The Main Event
- July 14, 1979 – Mike Schmidt hits his 31st home run of the year off of Don Sutton of the Dodgers, the first time a Phillie collects more than 30 home runs prior to the All-Star break.
- July 14, 1988 – Mike Schmidt passes Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run list with career bash number 537, giving him sole possession of seventh place.
Mike Schmidt built his Hall of Fame legacy in Philadelphia with two unforgettable home run milestones — one for a single season, one for an entire career. Decades later, both marks have finally been challenged, and one of them has fallen.
1979: Schmidt Becomes the First Phillie to 30 Homers Before the Break
On his way to a career-high 45 home runs in 1979, Mike Schmidt launched his 31st homer of the season off Dodgers ace Don Sutton, making him the first player in Phillies history to top 30 home runs before the All-Star break. It was a remarkable pace for the third baseman, who would go on to lead the National League in home runs for three straight years from 1974 through 1976 and eventually finish his career with 548. The 1979 season set the standard for first-half power in Philadelphia for nearly half a century.
1988: Schmidt Passes Mickey Mantle for Sole Possession of seventh on the All-Time List
Nine years later, Schmidt authored another milestone moment, this time on the career leaderboard. His 537th career home run, hit off Mike Scott of the Astros, moved him past Mickey Mantle and into sole possession of seventh place on baseball’s all-time home run list. Schmidt finished his 18-year career, spent entirely with the Phillies, with 548 home runs — still the most ever hit by a player who played his whole career with one franchise.
The new Phillies Pre-All-Star-Break record holder
It was just a week ago that Kyle Schwarber tied Schmidt’s total of 31 home runs prior to the All-Star Break. The next night Schwarber broke Schmidt’s 47-year-old franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break when he hit “Schwarbomb” number 32 of the season in a loss to the Reds. The record had survived the Phillies’ 1980 and 2008 championship runs and every power hitter to wear the uniform in between. Schwarber’s 32 homers came in just 89 games, putting him on a torrid pace and setting up a memorable run into the 2026 Home Run Derby where he finished second to St. Louis Cardinals’ slugger Jordan Walker.
Has Anyone Broken Schmidt’s All-Time Home Run Milestone?
Schmidt’s overall position on the all-time list has changed significantly since he surpassed Mantle. Numerous sluggers have climbed past him in the decades since his retirement, including Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, and Manny Ramirez.
Where Does Schmidt Rank Today?
On the Phillies’ single-season list for home runs before the All-Star break, Schmidt now sits in second place with 31, trailing only Schwarber. On Major League Baseball’s all-time career home run list, Schmidt currently ranks 16th with 548 home runs, sitting just behind Manny Ramirez (555) and just ahead of David Ortiz (541).
The Bottom Line
Mike Schmidt’s 1979 and 1988 milestones represented two different kinds of greatness — explosive first-half power and sustained career production. While Schwarber has now claimed the Phillies’ pre-All-Star-break crown, Schmidt’s place among baseball’s all-time home run hitters remains secure, and his 548 career homers still stand as the franchise record and a testament to one of the greatest careers in Phillies history.
Philadelphia Baseball Events for July 14
- July 14, 1900 – Chick Fraser fires a one-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1-0 win over Boston. It is the only shutout of the year for the righty, who will become part of the first big lawsuit challenging the reserve clause in the 20th century.
- July 14, 1961 – In Los Angeles, the Phillies top the Dodgers, 7-5, in ten innings. Phils reliever Jack Baldschun pitches in his eighth straight game to pick up the win.
- July 14, 2006 – At Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Brennan King hits for the cycle and drives in eight runs as the Red Barons beat Toledo 14-2. The home run was a grand slam. King never did reach the majors and retired after the 2008 season when he played 99 games with Lehigh Valley.
- July 14, 2018 – Aaron Nola fanned Miami’s Justin Bour in the first inning — the 500th strikeout of his career. Nola reached that milestone in 480 innings, the fastest in team history. Today, Nola stands at 1,978 strikeouts.
Philadelphia Baseball Births for July 14
- John Peters (born 1893) – A right-hand hitting catcher, Peters played for the 1921 and 1922 Phillies, hitting .268 in 110 games.
- Derrick May (born 1968) – A utility outfielder with the 1997 Phillies who hit .228/.266/.295 in 83 games with the Phillies.
- Yoel Zambrano (born 2009) – Pitching in his first season of professional ball with the Phillies team in the Dominican Summer League. He is 3-1, 5.74 in eight relief appearances.
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