Bob Smith (smithbo01)

Robert Ashley Smith a.k.a. Robert M. Brown in 1914

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.
• School Tufts University
• Debut April 19, 1913
• Final Game April 19, 1915
• Born July 20, 1890 in Woodbury, VT USA
• Died December 27, 1965 in West Los Angeles, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Bob Smith played three years in the big leagues.

Smith was born in Woodbury, VT and attended Tufts University. He was there at the same time as Chippy Gaw. He began playing in the minors in 1911.

He first came to the majors in April 1913 at the age of 22 with the 1913 White Sox. Kid Gleason had been impressed when he saw Smith pitch in an exhibition game. Smith appeared in one game with the White Sox, pitching two innings. During the next two seasons, he appeared in a number of games with the Buffalo Buffeds of the short-lived Federal League.

Smith pitched under the name "Brown" in 1914 because the Federal League had promised not to raid the American Association, where Smith had pitched.

Researchers have been unable to find much about his life after 1917 because he had such a common first and last name. When he died, he was living in West Los Angeles, CA and the death certificate listed him as a self-employed real estate broker.

One source: SABR biography of Bob Smith.

Related Sites

• Bob Smith at the SABR Bio Project
• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Bob Smith