Dick Smith, baseball player, 1951-1955

Dick Smith

Born: 7/21/1926 in Blandburg, PA, USA

Died: 1/25/2021 in Boalsburg, PA, USA

MLB Debut: 1951-09-14 | Final Game: 1955-05-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 160 lbs

Full name: Richard Harrison Smith

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Biography

Dick Smith was a professional baseball player born in 1926, whose career spanned from 1951 to 1955. Primarily a position player, Smith made his mark in the Major Leagues during a transitional period in baseball history, just after World War II and before the significant shifts of the expansion era. Over the course of his career, Smith played in 70 games and recorded 25 hits, contributing 11 runs batted in. Despite not hitting any home runs and finishing with a batting average of .134, his presence on the field reflected the tenacity and determination characteristic of players during this era. Smith's playing style was emblematic of the time, as he navigated the challenges of competing against a wave of talented players emerging in the post-war years. While his statistical contributions may not have placed him among the game's elite, his commitment to the sport and participation in the major leagues during a pivotal era adds to the rich tapestry of baseball history. His career, though brief, served as a reminder of the many players who contributed to the game in ways that transcended mere numbers.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
70 186 17 25 2 2 0 11 0 30 22 0.134 0.255 0.167 0.421 -789.5

Career AVG .134 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — 48.2% below league average.

Career OBP .255 vs. league average .333 across their career seasons — 23.5% below league average.

Career SLG .167 vs. league average .387 across their career seasons — 57.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.421 vs. league average 0.720 across their career seasons — 41.5% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1951 PIT NL 12 46 2 8 0 0 0 4 0 8 8 0.174 — — — — -239.2
1952 PIT NL 29 66 8 7 1 0 0 5 0 9 3 0.106 .252 (-58%) .326 (-35%) .369 (-67%) .696 (-52%) -550.3
1953 PIT NL 13 43 4 7 0 1 0 2 0 6 6 0.163 — — — — 0.0
1954 PIT NL 12 31 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 6 5 0.097 — — — — 0.0
1955 PIT NL 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 4 0 3 6 0 1
3B 37 7 37 81 7 12
SS 18 0 23 70 4 14

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1951 PIT 3B 12 0 14 30 3 6
1952 PIT 2B 4 0 3 6 0 1
1952 PIT 3B 16 0 16 30 2 3
1952 PIT SS 4 0 5 14 1 4
1953 PIT SS 13 0 18 56 3 10
1954 PIT 3B 9 7 7 21 2 3
1955 PIT SS 1 0 0 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 4
Third Base 37
Shortstop 18

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Lock Haven PA 1949