | PIT | C | 104 | 0 | 373 | 153 | 10 | 19 |
| 1919 | PIT | C | 85 | 0 | 315 | 110 | 8 | 8 |
| 1920 | PIT | C | 92 | 0 | 323 | 109 | 13 | 10 |
| 1921 | PIT | C | 111 | 0 | 438 | 120 | 8 | 15 |
| 1922 | PIT | C | 40 | 0 | 159 | 22 | 1 | 1 |
| 1923 | PIT | C | 96 | 0 | 279 | 88 | 7 | 10 |
| 1924 | PIT | C | 57 | 0 | 166 | 51 | 3 | 6 |
| 1925 | SLN | C | 31 | 0 | 84 | 33 | 4 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 733 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1920 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |