Lee Smith (2019)


Date of Birth: December 4, 1957
Birthplace: Jamestown, Louisiana
College: Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Lee Smith played basketball, but not baseball, in the first two years of high school. In his junior year, he joined the baseball team.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs drafted Smith in the second round on June 3, 1975. He played in the minor leagues from 1975 through 1979. In 1978, after the minor leagues moved him to the bullpen, he decided to play basketball at Northwestern State University rather than become a relief pitcher. He was convinced to return to the minor leagues by Cubs' outfielder Billy Williams.

In 1980, Smith joined the Cubs for 18 games as a relief pitcher. He also pitched in 50 games in the minors. The following season, he pitched in 40 games with the Cubs and he had 3 wins and 6 losses, 1 save, and a 3.49 ERA in 67.0 innings.

Smith had career highs in games played and innings pitched in 1982. He pitched in 72 games (5 as a starting pitcher) and he had 2 wins and 5 losses, 99 strikeouts to 37 walks, and a 2.69 ERA in 117.0 innings. His career as a full-time relief pitcher began in 1983. That season he led the NL in saves and he had a career low ERA of 1.65. He finished the season with a 4-10 win-loss record, 29 saves, and 91 strikeouts to 41 walks in 103.1 innings in 66 games.

Smith's ERA shot up to 3.65 in 1984. His other numbers, however, were good: 9 wins to 7 losses, 33 saves, 86 strikeouts to 35 walks in 101.0 innings in 69 games.

Smith had a career high in strikeouts in 1985, and he finished the season with 7 wins and 4 losses, 33 saves, 112 strikeouts to 32 walks, and a 3.04 ERA in 97.2 innings in 65 games. He had similar numbers in 1986, with 9 wins and 9 losses, 31 saves, 93 strikeouts to 42 walks, and a 3.09 ERA in 90.1 innings in 66 games.

Smith had a 3.12 ERA in 1987, his last season with the Cubs. He finished the year with 4 wins and 10 losses, 35 saves, and 95 strikeouts to 32 walks in 83.2 innings in 62 games.

Boston Red Sox

Smith was traded to the Boston Red Sox on December 8, 1987. He had a good first season with the Red Sox in 1988, finishing with a 2.80 ERA and 29 saves in 83.2 innings in 64 games. The next season wasn't as good. He finished the 1989 season with 6 wins and 1 loss, 25 saves, 96 strikeouts to 33 walks, and a 3.57 ERA in 70.2 innings in 64 games.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Red Sox traded Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals in May, 1990. He finished that season with a 2.06 ERA and 31 saves in 11 games with Boston and 53 games with the Cardinals.

Smith was named the Rolaids Relief Man in 1991. That year, he led the NL in saves. He had 6 wins and 3 losses, a career high 47 saves, 67 strikeouts to 13 walks, and a 2.34 ERA in 73.0 innings in 67 games. The following year, he again led the NL in saves and he won another Rolaids Relief Man award. He finished the 1992 season with 43 saves and a 3.12 ERA in 75.0 innings in 70 games.

New York Yankees

Smith was traded to the New York Yankees on August 31, 1993. He finished the season with 46 saves, 60 strikeouts to 14 walks, and a 3.88 ERA in 55 games with the Cardinals and 8 games with the Yankees.

Baltimore Orioles

Smith became a free agent on October 25, 1993. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles on January 20, 1994. In his only season with the Orioles, he led the AL in saves and once more was named the Rolaids Relief Man. He had 33 saves and a 3.29 ERA in 38.1 innings in 41 games.

California Angels

Smith became a free agent again on October 24, 1994. He signed with the California Angels on December 14, 1994. He finished the 1995 season with 37 saves and a 3.47 ERA in 49.1 innings in 52 games.

Cincinnati Reds

The Angels traded Smith to the Cincinnati Reds on May 27, 1996. That season he wasn't a closer for either team. He finished the season with 3 wins and 4 losses, 2 saves, and a 3.74 ERA in 11 games with the Angels and 43 games with the Reds.

Montreal Expos (Washington Nationals)

On October 29, 1996, Smith once again became a free agent. He signed with the Montreal Expos on January 21, 1997. He pitched just 21.2 innings in 25 games in 1997, and he had 5 saves and a 5.82 ERA. He was released on September 25th.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Rolaids Relief Man (3 times)
  • Led NL in saves (3 times)
  • Led AL in saves in 1994

Career Pitching Statistics

  • 1,022 games played
  • 1,290.0 innings pitched
  • 71-92 win-loss record
  • 478 saves
  • 1,251 strikeouts to 486 walks
  • 3.03 ERA

Post Playing Career

In 1998, Smith played one game in the minors for the Houston Astros. He then retired as a player.

After retiring, Smith was a minor league pitching instructor for the San Francisco Giants. He held that position from 1998 through 2009.

Smith was a pitching coach for South Africa in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Lee Smith
Baseball Reference - Lee Smith

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