Willie Smith (outfielder)
| Willie Smith | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher/Outfielder | |
|
Born: February 11, 1939 Anniston, Alabama | |
|
Died: January 16, 2006 (aged 66) Anniston, Alabama | |
| Batted: Left | Threw: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| June 18, 1963 for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 1971 for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .248 |
| Home runs | 46 |
| Runs batted in | 211 |
| Win-Loss record | 2–4 |
| Earned run average | 3.10 |
| Teams | |
| |
Willie Smith (February 11, 1939 – January 16, 2006) was a major league baseball left-handed pitcher and converted outfielder. After starting his career as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in 1963, Smith later converted to an outfielder for the California Angels (1964–66), the Cleveland Indians (1967–68), the Chicago Cubs (1968–70), and the Cincinnati Reds (1971). He also played two seasons in Japan for the Nankai Hawks (1972–73). He threw and batted left-handed and was born in Anniston, Alabama.
Smith was a highly regarded pitching prospect in the Detroit farm system. In 1963, playing for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs, he led the International League in winning percentage (.875) with a 14–2 won/loss mark, and posted a 2.11 earned run average. He also batted .380 (30 hits in 79 at bats), with one home run and 13 runs batted in. Smith was still plying his trade on the mound when he was swapped to the Angels for Julio Navarro on April 28, 1964. He had compiled a 1–4 record with an earned run average of 2.84 with the Angels in 33⅔ innings pitched when Halo manager Bill Rigney shifted Smith to the outfield to get his bat in the lineup on a daily basis. Smith responded by hitting .301 that season (his career-best batting average) with 11 home runs and 51 RBI.
In nine seasons he played in 691 Games and had 1,654 At Bats, 171 Runs, 410 Hits, 63 Doubles, 21 Triples, 46 Home Runs, 211 RBI, 20 Stolen Bases, 107 Walks, .248 Batting Average, .295 On-base percentage, .395 Slugging Percentage, 653 Total Bases, 9 Sacrifice Hits, 15 Sacrifice Flies and 20 Intentional Walks. His record as a pitcher was 2–4 with a 3.10 ERA in 29 games and 61 innings spread over three MLB seasons.
He died of an apparent heart attack in his hometown at the age of 66.
Willie Smith is perhaps best remembered by Chicago baseball fans for his dramatic extra inning walk-off home run at Wrigley Field on Opening Day, April 8, 1969, resulting in a Cub win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sources
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference