| Frank Schulte | |
|---|---|
 Schulte with theChicago Cubs | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born:(1882-09-17)September 17, 1882 Cochecton, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: October 2, 1949(1949-10-02) (aged 67) Oakland, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 21, 1904, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 2, 1918, for the Washington Senators | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .270 |
| Home runs | 92 |
| Runs batted in | 793 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Frank M. "Wildfire"Schulte (September 17, 1882 – October 2, 1949) was an Americanoutfielder inMajor League Baseball (MLB) who played for theChicago Cubs,Pittsburgh Pirates,Philadelphia Phillies, andWashington Senators from 1904 to 1918. He helped the Cubs win fourNational League (NL) championships and twoWorld Series.
In 1911, Schulte won the NLChalmers Award, a precursor to the modern-day MVP award; that year, Schulte had become the first of only four players in history to join the20–20–20–20 club, hitting 30 doubles, 21 triples, and 21 home runs, and stealing 23 bases.
Schulte was born inCochecton, New York, in 1882 toGerman immigrants.[1] He played independent baseball as a teenager, despite his father's opposition to the idea. From 1902 to 1904, he played for theNew York State League'sSyracuse Stars.
Schulte was acquired by theChicago Cubs in August 1904.[2]
Schulte made hisMajor League Baseball debut for the Cubs in September 1904. He played on the Cubs teams that won National League pennants in 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1910.[2] They won the World Series in 1907 and 1908. In his four World Series appearances, Schulte had an overallbatting average of .321.[3]
In 1910, Schulte led the NL with 10home runs.[3] In 1911, he led the NL in home runs (21),runs batted in (107), andslugging percentage (.534). He also became the first player in major league history to have more than 20doubles,triples, home runs, andstolen bases in a season. The feat was not accomplished again untilWillie Mays did it in 1957. Schulte won the 1911 NLChalmers Award, making Schulte along withTy Cobb the first major league players to have been considered "Most Valuable Player" for a season.[2]
In July 1916, Schulte was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. His hitting declined, and he then played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Senators until the 1918 season, his last as a major leaguer.[2]
Schulte played in theInternational League andPacific Coast League from 1919 to 1922.[4]
In 1,806 MLB games over 15 seasons, Schulte posted a .270 batting average (1766-for-6533) with 906runs, 288 doubles, 124 triples, 92 home runs, 793 runs batted in, 233 stolen bases, 545bases on balls, a .332on-base percentage, and a .395 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .966fielding percentage.[3]
Schulte acquired his nickname, "Wildfire", after seeing a play called "Wildfire" in Mississippi. He then named one of his race horses "Wildfire" and was eventually known by that name, as well.[2]
Schulte married his wife, Mabel Kirby, in 1911.[5] He eventually settled inOakland, California.
Schulte died in Oakland, California on October 2, 1949, at age 67.[2]
· Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet, orSABR Biography Project
