Red October is almost here — you can practically feel it in the air. With the Philadelphia Phillies holding home-field advantage, they’ll welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to Citizens Bank Park for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday evening.
First pitch between these National League powerhouses is set for 6:38 p.m. ET. Cristopher Sánchez, the Phillies’ new ace, will get the start. But before the left-hander takes the mound, a franchise icon will step onto the field for a moment that promises to electrify the crowd.
According to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Phillies legend Mike Schmidt will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1. “It’s really the only fitting way to begin a series that is loaded with superstar talent and future Hall of Famers on both sides of the diamond.”
“The Phillies announced that Mike Schmidt will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 on Saturday.”
— Lochlahn March (@lochlahn), October 3, 2025
Schmidt, widely regarded as the greatest Phillie of all time, led the 1980 team to the franchise’s first World Series championship. The Hall of Fame third baseman spent his entire 18-year career (1972–1989) in Philadelphia and was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 1990.
Even today, Schmidt remains connected to the organization, occasionally appearing as a Sunday afternoon broadcaster. Over his career, he built a résumé unmatched in team history — 106.9 bWAR, three NL MVP awards, 12 All-Star selections, six Silver Sluggers, and 10 Gold Gloves.
He was also named the 1980 World Series MVP after hitting .381 with a 1.176 OPS, two home runs, and seven RBIs in six games — proof that he knows exactly what it takes to win in October.
Citizens Bank Park will be roaring long before Schmidt steps onto the field, but his appearance will take the energy to another level. Having him there adds even more meaning and emotion to what promises to be one of the Phillies’ most intense and important NLDS matchups of their current era.