One of the most iconic phrases uttered in Philadelphia sports broadcast history was a name - first, middle, and last.
Now, Michael Jack Schmidt is the title of a new documentary.
MLB Network Presents, the 30-for-30-esque arm of the MLB Network, will debut the documentary next Thursday, December 12th at 8 p.m.
It will be the first time MLB Network has extensively covered a Philadelphia subject in its documentary series.
According to a press release provided by the network, Schmidt candidly reflects on his career, including his unique relationship with Philadelphia fans which was at times contentious, but always filled with passion, and ultimately, love and support.
Here is a clip from the documentary provided by the Network:
The documentary will feature a who's who of Philadelphia sports figures from Julius Erving to Charles Barkley to Larry Bowa to Garry Maddox.
Additionally, Baseball Hall of Famers George Brett and Johnny Bench are interviewed in the documentary. Brett, who was also a third baseman at the same time as Schmidt, says during the film, "He’s regarded as the best third baseman in Major League Baseball history. I wish I played defense like him. I wish I had power like him. Mike Schmidt was a star."
Other noted figures to appear in the documentary include Phillies Managing Partner and CEO John Middleton, former Phillies Larry Bowa, Von Hayes, John Kruk and Larry Andersen as well as former Philadelphia 76ers player and coach Doug Collins.
The greatest Phillie ever Mike Schmidt turns 75 today. Happy birthday, Schmidty!
pic.twitter.com/4B45K8Dk1r
Hall of Fame baseball writer Jayson Stark and Schmidt's wife Donna also provide insight into the man who is widely considered as the greatest player in Phillies history.
Schmidt was a three-time National League MVP who was a 12-time All Star and won 10 gold glove awards. He finished his 17-year career, spent entirely with the Phillies, in the Spring of 1989, with 548 career home runs, which, at the time, was the seventh-most in baseball history (Now 16th).
The most recent MLB Network Presents documentary profiled Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in One of a Kind this past August. In addition to Schmidt, MLB Network Presents has produced films on many of his contemporaries, including Bench, Brett, Dennis Eckersley, Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly and Dave Parker. Now in its 10th year, MLB Network Presents launched in 2015.
