Elmer Smith
Born: 9/21/1892 in Perkins Township Erie County, OH, USA
Died: 8/3/1984 in Columbia, KY, USA
MLB Debut: 1914-09-20 | Final Game: 1925-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Elmer John Smith
Biography
Elmer Smith was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, born in 1892 and active from 1914 until his retirement in 1925. Over the course of his career, he played in 1,012 games and established himself as a reliable offensive contributor, amassing 881 hits and 541 RBIs. Smith demonstrated power at the plate with 70 home runs, complemented by a solid batting average of .276. He also exhibited speed on the bases, recording 54 stolen bases throughout his tenure in the league.
Competing in the early 20th century, a time characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively driven style of play, Smith's contributions were significant to the teams he played for, including the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox. His ability to combine hitting prowess with base-running skills made him a valuable asset during a period when offensive production was becoming increasingly essential to team success. Smith's legacy is remembered as part of the fabric of baseball history, reflecting the evolution of the game during his era.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1012 | 3195 | 469 | 881 | 181 | 62 | 70 | 541 | 54 | 319 | 359 | 0.276 | 0.344 | 0.437 | 0.781 | 7109.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | CLE | AL | 13 | 53 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 0.321 | 66.6 |
| 1915 | CLE | AL | 144 | 476 | 37 | 118 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 67 | 10 | 36 | 75 | 0.248 | 17.7 |
| 1916 | CLE | AL | 79 | 213 | 25 | 59 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 3 | 18 | 35 | 0.277 | 589.4 |
| 1916 | WSN | AL | 45 | 168 | 12 | 36 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 4 | 18 | 28 | 0.214 | 589.4 |
| 1917 | CLE | AL | 64 | 161 | 21 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 0.261 | 156.2 |
| 1917 | WSN | AL | 35 | 117 | 8 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 0.222 | 156.2 |
| 1919 | CLE | AL | 114 | 395 | 60 | 110 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 54 | 15 | 41 | 30 | 0.278 | 1331.7 |
| 1920 | CLE | AL | 129 | 456 | 82 | 144 | 37 | 10 | 12 | 103 | 5 | 53 | 35 | 0.316 | 2537.5 |
| 1921 | CLE | AL | 129 | 431 | 98 | 125 | 28 | 9 | 16 | 85 | 0 | 56 | 46 | 0.290 | 1552.6 |
| 1922 | BOS | AL | 73 | 231 | 43 | 66 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 0 | 25 | 21 | 0.286 | 431.0 |
| 1922 | NYY | AL | 21 | 27 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.185 | 431.0 |
| 1923 | NYY | AL | 70 | 183 | 30 | 56 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 35 | 3 | 21 | 21 | 0.306 | 536.5 |
| 1925 | CIN | NL | 96 | 284 | 47 | 77 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 46 | 6 | 28 | 20 | 0.271 | 116.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0.267 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | WS | NYA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 1920 | WS | CLE | 5 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0.308 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 870 | 0 | 1429 | 95 | 69 | 31 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | CLE | OF | 13 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1915 | CLE | OF | 123 | 0 | 202 | 15 | 18 | 4 |
| 1916 | CLE | OF | 57 | 0 | 77 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| 1916 | WS1 | OF | 45 | 0 | 75 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1917 | CLE | OF | 40 | 0 | 64 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| 1917 | WS1 | OF | 29 | 0 | 60 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 1919 | CLE | OF | 111 | 0 | 167 | 12 | 8 | 8 |
| 1920 | CLE | OF | 129 | 0 | 217 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| 1921 | CLE | OF | 127 | 0 | 183 | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| 1922 | BOS | OF | 58 | 0 | 117 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
| 1922 | NYA | OF | 11 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1923 | NYA | OF | 47 | 0 | 86 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 1925 | CIN | OF | 80 | 0 | 139 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 119 |
| Center Field | 25 |
| Right Field | 727 |