Chuck Smith (baseball)

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Chuck Smith
Pitcher
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 13, 2000 for the Florida Marlins
Final game
July 24, 2001 for the Texas Rangers
Career statistics
ERA	3.84
Record	11-11
Strikeouts	189
Teams
Florida Marlins (1990-1991)
Career highlights and awards
He was a 30 year old rookie.

Charles Edward "Chuck" Smith is a former Major League baseball player, who pitched for the Brother Elephants in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2006. He was born on October 21, 1969 in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio and later Indiana State University. He was 6'1", 185 pounds and he threw right handed.

He was originally drafted in the 30rd round (772nd overall) in the 1989 draft by the Montreal Expos. He did not sign, but in 1991 the Houston Astros picked him up as an undrafted free agent.

Truly a career minor leaguer, he spent time in all levels of pro ball (including independent baseball and international baseball) as both a starter and reliever. Perhaps his best minor league season was 1995 with the South Bend Silver Hawks, when he went 10-10 with a 2.67 ERA. He also struck out 145 batters in 167 innings that year.

After years in the minors, he finally reached the Major Leagues at the age of 30 in 2000 with the Florida Marlins (to whom he'd been traded for Brant Brown). His Major League debut (June 30, 2000) was impressive-in 6 innings of work, he gave up 6 hits, struck out 6 and only allowed one earned run-a home run by Ron Gant in the first inning, which was also the first hit he ever gave up. He got a no decision. He won his first game on July 27 of that year against the Atlanta Braves-in 5 innings of work, he walked four, struck out two, gave up six hits but still managed a win. He completed his first game on September 23, 2000 against the Colorado Rockies-albeit, it was a shortened game. He finished in rookie season with a 6-6 record and a 3.23 ERA.

Described as being "...on top of his game when he moves his pitches around...with his incredible control," Smith "...smokes his fastball past hitters up high and induces pathetic ground balls with his low off-speed stuff." He apparently lost some of that skill in 2001 as went 5-5 with an ERA that jumped to 4.70. He played his final Major League game on July 24, 2001.

Overall, he went 11-11 with a 3.84 ERA in his career in 34 games started. He struck out 189 batters in 210+ innings. He gave up just 16 home runs in his career. He had a .136 average as a batter. He walked once and struck out 27 times in 66 at-bats. As a fielder, he made three errors for a .936 fielding percentage.

After his time with the Marlins, he jumped around the minors leagues in the Rockies, Mets, Braves and Orioles farm systems. He finished his minor league career with an 89-76 record, and an ERA of 3.89.

[edit] Facts and Trivia

His idol is Satchel Paige
He wore two numbers in his career: 23 (2000) and 45 (2001)
Tied with Alex Graman in 2004 to lead the International League in strikeouts with 129.
He earned $175,000 in 2000. He earned $240,000 in 2001.
He was set to be a replacement player in the 1994 Baseball Strike.
He gave up the 16th home run in Barry Bonds record breaking 2001 season, when Bonds hit 73 homers.
Compared statistically to John Miller.
He was teammates with Ryan Glynn for four years-longer than any other teammate.

[edit] Quotes about Smith

"Inconsistency has been the bane of his existence from the minors to the majors."-TSN.ca
"His potential appears to have tapped out. He's a decent major-league middle reliever at best."-TSN.ca