Ronald Smith (minors10)

Ronald Brant Smith

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
• School Furman University

• Born 1953

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Ron Smith played five years in the Philadelphia Phillies chain (1977-1981). He then managed the Helena Phillies in 1982 before becoming a college baseball coach.

Smith was picked in the 9th round of the 1977 amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He debuted professionally that season for the Spartanburg Phillies, hitting .244/~.325/.281 with 12 steals in 16y tries in 46 games. He was used as a third baseman. With the 1978 Peninsula Pilots, Smith hit .239/~.354/.275 and tied Jeffrey Kraus for the Carolina League lead in sacrifice hits (12). He fielded .940 at shortstop, second to Wally Backman among the league's regulars there.

In 1979, Ronald played for the Visalia Oaks (.213/~.356/.244, 13 for 15 in SB attempts) and for Peninsula (.132/~.313/.150 in 17 games), being used primarily as a utility infielder. The next season, Smith batted .259/~.358/.259 in 25 games for Peninsula and was 1 for 13 with a walk and 2 steals in 3 tries in his only AAA appearances, for the Oklahoma City 89ers.

Smith concluded his playing career in 1981 with a .212/~.297/.250 batting line in 50 games for the Reading Phillies.

Smith was the head basketball coach at Miami University from 1981 to 1987. He became head baseball coach at Middletown (OH) High School in 1984 for three years and head basketball coach there in 1989 for five years.

Smith was the head coach at Furman University from 1994 to 2016. In his 23 seasons, he accumulated a record of 580-693-3.

Sources include 1978-1982 Baseball Guides