“Raw emotion, humorous anecdotes, throngs of cheering fans, moments that were bittersweet, others that embraced thankfulness. And there was even a musical soundtrack provided by a former player. The 2019 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony had it all.
Lee Smith
| Birthdate | 12/04/1957 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1980 |
| Year of Induction | 2019 |
| Teams | Angels, Cardinals, Cubs, Expos, Orioles, Red Sox, Reds, Yankees |
| Position | Pitcher |
A seven-time All Star, Lee Smith held the big league record for career saves from 1993 until 2006 when Trevor Hoffman surpassed his total of 478.
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Phil Niekro surrendered Lee Smith's first big league hit and only career home run on 7/5/1982
Phil Niekro surrendered Lee Smith's first big league hit and only career home run on 7/5/1982
Lee Smith played 14 big league seasons and pitched in in 770 games. Despite his longevity, he had only 71 plate appearances and 64 at bats. Smith tallied just three hits in the majors, one each coming in 1982, ’83, and ’84.
The Cooperstown reliever does have a claim to fame with a bat in his hands. His first hit at baseball’s highest level was a home run off of Hall of Fame hurler Phil Niekro. That came on July 5, 1982.
The game was at Atlanta’s Fulton Country Stadium with 19,169 fans in attendance. Smith took the mound as a starter for the 6th and final time of his career.
After giving up three runs in the bottom of the first inning, Smith watched Jody Reed hit a two-run homer in the top of the second. After Larry Bowa grounded out, Smith recorded the first hit of his career – a game-tying solo shot off of Niekro.
Smith couldn’t keep the Braves at bay, surrendering one run in the third and two in the seventh. He took the loss in the Cubs’ 7-5 defeat.
From then on Smith was a full-time reliever. In ’83 he recorded his second hit, a single in St. Louis on August 4. The night was a success for Smith and his Cubs as he held the Cardinals scoreless over the final 2 2/3 innings to pick up the 35th of his 478 career saves.
The following season on August 7, 1984, Smith got his third and final career hit. From there, Smith took an o-for in each of the next 13 seasons.
Shown here is a ticket to the July 5, 1982 contest in which Smith took Niekro out of the yard for his first big league hit and only career home run. The Hall of Fame reliever signed the ticket and added the inscription, “Hit only career homer off of Phil Niekro”.
Lee Smith retired in 1997 as baseball's all time saves leader with 478
Lee Smith retired in 1997 as baseball's all time saves leader with 478
Lee Smith pitched for 8 teams during his 18-year big league career. He broke in with the Cubs in 1980, recording 180 saves in his 8 years in Chicago.
An all star in 1983, Smith led the league in saves and games finished. He received support in both Cy Young and MVP balloting. The 6’5″ hurler had 30 or more saves every season from 1984-1987.
Smith had his finest seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1990-1993. During that time he reached the 40-save plateau four times, leading the league twice.
In 1993 Smith became baseball’s all time saves leader. He added to the mark until he retired in 1997 with 478 saves. The record was his until Trevor Hoffman broke it in 2006.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
In the collection is this contract with Topps baseball cards signed in June of 1987. The year the terms of the pact ended was 1991 when Smith had one of his best seasons, leading the league with a career-high 47 saves. That season he placed second in Cy Young voting.
The 2019 class of the Baseball Hall of Fame featured Lee Smith and five others
The 2019 class of the Baseball Hall of Fame featured Lee Smith and five others
The Hall of Fame’s website described the 2019 induction beautifully.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, with temperatures in the low 80s with occasional cloud cover, the wait for baseball immortality finally came to an end for six of the sport’s greats from the last few decades. Historic closers Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith, durable and consistent starting pitchers Mike Mussina and Roy Halladay and slugging designated hitters Harold Baines and Edgar Martinez were inducted as the Class of 2019.”
Baines and Smith got the nod via the Veterans Committee; the other four were writers’ selections. Their inclusion brought the total number of Hall of Famers to 329.
Shown here the autograph of 203-game winner Halladay on a receipt for his 2011 All Star Game ring.
