Pete Smith (baseball) facts for kids

Peter John Smith (born on February 27, 1966, in Abington, Massachusetts) is a former professional baseball player. He was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, which is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada. Pete Smith played for several teams during his career, known for his right-handed pitching.

Pete Smith's Baseball Journey

Pete Smith was first chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1984 amateur draft. He was a top pick, being the 21st player selected overall! On June 14, 1984, he signed to play Minor League Baseball for the Phillies. This is where players develop their skills before reaching the major leagues.

Major League Debut

The Philadelphia Phillies later traded Smith to the Atlanta Braves. This trade happened along with another player, Ozzie Virgil, Jr.. In return, the Phillies received Steve Bedrosian and Milt Thompson.

Pete Smith made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 8, 1987. He was just 21 years old when he debuted with the Atlanta Braves.

Playing for the Braves

In 1988, the season after his first year, Smith pitched three shutouts. A shutout means a pitcher plays an entire game without the other team scoring any runs. The Atlanta Braves hoped Smith would become a star pitcher, like John Smoltz and Tom Glavine.

However, in 1989, Smith's earned run average (ERA) was 4.75. The ERA shows how many runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. A lower ERA is better. His ERA in 1988 was 3.69, so it went up a bit.

Smith played for the Atlanta Braves from 1987 to 1993.

Moving to New Teams

After his time with the Braves, Smith was traded to the New York Mets. The Braves received Dave Gallagher in this trade. Smith played only the 1994 season with the Mets.

On October 25, 1994, he became a free agent. This means he was free to sign with any team he wanted. On December 1, 1994, Smith signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He played with the Reds for about half of the 1995 season.

Then, on July 1, 1995, he was traded again. This time, he went to the Florida Marlins. On December 23, 1995, Smith signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres. He played one season with them.

Final Years in Baseball

On June 9, 1998, Smith was traded to the Baltimore Orioles organization. He played his final Major League Baseball game on September 24, 1998.

Throughout his career, Pete Smith had an ERA of 4.55. He also recorded 640 strikeouts. A strikeout happens when a pitcher throws three strikes to a batter, and the batter misses or doesn't swing. Smith also pitched a total of four shutouts during his time in the major leagues.