Hal Smith (infielder) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hal Smith |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Catcher / Third baseman / First baseman | |||
| Born: December 7, 1930 West Frankfort, Illinois |
|||
| Died: January 9, 2020 (aged 89) Columbus, Texas |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| April 11, 1955, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 22, 1964, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .267 | ||
| Home runs | 58 | ||
| Runs batted in | 323 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Harold Wayne Smith (born December 7, 1930 – died January 9, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1955 to 1964. During his career, he played for five different teams. He is best known for being a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates team that won the 1960 World Series.
Contents
Hal Smith's Baseball Journey
Hal Smith was a talented baseball player who could play many positions. He was mainly a Catcher, but he also played Third baseman and First baseman. This made him a very useful player for any team.
Starting in the Major Leagues
Hal Smith began his MLB career on April 11, 1955, with the Baltimore Orioles. He played for the Orioles for two seasons. After that, he moved to the Kansas City Athletics. He stayed with the Athletics for four seasons, from 1956 to 1959.
Joining the Pittsburgh Pirates
In 1960, Hal Smith joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was a very special year for him and the team. The Pirates had a great season and made it to the World Series. The World Series is the championship event in Major League Baseball.
The 1960 World Series Hero
The 1960 World Series was a thrilling series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees. The series went all the way to Game 7. In that deciding game, Hal Smith hit a huge home run. This home run gave the Pirates the lead late in the game. It helped set up the team's winning moment. The Pirates won the series, and Hal Smith became a World Series champion.
Later Career and Retirement
After his time with the Pirates, Hal Smith played for two more teams. He played for the Houston Colt .45s from 1962 to 1963. His final season in MLB was in 1964 with the Cincinnati Reds. He retired from professional baseball after that season.
Hal Smith passed away on January 9, 2020, in Columbus, Texas. He was 89 years old. He is remembered as a valuable player and a World Series hero.
