Mike Schmidt recovering from skin cancer; Hall of Famer will be part of Phillies' TV crew

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

Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt has undergone two operations, radiation and chemotherapy.

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.