Lee Smith (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lee Smith |
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Smith with the Chicago Cubs in 1985
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: December 4, 1957 Jamestown, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 1, 1980, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 2, 1997, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Games pitched | 1,022 | ||
| Win–loss record | 71–92 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.03 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,251 | ||
| Saves | 478 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2019 | ||
| Vote | 100% | ||
| Election Method | Today's Game Era Committee | ||
Lee Arthur Smith (born December 4, 1957) is a former American professional baseball pitcher. He played for 18 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) with eight different teams. Lee Smith was known as a very strong closer, which is a type of relief pitcher. He was the first pitcher to get 400 saves in his career. A save happens when a pitcher finishes a game and helps their team win.
From 1993 until 2006, Lee Smith held the record for the most career saves in MLB with 478. Later, Trevor Hoffman broke his record. In 2019, Lee Smith was chosen for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was picked by a special group called the Today's Game Era Committee.
Lee Smith was born in Jamestown, Louisiana. He was a very tall and strong pitcher, standing 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) tall and weighing 265 pounds (120 kg). He could throw a fastball at 95 miles per hour (150 km/h). In 1991, he set a National League (NL) record with 47 saves while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. He led the NL in saves three times and the American League (AL) once. When he retired, he had played in 1,022 games, which was the third-highest number for a pitcher at the time. He still holds the record for most career saves for the Chicago Cubs (180) and used to hold it for the Cardinals (160).
After he stopped playing, Smith worked as a pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants in Minor League Baseball. He also coached the South Africa national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
Lee Smith grew up in Castor, Louisiana. His favorite sport in high school was basketball. He didn't even play baseball until he was a junior. He started playing baseball because his brother dared him to try being a catcher for $10! A famous baseball scout named Buck O'Neil discovered his talent.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
In 1975, when he was 17, the Chicago Cubs picked Lee Smith in the MLB draft. He signed a contract for $50,000, which was a lot of money back then.
Smith began his career as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues. He played in different levels of minor league baseball from 1975 to 1980. At one point, he almost quit baseball when his team moved him to the bullpen. But a former Cubs player, Billy Williams, convinced him to keep playing. In 1980, he played in Triple-A and got 15 saves.
Time with the Chicago Cubs (1980–1987)
Lee Smith made his first appearance in Major League Baseball with the Cubs on September 1, 1980. He pitched a great inning and got his first MLB strikeout. He played in 18 games that year.
In 1981, he mostly pitched in the middle of games. His first major league save came on August 29, 1981. In 1982, he started five games, which were the only starts of his entire MLB career. He even hit his first home run in 1982!
A former Cubs pitcher, Ferguson Jenkins, helped Smith improve his pitching. Jenkins taught him new pitches like the slider and forkball. After that, Smith became the main closer for the Cubs.
In 1983, Smith had his best season with a very low earned run average (ERA) of 1.65. He led the National League with 29 saves and was chosen for his first All-Star Game.
The Cubs made it to the playoffs in 1984, which was their first time since 1945. Smith pitched in two playoff games. Even though he got a save in one game, the Cubs lost the series.
In 1985, Smith started striking out a lot more batters. He had a career-high 112 strikeouts that year. He continued to get over 30 saves each season. In 1987, he was picked for his second All-Star Game. He pitched three extra innings and helped his team win. He was one of only two pitchers to get 30 saves for four years in a row.
In December 1987, the Cubs traded Smith to the Boston Red Sox. He was the Cubs' all-time leader in saves when he left.
Playing for the Boston Red Sox (1988–1990)
The Boston Red Sox needed a strong pitcher, so they got Lee Smith in 1987. In 1988, he had a good ERA of 2.80. The Red Sox won their division that year. Smith pitched in the playoffs again, but the Red Sox lost the series.
In 1989, Smith continued to strike out many batters. In May 1990, the Red Sox traded Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals. During his time in Boston, he had 58 saves.
Success with the St. Louis Cardinals (1990–1993)
Lee Smith joined the St. Louis Cardinals in May 1990. He had a great year, getting 27 saves with a low ERA of 2.10.
In 1991, Smith had an amazing season, setting a new National League record with 47 saves. He won his first Rolaids Relief Man Award, which goes to the best relief pitcher. He also finished second in the voting for the Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher.
He led the NL in saves again in 1992 with 43 saves and won another Rolaids Relief Man Award. In 1993, Smith broke the MLB record for career saves. He also set a new MLB record by getting 15 saves in one month! In August 1993, the Cardinals traded Smith to the New York Yankees. He left the Cardinals as their all-time saves leader with 160 saves.
Short Stays with Other Teams (1993–1997)
Smith played briefly for the New York Yankees in 1993. He pitched very well, not allowing any runs and getting three saves.
In 1994, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He had a very successful season, getting 33 saves and winning his third Rolaids Relief Man Award. He was picked for his sixth All-Star Game, but he gave up a game-tying home run.
From 1995 to 1996, Smith played for the California Angels. In 1995, he set a new major league record by getting a save in 19 games in a row! He was also chosen for his seventh and final All-Star Game.
In 1996, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched in 43 games for the Reds.
His final season was in 1997 with the Montreal Expos. He retired from baseball on July 15, 1997.
Lee Smith played in 1,022 games in his career. He had a record of 71 wins and 92 losses, along with his amazing 478 saves. He struck out 1,251 batters.
After Playing Baseball
After retiring in 1998, Lee Smith became a pitching instructor for the San Francisco Giants. He helped young pitchers in the minor leagues. He also coached the South Africa national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.
Lee Smith has five children.
National Baseball Hall of Fame
Many people wondered if Lee Smith would be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was considered one of the best closers of his time. When he retired, only a few relief pitchers were in the Hall of Fame.
For many years, baseball writers voted for him, but he never got enough votes (75%) to be elected. He appeared on the ballot for 15 years, which was the maximum allowed.
However, in 2018, a special group called the Today's Game Committee voted for him. On December 9, 2018, Lee Smith was elected to the Hall of Fame! He received all 16 votes from the committee members.
His induction ceremony was held in Cooperstown, New York, on July 21, 2019. He was inducted alongside other baseball legends like Mariano Rivera and Edgar Martínez. In his speech, Smith thanked his hometown of Castor, Louisiana, saying they helped him get there.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in games finished
