Major League Baseball Player. When the Cincinnati Reds sold their 10-year veteran third baseman Bobby Adams to the Chicago White Sox on July 26, 1955, they simultaneously called up Smith from San Diego of the Pacific Coast League. The pressure was on the 26-year-old, not only because Adams was so popular but Smith was one of the first black players the Reds ever had. The others were infielder Chuck Harmon in 1954 and outfielder Bob Thurman in 1955. He batted only .196 (20 for 102) in 36 games with three homers and eight runs batted in. He struck out 24 times and committed seven errors. Cincinnati sent him back to the minor leagues and then traded him to St. Louis on May 1, 1956 for pitcher Paul LaPalme. The Cardinals shipped him to their Omaha affiliate in the American Association. He never played another major-league game.
Major League Baseball Player. When the Cincinnati Reds sold their 10-year veteran third baseman Bobby Adams to the Chicago White Sox on July 26, 1955, they simultaneously called up Smith from San Diego of the Pacific Coast League. The pressure was on the 26-year-old, not only because Adams was so popular but Smith was one of the first black players the Reds ever had. The others were infielder Chuck Harmon in 1954 and outfielder Bob Thurman in 1955. He batted only .196 (20 for 102) in 36 games with three homers and eight runs batted in. He struck out 24 times and committed seven errors. Cincinnati sent him back to the minor leagues and then traded him to St. Louis on May 1, 1956 for pitcher Paul LaPalme. The Cardinals shipped him to their Omaha affiliate in the American Association. He never played another major-league game.
Bio by: Ron Coons
Advertisement
See more Smith memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
