Ford Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ford Smith |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 19, 1919 Phoenix, Arizona |
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| Died: February 26, 1983 (aged 64) Phoenix, Arizona |
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| debut | |||
| 1939, for the Chicago American Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1948, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |||
| Teams | |||
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John Ford Smith (born January 19, 1919 – died February 26, 1983) was an American baseball player. He was a talented pitcher in the Negro leagues during the 1930s and 1940s. These leagues were professional baseball leagues where African American players competed before Major League Baseball was integrated.
Smith was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He went to the University of Arizona. He started his professional baseball career in 1939.
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John Ford Smith's Baseball Journey
John Ford Smith began his career in the Negro leagues. He played for several important teams.
Early Years in the Negro Leagues
In 1939, Smith joined the Chicago American Giants. This was his first team in the Negro leagues. The next year, in 1940, he played for the Indianapolis Crawfords. In 1941, he moved to the famous Kansas City Monarchs.
Serving His Country and Returning to Play
Smith took a break from baseball to serve in the United States Army Air Corps. This was during World War II. After the war, he returned to the Kansas City Monarchs. He played for them from 1946 to 1948.
In 1946, Smith was a key player for the Monarchs. He started two important games in the 1946 Negro World Series. He pitched in Game 2 and Game 7. In 1947, he was chosen to play in the East–West All-Star Game. This game featured the best players from the Negro leagues.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
In 1949, Smith signed with the New York Giants. He signed on the same day as Monte Irvin, who later became a Baseball Hall of Famer. Smith then spent several years playing in the minor leagues. These are leagues below Major League Baseball.
He played for different teams each year:
- 1949 and 1950: Jersey City Giants
- 1951: Drummondville Cubs
- 1952 and 1953: Phoenix Senators
- 1954: El Paso Texans
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, John Ford Smith went back to Phoenix, Arizona. He worked for the Phoenix Union High School District. He also served as the executive director of the Arizona Civil Rights Commission. This commission worked to protect people's rights.
John Ford Smith passed away in Phoenix in 1983. He was 64 years old.
