 Charles Schmidt
Detroit A.L.
 Lifetime: .243 BA
BOSS SCHMIDT
Schmidt, Charles
b: 9/12/1880, Coal Hill, Ark. d: 11/14/32, Clarksville, Ark.
BB/TR, 5'11", 200 lbs. Deb: 4/30/06 F
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YEAR TM/L G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
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1906 Det-A 68 216 13 47 4 3 0 10 6 .218
1907 *Det-A 104 349 32 85 6 6 0 23 5 .244
1908 *Det-A 122 419 45 111 14 3 1 38 16 .265
1909 *Det-A 84 253 21 53 8 2 1 28 7 .209
1910 Det-A 71 197 22 51 7 7 1 23 2 .259
1911 Det-A 28 46 4 13 2 1 0 2 0 .283
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Total 6 477 1480 137 360 41 22 3 124 36 .243
Was Boss Schmidt 5'11" or 6'4"? It's hard to tell as he was alternately listed with
both heights on various bios. As a young man, Charley worked the coal mines near his home town and because of this
grueling work he developed a muscular and powerful physique and could take care of himself with his 'granite fists'.
According to the Detroit Tigers information office, as a teammate of legendary Hall of Famer, Ty
Cobb, Boss has the distinction of whipping "The Georgia Peach" in two fist fights.
In the second fight, Boss knocked Cobb unconscious but admired Ty's never-say-die resiliency while fighting and
stayed to revive Cobb as he lay motionless on the Tiger dressing room floor. In another instance, Boss saved Ty's
neck in a fistic melee and gained Ty's respect and loyalty from then on. His fighting skills were so pronounced
that he even fought an exhibition match with the heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson. He once felt that he was the
best fighting baseball player in the league and challenged all baseball players to a match. As a catcher, Schmidt
never wore shinguards. He could force nails into the floor with his bare fists. He once visited a local carnival
with some of his teammates and wrestled and pinned a live bear. How was Boss as a backstop? He had average skills
but was surrounded by a lot of talent and played in three World Series. Boss's career in in the majors was shortened
due to numerous fractures sustained over the years of his thumb and fingers. After he left baseball, 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. 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'.
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