Henry Martin Schmidt (June 26, 1873 – April 23, 1926) was an American professional baseball

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

for the

Brooklyn Superbas The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Californi ...

during the 1903 season. A star in the minor leagues, he was acquired by Brooklyn and won 22 games during his single season there. The Superbas wanted him back for 1904, but he declined, sending a note to the team (with the unsigned contract for the 1904 season) that declared, "I do not like living in the East and will not report." His 22 wins is the most by a pitcher who only played one Major League season. He returned to the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

and continued his career in the minors. After his baseball career he reportedly made a living selling fabrics. He was known throughout Texas as "Flannel". Henry Schmidt was referenced in the motion picture ''

Off the Black ''Off the Black'' is a 2006 American drama film starring Nick Nolte and Trevor Morgan. It was written and directed by James Ponsoldt, who also has a small role in the film, and is his feature directorial debut. Plot Ray Cook (Nolte) is a bitter ...

'' starring Nick Nolte and Timothy Hutton. Nolte shares Schmidt's story as a life lesson with a young man that he has befriended.

External links

References

1873 births 1926 deaths Major League Baseball pitchers Baseball players from Cameron County, Texas Brooklyn Superbas players Evansville Black Birds players Mobile Blackbirds players Richmond Giants players Lancaster Maroons players Richmond Bluebirds players Kansas City Blues (baseball) players Denver Grizzlies (baseball) players Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons players Des Moines Hawkeyes players Oakland Commuters players Oakland Clamdiggers players Oakland Oaks (baseball) players San Jose (minor league baseball) players Fresno Raisin Eaters players Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players Mobile Sea Gulls players Nashville Vols players Greensboro Champs players Hutchinson Salt Packers players People from Brownsville, Texas {{US-baseball-pitcher-1870s-stub