Ollie Smith (smithol01)

Orlin Hudson Smith

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 6", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut July 11, 1894
• Final Game August 25, 1894
• Born October 19, 1865 in Mount Vernon, OH USA
• Died February 4, 1954 in Torrance, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Orlin "Ollie" Smith played at least nine seasons in the minors, coming to the big leagues in 1894 as a result of hitting quite well with the Memphis Giants. He had the highest batting average on the Memphis team, .357, and the most triples, 12. Ollie came to the 1894 Louisville Colonels of the 1894 National League during a lively ball era, but still was above average in his hitting with a line of .299/.432/423. He also stole 13 bases in 39 games.

Ollie was 28 years old at the time (not too many months away from his 29th birthday), and defensively played exclusively in right field with the Colonels. It was Fred Clarke's first year in the majors, but he played left field. Ollie actually appeared more in right field than any other Colonels player that year.

The Colonels had the worst hitting in the 1894 National League, so one might have thought that Ollie would stick. However, that was his only year in the bigs. His last big league appearances were in a double-header on August 25, when he batted fifth in the lineup in each game. In the second game, Amos Rusie gave up only one hit to the Colonels.

Although the minor league database doesn't show it, Sporting Life reported that Ollie played for Nashville in 1893.

"Louisville tried two men - Smith and Flaherty - from the Southern League, and both did good work." - Sporting Life, July 21, 1894, about Ollie's first game; however, both Smith and Flaherty would be released by Lousville in September