Ken Smith (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ken Smith |
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: February 12, 1958 Youngstown, Ohio |
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| debut | |||
| September 22, 1981, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 14, 1983, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .268 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Runs batted in | 5 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Kenneth Earl Smith (born February 12, 1958) is a former professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman for the Atlanta Braves. Ken was part of the team from 1981 to 1983.
Ken Smith was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He was a talented athlete at East High School in his hometown. In 1976, the Atlanta Braves chose him as their top pick in the free agent draft. This was a big deal and got him national attention.
After a great spring training where he hit for a .400 average, Smith joined a Class A team. This team was in Greenwood, South Carolina, and played in the Western Carolinas League.
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Ken Smith's Minor League Journey
Starting Strong in Greenwood
In 1977, while playing for the Greenwood team, Ken Smith had an amazing batting average of .369. This showed how skilled he was at hitting the ball.
His manager, Bobby Dews, was very impressed. He said Ken was one of their best young players. Dews believed Ken would definitely make it to the main Atlanta Braves team. He just needed to keep showing his strong desire and determination.
Moving Up the Ranks
From 1978 to 1979, Smith played for a Class AA team. This team was a farm team for the Braves, located in Savannah. After that, he spent two more years with a Class AAA team in Richmond. These steps helped him get ready for the major leagues.
Ken Smith's Major League Career
Joining the Atlanta Braves
Ken Smith joined the Atlanta Braves in 1981. He played in three regular season games that year. In the spring training of 1982, he hit over .300. He was excited to play more with the Braves in the upcoming season.
Challenges and Pinch-Hitting Success
However, in April 1982, Smith was sent back to Richmond. This happened after the Braves got another first baseman, Bob Watson, from the New York Yankees. Ken often traveled back and forth between Richmond and Atlanta. In 1982, he did very well as a pinch-hitter for the Braves. He batted .293 in that role. He played his final season with the Braves in 1983.
After the Braves
On October 20, 1983, Ken Smith became a free agent. This meant he could sign with any team. He later re-signed with the Braves for a minor league contract. He played two more seasons within the Braves organization. After playing the 1986 season with the Baltimore Orioles organization, his professional baseball career ended.
