Tal Smith

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Talbot Smith

Biographical Information[edit]

Tal Smith was one of the original employees of the Houston Colt .45s. He was the farm director in 1962-1963 and assistant to the president in 1964-1965. From 1965 to 1967, Smith was General Manager of the team, now known as the Houston Astros. He was assistant GM from 1968 to 1972.

From 1974 to 1975, Smith was Co-GM of the New York Yankees along with Gabe Paul. Upon leaving the Yankees, he served as second stint as the Astros General Manager, holding that position until 1980. This was after original owner Roy Hofheinz had lost control of the team to creditors, led by the Ford Motor Credit Company. The new owners' principal, Bill Odom, let the experienced Smith run all baseball operations, while concentrating on his main task, which was to find a permanent owner for the team at a decent price. This took place when John McMullen became the lead owner in 1979, but he soon ran into conflict with Smith and fired him less than year later.

In 1994, with McMullen having sold out his interests to Drayton McLane, Smith became President of the Astros. On August 27, 2007, Smith was chosen as interim General Manager for the Astros, replacing Tim Purpura. Ed Wade was hired as the GM in September.

Shortly after Jim Crane's purchase of the Astros from McLane was confirmed, Smith was fired alongside his protégé Wade on November 27, 2011. The team was coming off the worst season in its history. He was replaced by George Postolos.

His son, Randy Smith, is a former GM of the San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers.


Preceded by
Paul Richards
Houston Astros General Manager
1966-1967
Succeeded by
Spec Richardson
Preceded by
Lee MacPhail
New York Yankees General Manager
1974-1975
Succeeded by
Gabe Paul
Preceded by
Spec Richardson
Houston Astros General Manager
1975-1980
Succeeded by
Al Rosen

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