Germany Smith
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George J. "Germany" Smith (April 21, 1863 - December 1, 1827) was a 19th century Major League Baseball player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He played primarily shortstop for five different teams spanning 15 seasons. He made his major league debut for Altoona Mountain City of the Union Association in 1884. After Altoona's team folded after just 25 games, he jumped over to the Cleveland Blues of the National League.[1] After the 1884 season ended, Cleveland then sold him, along with 6 other players, to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms for $4000.[2]
On June 17, 1885, Germany intentionally committed seven errors, when his team decided to punish new pitcher, Phenomenal Smith, losing the game 18-5. All 18 runs against the brash lefthander were unearned‚ due to a total of 14 Brooklyn "errors". "Phenomenal" gave himself his nickname before he joined the team‚ saying that he was so good that he didn't need his teammates to win. The intentional misplays of his teammates caused club President Lynch to fine the guilty players $500 each‚ but he reluctantly agrees to release Smith to ensure team harmony.[3]
A reliable shortstop in the days when a fielding average below .900 could lead the league, he did, in fact, lead the American Association in 1887. When the AA folded in 1890, he, along with most members of the team transferred to the National League's new Brooklyn franchise. In 1891 John Montgomery Ward took over as manager and shortstop, effectively ending Smith's career with Brooklyn, so he left and joined the Cincinnati Reds. There he led NL shortstops in assists each year from 1891 to 1894. Smith later returned in 1897, when Cincinnatti and Brooklyn swapped shortstops, with Tommy Corcoran moving to the Reds.
His major league career came to end after the 1898 season, when he played just 51 games for the St. Louis Browns, and moved on to play for the Minneapolis Millers of the Northwestern League for the 1899 and 1900 seasons.[4]
Smith died at the age of 64 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and was laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Altoona.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Baseball Reference player page
- ^ Super 70s Baseball
- ^ The Baseball Library
- ^ Minneapolis Miller history
- ^ Baseball Almanac player page]
Categories: 1863 births | 1827 deaths | 19th century baseball players | Major league players from Pennsylvania | People from Pittsburgh | Major league shortstops | Altoona Mountain City players | Cleveland Blues players | Brooklyn Bridegrooms players | Cincinnati Reds players | St. Louis Browns players
