Dave Smith (pitcher, born 1955) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dave Smith |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 21, 1955 Richmond, California, U.S. |
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| Died: December 17, 2008 (aged 53) San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 11, 1980, for the Houston Astros | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 8, 1992, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 53–53 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.67 | ||
| Strikeouts | 548 | ||
| Saves | 216 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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David Stanley Smith (born January 21, 1955 – died December 17, 2008) was a talented American baseball player. He was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, mostly known for playing with the Houston Astros. He played for the Astros from 1980 to 1990. He also spent some time pitching for the Chicago Cubs.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Smith was born in Richmond, California. He later attended San Diego State University. In 1976, he was chosen by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 169th player picked overall.
Baseball Career Highlights
Smith made his first Major League appearance on April 11, 1980. This game was against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He came into the game in the eighth inning. Even though he allowed some players to reach base, he didn't let any runs score. The Astros then scored five runs and won the game. This gave Smith his first career win.
First Season Success (1980)
In his first year, Smith played in 57 games. He pitched for 102.2 innings, which was the most in his career. He earned ten saves and had a record of 7 wins and 5 losses. His ERA was very good at 1.93. He also struck out 85 batters.
That year, the Astros made it to the postseason for the first time ever. Smith played in three games of the 1980 National League Championship Series. In one game, he helped the Astros win a close extra-inning game. The Astros eventually lost the series, but it was an exciting start to Smith's career.
Continuing as a Key Pitcher
In 1981, Smith continued to pitch well. He played in 42 games and collected eight saves. The Astros returned to the postseason that year. They played against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1981 National League Division Series. Smith pitched in two of those games.
Smith started only one game in his entire career. This happened on June 25, 1982, against the Dodgers. He pitched for two innings in that game.
Becoming a Closer (1984-1990)
After the 1984 season, Smith became the Astros' main closer. A closer is a pitcher who finishes games and tries to protect a lead. In his first five seasons, he had 40 saves. But in the next six seasons, he saved 159 games for the Astros.
In 1986, Smith had a fantastic year. He appeared in 54 games and recorded 33 saves. His ERA was 2.73, and he had a 4-7 win-loss record. He was chosen to play in the All-Star Game that year.
1986 Postseason Challenge
Smith and the Astros made it to the postseason again in 1986. They played against the New York Mets in the 1986 National League Championship Series. Smith pitched in Game 3 and Game 6.
In Game 3, Smith came into the game with the Astros leading 5-4. But the Mets hit a home run off him, and they won the game. Game 6 was a very long and memorable game. Smith pitched in the ninth and tenth innings. He kept the Mets from scoring in the tenth, but the Astros eventually lost the game in the sixteenth inning.
Final Seasons and Records
Smith's last year with the Astros was 1990. He was again selected for the All-Star team that season. He had a 2.39 ERA in 49 games and collected 23 saves. He also struck out 50 batters.
After 1990, Smith signed with the Chicago Cubs. He pitched for them in 1991 and part of 1992. He had 17 saves with the Cubs in 1991. His last game was on June 8, 1992, against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Smith finished his career with a 53-53 win-loss record. He holds some important records for the Houston Astros:
- Most games pitched (586)
- Fewest home runs allowed per nine innings (0.331)
- His 2.53 ERA is the third-best in Astros history.
- His 199 saves for the Astros was a team record for many years.
Overall, Smith had 216 total saves in his career.
Personal Life
Dave Smith was married twice and had three children. After he stopped playing baseball, he continued to work in the sport. He worked for the San Diego Padres in their minor league system from 1994 to 1998. Then, he became a coach for their main Major League team from 1999 to 2001. He also helped lead The San Diego School of Baseball for almost 30 years.
Smith passed away on December 17, 2008, in San Diego, California. He died from a heart attack.
See also
- List of Houston Astros team records
