Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt speaks at a news conference at the Phillies spring training complex Sunday, March16, 2014, in Clearwater, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt is recovering from an advanced form of skin cancer that kept him from being a guest instructor with the Philadelphia Phillies in spring training.
The 64-year-old Schmidt was in camp Sunday to talk about his illness.
Schmidt was diagnosed in August with stage 3 melanoma. He has undergone two operations, radiation and chemotherapy. He says he now considers himself “a very lucky man.”
Schmidt is scheduled for a scan Monday to see how his recovery has progressed.
The three-time NL MVP is set to join the Phillies’ television crew to work 13 home Sunday games this season.
Schmidt had been a guest instructor at spring training for the Phillies the past 12 years. He says he looks forward to returning to the role next season.