Happy Smith

Henry Joseph Smith

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut April 15, 1910
• Final Game July 22, 1910
• Born July 14, 1883 in Coquille, OR USA
• Died February 26, 1961 in San Jose, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Happy Smith was one of several players tried in right field by the Brooklyn Superbas in 1910. Young Zack Wheat owned left field, while Smith was one of four players who played at least 10 games in right field. Smith fielded well, but while his batting average was higher than the team average, he showed little power.

In the minors, most of his playing time was with teams in San Jose and Montgomery.

Through 2019 he is one of six major leaguers remembered with the first name "Happy" (not counting people nicknamed Happy such as Burt Hooton). The first was Happy Townsend and the last was Happy Foreman.

"The San Francisco Bulletin says of a former Coquille River boy who is playing with the San Jose team: "Happy" Smith is playing a great game for the Prune Pickers. He is hitting like a fiend and doing miraculous work in the field. Yesterday he made a one-hand catch of Mosher's drive that looked good for three cushions and also came through with two doubles." - Coos Bay Times, June 12, 1909