Red Smith (smithre02)

James Carlisle Smith

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.
• School Auburn University
• Debut September 5, 1911
• Final Game September 25, 1919
• Born April 6, 1890 in Greenville, SC USA
• Died October 11, 1966 in Atlanta, GA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Of the four people named "Red Smith" who have played in the majors, this Red Smith was the first. He was a dead-ball era third baseman whose hitting and fielding range were above average. He led the league in doubles in 1913.

Red, who attended Auburn University in 1908 and 1909, was the first player from Auburn to break into the major leagues. He spent the first few years of his major league career with the Brooklyn Dodgers (he was two years younger than Zack Wheat and a year older than the youngster Casey Stengel), and then spent the rest of his career with the Boston Braves. He was acquired in August 1914 by the Braves, the "Miracle Braves", and hit .314 for them. He did not appear in post-season play because he broke his ankle on the last day of the season.

From the New York Times, April 15, 1913 p. 9:

"Some time ago, J. Carlisle Smith, Brooklyn’s red-headed third baseman, promised his wife that he would never play baseball again and, right here, let it be known that if Mr. Smith had kept his word with Mrs. Smith, as a good husband should, this same "Red" Smith would not have slammed one of Jeff Tesreau's curves into the grandstand at the Polo Grounds yesterday for the home run which fractured the game and beat the Giants by a score of 3 to 2. ... "
"Brooklyn has something else besides a good park and one pitcher. Brooklyn has 'O Promise Me' Smith."

Smith managed the Jacksonville Tars for part of 1926 and the Springfield Senators for part of 1928.

Notable Achievements

• NL Doubles Leader (1913)
• Won a World Series with the Boston Braves in 1914 (he did not play in the World Series)

Further Reading

• Charles F. Faber: "Red Smith", in Bill Nowlin, ed.: The Miracle Braves of 1914: Boston's Original Worst-to-First World Series Champions, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2014, pp. 162-165. ISBN 978-1-933599-69-4

Related Sites

• Red Smith at the SABR Bio Project