Tommy Smith

Note: This page is for 1970s outfielder Tommy Smith. For other players of similar names, click here.

Tommy Alexander Smith

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School North Carolina State University
• High School Albemarle (NC) High School
• Debut September 6, 1973
• Final Game September 10, 1977
• Born August 1, 1948 in Albemarle, NC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tommy Smith played five seasons in the big leagues, getting most of his at-bats for the Cleveland Indians managed by Frank Robinson in 1976. He was the fifth outfielder, behind fourth outfielder John Lowenstein.

Smith attended North Carolina State University. In 1968, as a sophomore, he was a little-used left-handed relief pitcher on an unranked Wolfpack team that made an improbable run all the way to the College World Series. The team was led by, among others, Mike Caldwell, a skinny freshman who would go on to pitch for several seasons in Major League Baseball. Once in Omaha, NE, NC State made it to the semifinals to face traditional powerhouse the University of Southern California. By that time, the Wolfpack had used up almost all its pitching, so out of necessity, Tommy got the nod to face USC. He had pitched 15 innings all year but pitched remarkably well, holding the powerful Trojan lineup, which featured nine future major leaguers, to two runs. His team could not score at all against and NC State was eliminated. In 1970, Smith was a first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection... now appearing as an outfielder.

Drafted by the Indians in the 5th round in the 1970 amateur draft, he got his first shot at the majors at age 24 in 1973. He was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 1977 expansion draft. His last year in the majors was with the Mariners in 1977, their inaugural season.

Since his baseball retirement, Smith has been a private baseball instructor and runs instruction camps.