Walter Schmidt (baseball)

{{Short description|American baseball player (1887–1973)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Walter Schmidt

|image=Walter Schmidt.jpg

|caption=Walter Schmidt in 1923, with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

|position=Catcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1887|3|20}}

|birth_place=London, Arkansas, U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|1973|7|4|1887|3|20}}

|death_place=Modesto, California, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 13

|debutyear=1916

|debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 7

|finalyear=1925

|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.257

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=3

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=234

|teams=

• Pittsburgh Pirates (1916–1924)
• St. Louis Cardinals (1925)

}}

Walter Joseph Schmidt (March 20, 1887 – July 4, 1973) was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from {{Baseball year|1916}}–{{Baseball year|1925}}. He would play for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He later was the player/manager of the Mission Bells of the Pacific Coast League during the 1926 season. His brother, Boss Schmidt, also played professional baseball.

In 766 games over 10 seasons, Schmidt posted a .257 batting average (619-for-2411) with 216 runs, 3 home runs, 234 RBI, 57 stolen bases and 137 bases on balls. Defensively, he finished his career with a .980 fielding percentage. Him and his brother Boss Schmidt were known for their physical strength and toughness.{{cn|date=February 2025}}