Detroit Tigers catcher Charles Schmidt, and umpire Sheridan standing at home plate looking up at ball hit by Chicago Cubs player Jimmy Slagle - Rare October 8 1907 Photo  CREATED/PUBLISHED [1907 Oct. 8]SUMMARY
Image of catcher Charles Schmidt, American League's Detroit Tigers baseball player, and umpire Sheridan standing at home plate looking up at the ball hit by National League's Chicago Cubs baseball player Jim Slagel during a World Series game played at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan. Spectators sitting in the stands and on the roof of the stands are visible in the background.NOTES
This photonegative taken by a Chicago Daily News photographer may have been published in the newspaper. SDN-006084, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

Boss Schmidt, Detroit Tigers Catcher RH - an excellent defensive catcher during the era before padded catcher's mitts. He debuted with the Tigers in 1906 and in his sophomore season (1907) hit .244 in 104 games and became one of the most popular players during Detroit's heyday when the team won back-to-back AL pennants - 1907-1908. Catcher Boss Schmidt together with Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford and Germany Schaefer formed one of baseball's relentless, hustling 'old time teams' and their brash performances certainly provided 'Rootin and Tootin' for their fans during their World Series battles with the Chicago Cubs.

Boss Schmidt's best hitting season was 1908 when the Tigers won their second AL pennant. He hit .265 in 122 games and lined 14 doubles, scored 45 runs. In the 1907 World Series, Schmidt caught 3-games and pinch-hit in another, going 2-for12 with 2 walks. Game 1 ended in a 3-3 tie, and the Cubs swept the next four. In the 1908 World Series, the Cubs ran wild, stealing 15 bases on Boss Schmidt and reserve catcher Ira Thomas and the Tigers lost, again to the Cubs, 4 Games to 1.