May 29, 1989, In a hastily called press conference in San Diego, Mike Schmidt, 39, tearfully informs the scribes of his retirement, which is effective immediately. The Phillies' third baseman, nonetheless, will still be selected by the fans to start the All-Star Game, scheduled to be played at Anaheim Stadium in July but won't play, At the time he was hitting just .203. Watch his emotional speech.

Mike Schmidt was the personification of talent at the hot corner, possessing a combination of Eddie Mathews' power and the Gold Glove ability of Brooks Robinson. He had enough finesse to win ten Gold Gloves, and his brute strength enabled him to rack up more than 500 career home runs. He won three Most Valuable Player Awards, including back-to-back honors at his peak, and led the league in homers eight times.

Best Season, 1981
Schmidt was having his best season in 1981, when the strike split the schedule. So for numbers sake, we'll pick '80, which was pretty damn good too. Schmidt won the MVP that year, belting 48 homers and driving in 121 runs - both leading the NL. He batted .286 and posted a .624 slugging percentage, also tops. He scored 104 runs and even stole 12 bases, while winning the Gold Glove. In the World Series he batted .381 with two homers and seven RBI in six games. He was at the top of his game.

April 17, 1976: 4 HR... Phillies won the game 18-16, overcoming an 11-run deficit... Cubs Dave Kingman blasted three homers in the loss... Runs were scored all over the league that day as the Mets won 17-1 and the Reds, 11-0... Hit his first two homers off Rick Reuschel, and the fourth off Rick's brother, Paul. (Watch his HRS👇 )

Today’s line up: Click to Listen

May 29, 1960 Washington Senators at New York Yankees

Satchel Page Interview

This Week in Baseball

TRIVIA:

Which Maryland native was so overcome with emotion during his Hall of Fame induction speech that he could not continue?

Hint: #1 He mentored a young Jackie Robinson and later recommended Larry Doby to Bill Veeck.

Hint: #2 There are multiple theories behind the origin of his nickname, but what is certain is that it stuck with him throughout his playing days.

May 29, 1916, future Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson pitches the New York Giants to their 17th consecutive victory, all on the road. Mathewson shuts out the Boston Braves, 3-0. In spite of their impressive winning streak, the Giants will finish second to the Boston Braves in the National League pennant race. More on Matty

May 29, 1922 -- The Browns top Detroit‚ 9 - 6‚ paced by Ken Williams' grand slam in the 3rd inning. Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb get into an argument with the umpires and will be suspended‚ missing tomorrow's twinbill. Listen to Harry Heilmann interviews

May 29, 1934 -- The Yankees purchase — some would say rent — spitballer Burleigh Grimes from the Pittsburgh Pirates. After 10 appearances with the Yankees, the Yanks will release Grimes and the Pirates will reobtain him. Grimes Interview

May 29, 1952 -- Boston's Maury McDermott faces 27 batters and fires a one-hitter to beat the visiting Senators‚ 1 - 0. Mel Hoderlein's 4th-inning single is the only hit, and he is erased on the basepaths. Maury walks one batter who is also doubled up. The Senators leave no runners on base today and combined with the two they left on base on the 27th set a new major league low for fewest in two consecutive games. It will be matched in both leagues.

May 29, 1955 -- Larry Doby of the Indians hits the first major league homer over the outer wall in Kansas City's Municipal Stadium‚ an estimated 500-foot clout in the 6th. The Indians win, 4 - 2, behind Herb Score‚ who is replaced in the 9th after singles by C Wilmer Shantz and PH Enos Slaughter. Wilmer's brother Bobby Shantz is the loser. Doby HOF Speech

May 29, 1959 -- President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his White House staff attend a game. He gets slugger Harmon Killebrew's autograph on a home run ball for his grandson David‚ as Washington defeats the Red Sox, 7 - 6. The Killer will bang 15 homers in May. Killebrew Interview

May 29 1962,  Buck O’Neil became the first African American to become a coach in the Major Leagues, with the Chicago Cubs Listen to an evening with Buck O’Neil

May 29, 1965 -- Dick Allen's 529-foot blast clears the left-center field roof, over the Coke Sign, at Connie Mack Stadium. The Phillies' third baseman's two-run prodigious poke off Chicago's right-hander Larry Jackson proves to be the difference in Philadelphia's 4-2 victory. Classic Allen Homeruns

May 29, 1971 -- The Cincinnati Reds make one of their best trades in franchise history when they acquire OF George Foster from the San Francisco Giants for SS Frank Duffy and pitcher Vern Geishert. Foster will be a key player on the Big Red Machine World Series champion Reds teams in 1975-76.

May 29, 1976, Houston Astros pitcher Joe Niekro hits the only home run of his 22-year major league career (973 At Bats). Strangely enough, Niekro reaches the seats against his brother, Phil, the ace of the Atlanta Braves. The seventh-inning blast comes on a knuckleball that Joe sends over the left field fence. Ken Boswell contributes three hits, Niekro’s unexpected blast helps the Astros to a 4-3 win. Listen to Joe in 1973

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