Henry Martin Schmidt (June 26, 1873 – April 23, 1926) was an American professional baseball pitcher for the Brooklyn Superbas during the 1903 season. A star in the minor leagues, he was acquired by Brooklyn and won 22 games during his single season there. The Superbas wanted him back for 1904, but he declined, sending a note to the team (with the unsigned contract for the 1904 season) that declared, "I do not like living in the East and will not report."[1] His 22 wins is the most by a pitcher who only played one Major League season.[2]
He returned to the Pacific Coast League and continued his career in the minors.[3] After his baseball career he reportedly made a living selling fabrics. He was known throughout Texas as "Flannel".
Henry Schmidt was referenced in the motion picture Off the Black starring Nick Nolte and Timothy Hutton. Nolte shares Schmidt's story as a life lesson with a young man that he has befriended.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
References
- ^ "Mussina Joins Ranks of Pitchers With Most Wins in Final Season". BaseballLibrary.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ Okrent, Daniel (1988). The Ultimate Baseball Book. Boston, USA: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 352. ISBN 0395361451.
- ^ "Mussina linked to Koufax … and Henry Schmidt?".