Al Smith
Born: 2/7/1928 in Kirkwood, MO, USA
Died: 1/3/2002 in Hammond, IN, USA
MLB Debut: 1953-07-10 | Final Game: 1964-10-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 189 lbs
Full name: Alphonse Eugene Smith
Biography
Al Smith was a prominent American professional baseball player, born in 1928, who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1953 until his retirement on October 4, 1964. Known primarily as a position player, Smith showcased his talents on the field over the course of 1,517 games, where he amassed 1,458 hits and demonstrated his power with 164 home runs. His offensive contributions were significant, as he recorded 676 RBIs and maintained a solid batting average of .272. Additionally, Smith displayed speed on the bases, stealing 67 bases during his career.
Smith's capabilities earned him recognition as a three-time All-Star, reflecting his impact during an era marked by fierce competition and the evolving dynamics of the game. Playing through the 1950s and early 1960s, Smith was part of the transitional phase in baseball, where integration and the emergence of new playing styles began to shape the sport. His blend of hitting prowess and base-running agility made him a valuable asset to his teams and a respected figure among his peers. Al Smithโs contributions to baseball remain noteworthy, as he left an enduring legacy that resonates with fans and historians alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1517 | 5357 | 843 | 1458 | 258 | 46 | 164 | 676 | 67 | 674 | 768 | 0.272 | 0.358 | 0.429 | 0.787 | 11608.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | CLE | AL | 47 | 150 | 28 | 36 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 20 | 25 | 0.240 | -74.4 |
| 1954 | CLE | AL | 131 | 481 | 101 | 135 | 29 | 6 | 11 | 50 | 2 | 88 | 65 | 0.281 | 1796.2 |
| 1955 | CLE | AL | 154 | 607 | 123 | 186 | 27 | 4 | 22 | 77 | 11 | 93 | 77 | 0.306 | 3065.0 |
| 1956 | CLE | AL | 141 | 526 | 87 | 144 | 26 | 5 | 16 | 71 | 6 | 84 | 72 | 0.274 | 1454.9 |
| 1957 | CLE | AL | 135 | 507 | 78 | 125 | 23 | 5 | 11 | 49 | 12 | 79 | 70 | 0.247 | 317.8 |
| 1958 | CHW | AL | 139 | 480 | 61 | 121 | 23 | 5 | 12 | 58 | 3 | 48 | 77 | 0.252 | -20.3 |
| 1959 | CHW | AL | 129 | 472 | 65 | 112 | 16 | 4 | 17 | 55 | 7 | 46 | 74 | 0.237 | -113.5 |
| 1960 | CHW | AL | 142 | 536 | 80 | 169 | 31 | 3 | 12 | 72 | 8 | 50 | 65 | 0.315 | 1768.0 |
| 1961 | CHW | AL | 147 | 532 | 88 | 148 | 29 | 4 | 28 | 93 | 4 | 56 | 67 | 0.278 | 1776.8 |
| 1962 | CHW | AL | 142 | 511 | 62 | 149 | 23 | 8 | 16 | 82 | 3 | 57 | 60 | 0.292 | 1515.4 |
| 1963 | BAL | AL | 120 | 368 | 45 | 100 | 17 | 1 | 10 | 39 | 9 | 32 | 74 | 0.272 | 635.7 |
| 1964 | BOS | AL | 29 | 51 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0.216 | 184.2 |
| 1964 | CLE | AL | 61 | 136 | 15 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 32 | 0.162 | 184.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 34 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0.235 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS | CHA | 6 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0.250 |
| 1954 | WS | CLE | 4 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.214 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 378 | 352 | 315 | 638 | 74 | 46 |
| OF | 1118 | 995 | 2050 | 63 | 56 | 10 |
| SS | 9 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | CLE | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | CLE | OF | 39 | 0 | 67 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 1954 | CLE | 3B | 21 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 6 | 3 |
| 1954 | CLE | SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | CLE | OF | 109 | 105 | 241 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| 1955 | CLE | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | CLE | 3B | 45 | 40 | 33 | 59 | 7 | 4 |
| 1955 | CLE | SS | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1955 | CLE | OF | 120 | 114 | 206 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 1956 | CLE | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | CLE | 3B | 28 | 23 | 22 | 38 | 5 | 2 |
| 1956 | CLE | OF | 122 | 114 | 248 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 1957 | CLE | 3B | 84 | 82 | 95 | 156 | 24 | 16 |
| 1957 | CLE | OF | 58 | 49 | 100 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1958 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | CHA | OF | 138 | 128 | 249 | 9 | 8 | 2 |
| 1959 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | CHA | OF | 128 | 126 | 283 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 1960 | CHA | OF | 141 | 141 | 252 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| 1961 | CHA | 3B | 80 | 79 | 58 | 161 | 12 | 12 |
| 1961 | CHA | OF | 71 | 61 | 123 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1962 | CHA | 3B | 105 | 104 | 76 | 185 | 18 | 8 |
| 1962 | CHA | OF | 39 | 32 | 47 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963 | BAL | OF | 97 | 93 | 160 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 1964 | BOS | 3B | 10 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 1964 | BOS | OF | 8 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | CLE | OF | 48 | 27 | 64 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 2 |
| Third Base | 379 |
| Shortstop | 9 |
| Left Field | 402 |
| Center Field | 86 |
| Right Field | 673 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 33th | 1.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1961 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 6th | 73.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 3rd | 200.0 | 336 | 7 |