Schmidt was up with the Cardinals for brief trials in 1952-53, stuck in 1955, and went 10-3 (5-0 as a starter) at his best in 1957. That winter he was sent to Cincinnati in a deal for Curt Flood. Schmidt (April 26, 1959), Frank Thomas, and Brady Anderson are the only three major league players to have been hit by a pitch twice in the same inning. (GB)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»April 26, 1959: Was it something I said? Reds pitcher Willard Schmidt is twice hit by pitches in the 3rd inning in an 11–10 win over the Braves. Braves pitchers Bob Rush and Lew Burdette do the plunking. It is a first in the major leagues, but the ML mark will be tied in three years by Frank Thomas. While on the mound in the 4th inning, Schmidt is hit again when a Johnny Logan line drive strikes him on the right hand and he has to leave the game. The two teams use 14 pitchers between them to tie a National League record, with the eight pitchers by the Reds tying another NL record. Warren Spahn is tagged for the loss, his 2nd in two days to the Reds.
»April 29, 1962:
In the Mets' 7-run 4th inning, Frank Thomas is twice hit by pitches, from Art Mahaffey and Frank Sullivan of the Phils. Two plunks in an inning are the major-league record set in 1959 by the only other player to whom it has happened—Reds pitcher Willard Schmidt. The Mets win 8–0, then lose the 2nd game 10–2.
»May 23, 1999:
The Orioles Brady Anderson joins Willard Schmidt (1959) and Frank Thomas (1961) as the only batters hit by a pitch twice in one inning. The O's beat Texas, 15–6.
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