READING \u2014 Despite the heat on Tuesday evening, Mike Schmidt took the stage in the plaza at FirstEnergy Stadium in a long-sleeved light blue shirt, long white pants, a white wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.<\/p>\n
Properly protected from the summer sun, the Baseball Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Phillies legend spoke enthusiastically and eloquently about the importance of seeing a dermatologist and taking precautions to prevent skin cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bottom line is education, prevention and early detection,\u201d the former third baseman said to the assembled fans during the Play Sun Smart program before the Reading Fightin Phils played the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.<\/p>\n
During a session with the media minutes later, Schmidt battled to find the right word to describe how his outlook changed after getting diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma in 2013.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mike Schmidt, the former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman and Baseball Hall of Famer, talks to fans about melanoma during the Play Sun Safe program before the Reading Fightin Phils’ game at Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium on June 30, 2026.<\/p>\n
BRIAN SMITH | LNP STAFF<\/p>\n
In the middle of answering the next question, the word he was looking for came to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cEpiphany,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Yes, like a bolt out of the blue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I started to get my life back, my attitude about everything changed,\u201d Schmidt, 76, said. \u201cI appreciate my life so much more now than I ever did, you know what I mean. The whole idea of loving to the nth degree, thinking about other people. I\u2019m totally a different person than I was prior to that diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The surprise diagnosis \u2014 Schmidt called it lucky \u2014 came after he went to a dermatologist on his way to the airport to have something on his hand looked at. The doctor convinced Schmidt to let him do a further examination. That\u2019s when he found a mole on Schmidt\u2019s back.<\/p>\n
Three days later following a biopsy, Schmidt found out he had cancer. Understandably, he was scared. He considered it \u201ca death sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not 100 percent sure what to think, but one thing you do think is, \u2018I might die,\u2019 \u201d Schmidt said. \u201cPeople are dying from melanoma.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Schmidt learned more about melanoma and drugs that were coming off trial, he said he got more confident about his ability to live.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut never … I never stopped at one red light through that entire period and didn\u2019t think about dying,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cWhenever I was alone, on the toilet or whatever, my brain always went to, \u2018Maybe you get your stuff in order. Maybe I\u2019ll never see my granddaughters graduate from high school.\u2019 You know, you think about death. That\u2019s a scary thing to think about.\u201d<\/p>\n
His journey doesn\u2019t sound easy.<\/p>\n
Schmidt said he had seven spots on his brain and 12 on his lungs. He had all the lymph nodes removed on the left side of his body. He underwent chemotherapy. He lost some of his memory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had some friends I couldn\u2019t even think of their names when I ran into them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His memory appears good now. He recalled his first professional home run \u2014 hit while playing for Philadelphia against Reading soon after he was drafted in the second round in 1971 \u2014 and his time playing for the Reading Phillies. He also touched on this year\u2019s edition of the Phillies.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mike Schmidt, the former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman and Baseball Hall of Famer, talks to the media following his Play Sun Safe presentation before the Reading Fightin Phils’ game at Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium on June 30, 2026.<\/p>\n
BRIAN SMITH | LNP STAFF<\/p>\n
\u201cCrazy year, man,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re, you know, going to be close to 10 games over .500 at the (All-Star) break, if not more than 10, and I\u2019d have got laughed at if I had predicted that a couple of months ago, right?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just goes to show you how crazy the game of baseball is. They can prove that it is a long season. Everybody started heating up a little bit, and we got great pitching, and I think we\u2019re on our way to 90-plus victories, hopefully. So everything\u2019s clicking right now. Just ride the wave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schmidt also talked about Kyle Schwarber, who broke the three-time National League MVP\u2019s franchise record with his 30th homer of the season in the team\u2019s 84th game. Schmidt\u2019s best start was 30 homers through 87 games in 1979 on the way to 45.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really respect Kyle for a lot of reasons,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cOn the field for sure. He\u2019s a great hitter, a great teammate. He\u2019s big in the community. He\u2019s just got a great attitude about everything. He\u2019s a man of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if Schwarber could hit 60 homers this year, Schmidt said he thought it was possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anybody can, he can,\u201d said Schmidt, before adding with a laugh: \u201cDon\u2019t put it down like I predicted 60 homers. I know how that answer can take you there.\u201d<\/p>\n
But baseball was a secondary reason for Schmidt\u2019s visit. He has made it a mission to partner with Dermatology Partners and the Richard David Kann (RDK) Melanoma Foundation, as he did on Tuesday, to deliver his message on melanoma.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy last scans and MRIs, which I get every four months, have all been good, clean, stable,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll do those the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
A life he feared may be nearing its end 13 years ago. And one he is grateful for more than ever.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mike Schmidt, the former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman and Baseball Hall of Famer, talks to the media following his Play Sun Safe presentation before the Reading Fightin Phils’ game at Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium on June 30, 2026.<\/p>\n
BRIAN SMITH | LNP STAFF<\/p>\n
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