#168 - Willard Schmidt - St. Louis Cardinals
Willard Schmidt had a short, seven season career pitching in Major League Baseball from 1952 until 1959 (he did not play in 1954). He played the duration of his career for the St. Louis Cardinals, with the exception of his final two years, during which he was a member of the Cincinnati Redlegs.
Willard ran the pitching gamut from starter to middle relief to closer throughout his career. Like the majority of players whom I've posted about for the 1953 Topps Project recently, Schmidt wasn't exactly spectacular as a big league ballplayer. He ended his playing days with a win/loss record just above .500 (31-29), 323 strikeouts and a respectable 3.93 career ERA.When his baseball days were over, Willard settled down with his wife and raised a family of 6 children, all of whom attended and graduated the University of Oklahoma. Sounds like Willard Schmidt's achievements in the majors are overshadowed by his achievements in fatherhood. By the way, is it just me or does Willard remind you of someone?
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