Like A Hand In A Glove Schmidt’s Many Talents Rate Perfect Fit For Hall Of Fame

No need to wonder or worry whether Mike Schmidt will be elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame.

By Monday night, when this year’s voting is announced, they’re certain to be at work in Cooperstown, chiseling his rugged profile into one of those bronze plaques they’ll hang inside the shrine this summer.

Instead, consider two other made-fordebate questions, one that will be answered in a day or so and one that may be argued for as long as they play baseball (or, at least, remember when they played):

Will Schmidt receive the highest vote total in history?

Was Schmidt the greatest all-around third baseman?

It takes 75 percent of the vote by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America to be elected, and Schmidt is sure to top that by a big margin.

Schmidt hit 548 home runs, seventh on the career list; won three N.L. MVP awards and earned 10 Gold Gloves. He even stole 174 bases.

“I’m always going to be known as a home-run hitter,” he said recently. “I’d rather be known as a complete player.”

Whether other first-time nominees such as Jim Rice (.298, 382 home runs, 1,451 RBIs) and Tommy John (288-231, 3.34 ERA) or carryover candidates Don Sutton (324-256), Phil Niekro (318-274) and Tony Perez (379 HR, 1,652 RBIs) will get enough support is uncertain.

This also is the 15th and final year of eligibility for Thurman Munson, the game New York Yankees captain who died in a plane crash during the 1979 season. Munson (.292, 701 RBIs) has been a sentimental choice since the accident, although his statistics likely will leave him short for selection.

Tom Seaver holds the record for the highest vote total, getting 98.84 percent in 1992. Last year, Steve Carlton, Schmidt’s longtime teammate on the Philadelphia Phillies, topped 90 percent.

“The last thing I want to do is affect the voting by a quote I might make,” Schmidt said. “I would just like my career and my records to stand on what I stand for and let the voting go its own way.”

Usually, a couple of the 400-plus BBWAA members make it a practice not to vote for a candidate in his first year of eligibility.

Schmidt, never one to brag about his accomplishments, knows that the likes of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were not named on every ballot, and brushed aside suggestions that he might get 100 percent.

“How can I be unanimous if those players weren’t?” he said.

More sensitive to baseball fans, meanwhile, is the debate about who’s the best third baseman in history.

Brooks Robinson is generally considered the best fielder, as his record 16 Gold Gloves would attest.

Eddie Mathews, before Schmidt played from 1972-89, was regarded as the best combination of offense (512 HR, 1,453 RBIs) and defense.

Pie Traynor, the Pittsburgh star in the 1920s and 1930s, was perceived as the best before World War II, especially because of his hitting (.320, 1,273 RBIs).

Schmidt batted .267, the same as Robinson and four points below Mathews, but holds the major-league record for career home runs and RBIs (1,595) by a third baseman.

He set a record by leading the N.L. in home runs eight times, and holds the league record for most career assists and total chances by a third baseman.

Schmidt was a 12-time All-Star and MVP of the 1980 World Series. He hit four home runs in a 10-inning game in 1976 at Wrigley Field, and recently was named by Ted Williams as one of the 20 greatest hitters in history.

Think of Robinson, and you see a montage of diving stops and backhand catches. Think of Schmidt, and it’s cold, hard numbers.

His career fielding percentage (.961) was not as high as Robinson (.971), but he supplied more offense than Brooks (268 HR, 1,357 RBIs).

Purists say Brooks, because of his fielding, particularly with him playing on harder-to-handle grass all those years in Baltimore.

Others, such as Whitey Herzog, side with Schmidt because of his power and the whole package he brought to the ballpark.

“I’m talking about all-around,” said Herzog. “Not the best fielder, but one of the best. The best home-run hitter that ever played third base, but not the highest average.

“I mean, when you put every phase of the game together, he’s the No. 1 guy.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with story: Hall of Fame numbers Selected records and highlights of third baseman Mike Schmidt: Major League records Most home runs, third baseman, season - 48. Most home runs, third baseman, career - 548. Most runs batted in, third baseman, career - 1,595. Most extra base hits, third baseman, career. Milestones N.L. MVP 1980, 1981, 1986. Led N.L. in home runs - 1974-76, 1980-81, 1983-84, 1986. Four consecutive home runs - April 17, 1976; July 6 and 7, 1979. Three home runs in one game - July 7, 1979; June 14, 1987. N.L. All-Star - 1974, 1976-77, 1979-84, 1986-88. World Series MVP 1980. Gold Glove - 1976-84, 1986.