Mike Schmidt was my favorite player.
I was born in 1976 so, no, I don’t remember the beginning of Mike Schmidt’s career. He was in his fourth full season as an established Major League All-Star third baseman and home run champion by the time I was born in September of that year as the Phillies hung out to earn their first playoff berth in 26 years. I achieved Phillies and sports consciousness in 1985 and still, even then, Mike Schmidt was regarded as the best player in franchise history.
An icon. A legend. A future no-doubt Hall of Famer, and I cut my teeth on baseball and the Phillies watching him play.