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Submitted: 6/27/13 • Approved: 6/27/13 • Last Updated: 11/3/13 • R901396-G0-S3
Extraordinary Athlete
Baseball Great
September 12, 1880 – November 14, 1932
Charles "Boss" Schmidt, was of Austrian descent. He was born near London, Franklin County, Arkansas. He made Altus, Franklin County, Arkansas his home town. Little is known of his family or background. He and his brother, Walter, both were catchers in the Major leagues. Often called "Charley" he worked as a young man in the coal mines near his home town. His work in the coal mines was hard with long hours and physical strain. He was a very strong man and could drive nails into boards with his "granite fists". He was a happy, funny and outgoing man. He had a sunshine smile that put people at ease. But, he was a brawler. He loved to fight and wrestle any one. He participated in an exhibition match with the heavyweight champion,Jack Johnson. He visited a local carnival and wrestled and pinned a bear. He thought of himself as the best fighting baseball player and challenged all baseball players to a match. He and the Hall of Fame great, Ty Cobb, had three gruesome fist fights. But, they were best friends.
He began his professional playing career in the Missouri Valley Leagues in 1902. Signing on with Detroit Tigers on April 30, 1906 as a catcher. He showed his physical prowess by never wearing shin guards. He played six seasons with the Tigers from 1906 - 1911, playing his final game October 8, 1911 at the age of 31. When he signed on he shared the catching position with John Warner and Fred Payne. In the 1907 season he became the starting catcher. He shared the catchers position with Oscar Stanage. The Tigers won three consecutive American League pennants from 1907 - 1909 He had to give up the game and his first love due to the numerous fractures sustained, over the years, of his thumb and fingers. Boss returned to the coal mines for a while but could not stay away from the game, he returned to the minors and eventually coached and managed. He played for the Southern Association, with the Vernon Club of the Pacific, and went to the Memphis Chicks. He made his managing debut in 1919 with Sioux City, with the Western League.
He coached for Brooklyn and managed Springfield in 1924. Then to Kalamazoo as manager. He later worked with the Fort Smith Club. In 1929 he took an assignment as coach of his old team, the Detroit Tigers.
His record with the Tigers had its ups and downs. 1908 was his best season. Schmidt hit .265 in 1908, but his batting average dropped to .209 in 1909. Schmidt had 6 hits and 5 RBIs in three World Series from 1907 to 1909. Schmidt had 6 hits and 5 RBIs in three World Series from 1907 to 1909. Schmidt's best season was 1908, in which he had career highs in hits (111), runs batted in (38), walks (16), and batting average (.265). In 477 career games, Schmidt batted .243 with 360 hits and 3 home runs. He also served as a base umpire in three games in 1906-07, as active players were often used as substitute umpires. He also holds the dubious distinction of having committed five errors and allowed 16 stolen bases during the 1908 World Series—both records which still stand today. Schmidt also made the last out in consecutive World Series in 1907-08, the only player ever to do so. Schmidt also let the 3rd strike with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth of Game 1 of the 1907 Series get away, allowing a run to score, which tied the game. After 12 innings the game was called on account of darkness and the game was ruled a tie. Also, in the 1907 World Series, Schmidt gave up a record 7 stolen bases in Game 3, the most against one catcher in one Series game.
Boss was a hard worker at anything he would undertake. In later years, Schmidt criticized younger players for loafing and not dedicating themselves to staying in shape and playing the game hard. Ironically, one might think he was describing today's players but in actuality, Boss was describing players of baseball's 'golden age'.
He died in a home of a Physician of intestinal obstruction, in Clarksville, Arkansas. He was 52 years old.
Many baseball writers ranked Schmidt among the immortals of the game.
Sources: Wikipedia, Baseball Reference.com, The Herald-Journal, 12 Nov 1932 Page 27 Sports Page (Write up of his death)
Contributed on 6/27/13 by tootied
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Record #: 901396