Fred Smith (smithfr05)

Fred Vincent Smith

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut April 17, 1913
• Final Game September 30, 1917
• Born July 29, 1886 in Cleveland, OH USA
• Died May 28, 1961 in Cleveland, OH USA

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Biographical Information

Fred Smith is the third and last major leaguer of that name. All three Fred Smiths played between 1890 and 1920.

This Fred Smith was born and died in Cleveland, OH, but never played for the Cleveland Indians. At age 17 he began play for Peoria and made his major league debut in 1913 at age 21.

With the 1913 Boston Braves, Fred had more appearances than the regular third baseman, Art Devlin, but Art is listed as the regular at third because Fred split his playing time between third, second, short and outfield.

The following year was the season of the Miracle Braves, but Fred went to the Federal League, where he was a regular. In 1916 and part of 1917 he played for St. Paul, and then came back to the majors with the 1917 St. Louis Cardinals, where he played mostly third base next to star shortstop Rogers Hornsby, who was four years younger.

He managed in the minors in 1923.

It was a different Fred Smith who served on the Board of Directors of the Players Fraternity, an early union during the 1910s. There was enough chance of confusion that Sporting Life took to identifying Smiths with position: one Fred Smith was "Fred Smith, pitcher", while this Fred Smith was "Fred Smith, the second baseman" or "Fred Smith, shortstop". For example: "Fred Smith, the second baseman (of the Boston Nationals), is a brother of Charlie Smith, the Cub pitcher". - from Sporting Life, March 15, 1913.

Fred outlived his brother Charlie by more than 30 years.

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