In 1961, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Ed Bailey. Schmidt played as a reserve to regular catcher Jerry Zimmerman during the Reds' pennant-winning season of 1961, although he did not make the post-season roster when the Reds lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series. In 1962 he was traded along with Dave Stenhouse to the Washington Senators for Marty Keough and Johnny Klippstein. Schmidt ended his career with the New York Yankees in 1965.