Hal Smith
Born: 6/1/1931 in Barling, AR, USA
Died: 4/12/2014 in Fort Smith, AR, USA
MLB Debut: 1956-05-02 | Final Game: 1965-07-08
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 186 lbs
Full name: Harold Raymond Smith
Biography
Hal Smith was a professional baseball player born in 1931, who made significant contributions to the game during his career from 1956 to 1965. Primarily known as a position player, Smith played in a total of 570 games, where he showcased his skills as both a reliable hitter and a solid defensive player. He accumulated 437 hits, with a batting average of .258, along with 23 home runs and 172 RBIs. Over the course of his career, he demonstrated his speed on the basepaths, finishing with 6 stolen bases.
Smith's performance on the field earned him three All-Star selections, highlighting his impact during a competitive era in baseball. His ability to contribute offensively and defensively made him a valuable asset to his teams. Smith played during a transitional period in Major League Baseball, where the game was beginning to evolve with a focus on power hitting and athleticism. His contributions to the sport have solidified his place in baseball history as a respected player of his time.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 570 | 1697 | 126 | 437 | 63 | 8 | 23 | 172 | 6 | 102 | 128 | 0.258 | 0.300 | 0.345 | 0.644 | -3339.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | STL | NL | 75 | 227 | 27 | 64 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 1 | 15 | 22 | 0.282 | -23.4 |
| 1957 | STL | NL | 100 | 333 | 25 | 93 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 18 | 18 | 0.279 | -478.2 |
| 1958 | STL | NL | 77 | 220 | 13 | 50 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0.227 | -983.3 |
| 1959 | STL | NL | 142 | 452 | 35 | 122 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 50 | 2 | 15 | 28 | 0.270 | -353.3 |
| 1960 | STL | NL | 127 | 337 | 20 | 77 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 1 | 29 | 33 | 0.228 | -1143.3 |
| 1961 | STL | NL | 45 | 125 | 6 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 0.248 | -358.0 |
| 1965 | PIT | NL | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 548 | 484 | 2810 | 247 | 33 | 43 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | SLN | C | 66 | 58 | 300 | 34 | 6 | 3 |
| 1957 | SLN | C | 97 | 86 | 468 | 42 | 5 | 8 |
| 1958 | SLN | C | 71 | 61 | 346 | 22 | 4 | 4 |
| 1959 | SLN | C | 141 | 128 | 758 | 60 | 9 | 13 |
| 1960 | SLN | C | 124 | 108 | 664 | 61 | 7 | 9 |
| 1961 | SLN | C | 45 | 42 | 261 | 28 | 2 | 6 |
| 1965 | PIT | C | 4 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 548 |