26 Facts About Boss Schmidt

Charles "Boss" Schmidt was an American baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.

Boss Schmidt was the starting catcher on the Detroit teams that won three consecutive American League pennants from 1907 to 1909.

Boss Schmidt led the American League in errors by a catcher in each of those seasons.

Boss Schmidt had a reputation for toughness enhanced by his grotesque-looking hands, the result of work as a coal miner and prizefighter.

Boss Schmidt then coached and managed ballclubs before dying suddenly of an intestinal obstruction in 1932.

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Boss Schmidt was born on September 12,1880, in London, Arkansas.

Boss Schmidt began his baseball career with a semipro baseball team in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Boss Schmidt then played for the Springfield Reds of the Missouri Valley League, the Rock Island Islanders of the Three-I League, and the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association.

Boss Schmidt was initially a holdout from the Tigers' 1906 training camp, but he finally reported on March 21.

Boss Schmidt appeared in 68 games, 64 of which were as the team's starting catcher.

Boss Schmidt's poor throw to second base in the fourth inning failed to catch Frank Chance who was heading down the line when the batter swung and missed.

Boss Schmidt found it almost impossible to locate second sack, and only once, in a half dozen tries, did he manage to put the ball where the infielder could get it on the runner.

Boss Schmidt made one other appearance in the series, pinch-hitting in the ninth inning of Game 5.

In 1908, Boss Schmidt appeared in a career-high 122 games, starting 113 behind the plate for the Tigers.

Boss Schmidt had his best defensive season, leading the American League's catchers with 184 assists and 129 runners caught stealing, though he led the league with 37 errors at catcher and 115 stolen bases allowed.

However, Boss Schmidt ranked second among the league's catchers with 12 double plays turned and third with 541 putouts.

Boss Schmidt argued that reporters who criticized his misplays were not taking into consideration his skill or the fact that injuries to his throwing hand had hindered his last two seasons.

In January 1911, Boss Schmidt sent a lengthy letter published by the Detroit Free Press complaining of mistreatment by manager Hughie Jennings.

Boss Schmidt appeared in his final major league game on October 8,1911.

In six major league seasons, Boss Schmidt appeared in 477 games, 410 of them as Detroit's starting catcher.

Boss Schmidt put this to his advantage, though, regularly using his right fist to divert baserunners from reaching home plate and sometimes simply punching his opponents.

Cobb and Boss Schmidt then exchanged blows before being separated by their teammates.

In early 1911, Boss Schmidt won a match against a boxer named McDonald, and rumors spread that Boss Schmidt hoped to become the "great white hope" by taking on heavyweight champion Jack Johnson.

Boss Schmidt had stints with the Mobile Sea Gulls, Vernon Tigers, Memphis Chickasaws, Sioux City Indians, Tulsa Oilers, Fort Smith Twins, Atlanta Crackers, Springfield Midgets, and Kalamazoo Celery Pickers.

Boss Schmidt served as a player-manager at Mobile, Sioux City, Fort Smith, Springfield, and Kalamazoo.

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Boss Schmidt's younger brother, Walter Boss Schmidt, was a major league catcher, playing for the Pirates from 1916 to 1924.