Heaven, for a major league baseball pitcher, could well be the first day of the spring season. Green grass. Crisp uniforms. Bright white chalk lines. The smell of hot dogs and popcorn. Bleachers full. Rival team in your house.
The pastor at Norman's St. Joseph's Catholic Church described such a heavenly scenario Wednesday morning at Willard Schmidt's funeral. The longtime area resident, former car dealer and major league baseball pitcher died March 22 after a lengthy illness.
Mr. Schmidt, a Kansas wheat farm boy with a talent for pitching baseballs, played on minor league teams, then hit the majors with stints for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds between 1952 to 1959.
He was half of the Schmidt-Tullius Dodge dealership and Schmidt Bicycle and Lawnmower Center. Mr. Schmidt was an avid devotee to baseball his entire life. The Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1989.
At the funeral, the Rev. Edward Menasco said in that heavenly game he sees Mr. Schmidt on the mound throwing only strikes the entire game. It's a no-hitter and the crowd gives the young pitcher a standing ovation.
That's exactly what his family and friends did during the funeral Wednesday. Well done, Mr. Schmidt. Well done.
