Al Smith (left-handed pitcher)
| Al Smith | |||
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| Pitcher | |||
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Born: October 12, 1907 Belleville, Illinois |
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Died: April 28, 1977 (aged 69) Brownsville, Texas |
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| MLB debut | |||
| May 5, 1934, for the New York Giants | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 15, 1945, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 99–101 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.72 | ||
| Strikeouts | 587 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Alfred John Smith (October 12, 1907 – April 28, 1977) was an American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher for the New York Giants (1934–37), Philadelphia Phillies (1938–39) and Cleveland Indians (1940–45) of Major League Baseball.
Smith is remembered for being the starting pitcher who halted Joe DiMaggio's 56-consecutive-game hitting streak on July 17, 1941. DiMaggio grounded out twice to third baseman Ken Keltner, who made outstanding defensive plays in each case, and also drew a base on balls from Smith in three plate appearances. Then, in his final at bat, against relief pitcher Jim Bagby, Jr., DiMaggio bounced into a double play. His New York Yankees won the game, however, 4–3.
Smith also is notable for having served as a nominal coach at age 25 on manager Bill Terry's New York Giants staff in 1933—the year before Smith made his debut as an active player in the Major Leagues. In 1932, Smith had won 17 games in the Class B Piedmont League and was acquired by the Giants. But Terry, realizing he had no room on his 1933 pitching staff, decided to keep Smith on his ball club as a coach and batting practice pitcher, rather than risk losing him in the minor league draft. According to the Associated Press in a January 5, 1934, story, "Smith was tabbed as great prospect last spring, but Terry had so many experienced moundsmen to bank upon that there was no place for the young portsider. Rather than farm him out where he might have been grabbed by some rival club, the Giants elected to carry him as a coach." The same story claims that the 1933 World Champion Giant hitters struggled against Smith's "wide breaking curves" whenever he was called upon to pitch batting practice.
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