Injuries to Schmidt's rotator cuff caused him to miss the last month and a half of the season. He returned healthy for the season. However, after a poor start, Schmidt suddenly chose to announce his retirement in San Diego, on May 29. Although he typically demonstrated little emotion on the field (and was known as "Captain Cool" by many in Philadelphia sports circles), Schmidt surprised many with an emotional, and occasionally tearful, retirement speech. He said in his retirement press conference, "I left Dayton, Ohio, with two bad knees and a dream of becoming a baseball player; I thank God it came it true." His last game was May 28, 1989, against the San Francisco Giants.