Hal Smith (catcher)
| Hal Smith | |||
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Smith with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959
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| Catcher | |||
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Born: June 1, 1931 Barling, Arkansas |
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Died: April 12, 2014 (aged 82) Fort Smith, Arkansas |
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| MLB debut | |||
| May 2, 1956, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| July 8, 1965, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .258 | ||
| Home runs | 23 | ||
| Runs batted in | 132 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
Harold Raymond Smith (June 1, 1931 – April 12, 2014) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1956–61) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1965). Born in Barling, Arkansas, Smith batted and threw right-handed; he stood 5 feet 10½ inches (1.8 m) tall and weighed 186 pounds (84 kg). After Smith's playing career was curtailed by a heart ailment during the 1961 season, he became a longtime employee of the Cardinals' organization as Major League coach, minor league manager and scout. He also coached in MLB for the Pirates (1965–67), Cincinnati Reds (1968–69) and Milwaukee Brewers (1976–77).
Smith was a standout catcher for the Cardinals during his six years with them. He was the club's regular receiver from 1956–60, and was selected a National League All-Star in 1957 and 1959. Smith led NL catchers in throwing out would-be base-stealers in both 1959 and 1960, and in caught stealing percentage in 1960.
But on June 10, 1961, after starting 42 of the Cardinals' first 48 games—and shortly after he celebrated his 30th birthday—Smith complained of chest and upper abdominal pains. He was admitted to Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, where he was diagnosed with a "coronary artery condition." Smith was forced to immediately retire from playing baseball, and was the Cardinals' bullpen coach in 1962. His disability eventually cleared the way for Tim McCarver to become the Cardinals' new regular catcher.
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