Schmidt is Phils' Hometown Hero

PHILADELPHIA -- There really was no wrong choice here, but Michael Jack Schmidt won the Phillies DHL Hometown Heroes Award.

Schmidt beat out Chuck Klein, Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn and Steve Carlton for the honor.

A true hometown hero, Schmidt played all of his 2,404 games in a Phillies uniform. He was the face of the Phils for nearly two decades in the 1970s and 1980s, and delivered the club its only World Series title in 123 years of existence. He was the MVP of the 1980 Fall Classic just weeks after setting a record for third basemen with 48 home runs that season. That record, of course, was eclipsed this season by first baseman Ryan Howard, who is at 58 and counting.

Schmidt retired in 1989 with eight home run titles (second to Babe Ruth) and 548 career long balls.

ESPN is airing a three-part series to unveil the 30 winners, one from each team. The first 10 Major Leaguers -- highlighted by Hank Aaron, Cal Ripken Jr. and Babe Ruth -- were announced on Tuesday.

The winners were selected by fan ballot as the Hometown Hero of a Major League Baseball franchise. Aaron received the most fan votes of any nominee with 452,824. Aaron will join 27 other current and former Major Leaguers selected by fans as most representative of the legacy of Major League Baseball and each respective franchise's history.

Each winner celebrates a player -- either past or present -- from each of the 30 teams whose combination of on-field contributions, character and leadership make him stand out from the rest. In each episode, viewers are guided through profiles of each winner focusing on the "hometown hero" attributes they possess and why their names are indelibly etched in the minds of fans.

The second group of 10 players will be announced on Wednesday, with the final group revealed on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

Also named with Schmidt were: Aaron (Braves), Ripken Jr. (Orioles), Frank Thomas (Chicago White Sox), Dontrelle Willis (Marlins), Ruth (Yankees), Reggie Jackson (A's), Wade Boggs (Devil Rays), Joe Carter (Blue Jays) and Gary Carter (Nationals).

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