Schmidt Can Hardly Wait for Home Run No. 500 : Slugger Says April 29 Could Be End of His Carefully Cultivated Mr. Cool Image

Mike Schmidt is in danger of blowing his Mr. Cool image.

His carefully cultivated reputation for not showing emotion will end, he predicts, on April 29 when he hits his fifth home run of the season, No. 500 of his career.

“I’m looking forward to the crowds, the excitement, film crews living with me until the big homer,” Schmidt said, his voice quickening. “I’m looking forward to this so much you won’t believe it. I might kiss home plate.

“This is a feat that very seldom comes down the road. It’s an achievement that shows consistency over a long period of time.”

Last summer, after 15 years of non-stop butterflies, Schmidt said he was looking forward to retirement following the 1987 season. Since then, Schmidt won his third Most Valuable Player award, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Lance Parrish and No. 500 got closer.

Now, the 37-year-old Schmidt says he won’t decide until Sept. 1 whether to keep playing or pursue major league managing, something he eventually wants to try. The decision depends on how well his knees, which have endured three operations, and the Phillies do.

“I don’t want to be in a position where I can’t do deep knee bends or walk 18 holes of golf,” he said.

A few weeks ago, though, Schmidt talked about having his agent negotiate a contract to replace the six-year, $2.1 million-per-year agreement that expires after this season.

“Don’t interpret that as a sign I’m going to play next year,” he cautioned. “It’s just that I feel I’m in the best negotiating position I can be right now. And if I decide not to play, I just walk away.”

Phillies President Bill Giles, who believes Schmidt will keep playing for several years, said he would rather wait until the end of the 1987 season to negotiate, but will do it if Schmidt requests it.

Meantime, Schmidt has other things on his mind -- things like winning an unprecedented fourth MVP trophy, perhaps leading the improved Phillies to the World Series, and becoming the 14th player to reach 500 home runs.

“This a very exciting area,” Schmidt said. And, in a departure from the past when he bottled up his emotions, Schmidt wants everyone to share his happiness. He spent nearly an hour every day at spring training holding “High Noon” sessions, talking to anyone about anything.

“I have no feeling of distraction surrounding the 500th,” he said. “I sat back and watched Pete Rose go through all that business with the hit record, and I think I learned a lot. The way he was able to keep his enthusiasm. The way he was able to handle all you people (media) and still concentrate on baseball. It was amazing.”

The Phillies have sent a mail ballot to 140,000 past and present season ticketholders, and the one who predicts closest to the date, opponent, inning and ball-strike count of the 500th homer wins a car.

Every fan at the 500th home run game gets an “I was there” certificate. The club has a crew following Schmidt to make a video cassette of No. 500.

What are Schmidt’s chances of hitting the historic home run in April, as he predicts?

Starting with his first full season in 1973, Schmidt has averaged 3.85 home runs in April. Overall, he has 54 for the first month of the season, including a record 11 in 1976, when he hit four in one game against the Chicago Cubs. Once he hit six in April (1983), twice five (1981 and 1986) and four times he had four (1978, 1979, 1980, 1984).

Schmidt has other goals this season, ones not as inevitable as No. 500. He is one of seven players to win three MVP awards and wants to be the only one with four.

“The whole thing hinges on health,” Schmidt said. “If I play in 150 games, get my four or five at-bats every day, I don’t see why I shouldn’t be in contention. If I’m healthy I’ll have Mike Schmidt numbers.”

He led the National League with 37 homers and 119 runs batted in last season, and hit .290. He won his 10th Gold Glove, second only to Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson (16) in the history of the award.

Schmidt would also like to return to the World Series in the role of team leader.

“We have five potential MVP candidates, myself, Lance Parrish, Glenn Wilson, Von Hayes and Juan Samuel. They’re all like 10 years younger than me,” he said with a smile.

“Early in my career, I never really had anybody brag to me to my face, telling me I had a chance to be a good one. Now, I sense a need to be that to the younger players,” he said. “To be there and help them become a great player would mean a lot. Let me tell you something, that would be a real adrenaline-kicker for someone my age.”