Lafayette Drillers Flashback: Earnest Schmidt

The Lafayette Drillers, a Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, called Lafayette, Louisiana their home for two years, from 1975-1976.

The Drillers, who played their home games at Clark Field, were co-champions of the Texas League in 1975 with the Midland Cubs, finishing 72-57, before going 58-76 in 1976, the last year of affiliated professional baseball in Lafayette.

A number of outstanding players, who eventually made it into Major League Baseball ranks played at Clark Field in 1975 & 1976, including five former Lafayette Driller players.

All summer long, we’re taking a look back at some of the former players for the Drillers.

Today, pitcher Earnest Schmidt:

Gonzalez was a pitcher, who split his time between being a starter and a reliever, for the Drillers during the 1976 season.

After playing his college baseball at El Camino College in California, Schmidt was signed by the San Francisco Giants’ organization in 1975 at the age of 20.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Schmidt, a right-hander, made a minor league stop in Great Falls, Montana before joining the Drillers in 1976 at the age of 21.

With Lafayette, Schmidt pitched in 24 games in ’76, 12 as a starter, going 6-8 with a 4.41 earned run average.

In 96 innings pitched, Schmidt allowed 96 hits, 47 earned runs, and 41 walks, while striking out 53 hitters.

After his one-year stint in Lafayette, Schmidt pitched three more years of professional baseball, making stops in Waterbury, Florida, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Phoenix, Arizona, before retiring after the 1979 season.

In five minor league seasons, Schmidt compiled an overall record of 37-35, along with a 4.35 ERA. over 112 appearances.