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Frank Smith (1900s pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Frank Elmer Smith was a right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
from 1904 to 1915. He played for the Chicago White Sox
, Boston Red Sox
, Cincinnati Reds
, Baltimore Terrapins
, and Brooklyn Tip-Tops
. Nicknamed "Piano Mover" because that was his offseason job, Smith was a mainstay of the White Sox pitching staff during the early 20th century. He pitched two no-hitter
s and won over 20 games in two different seasons. He stood at 5' 10" and weighed 194 lbs.
. After attending Grove City College
, he started his professional baseball career in 1901 in the Virginia-North Carolina League. In 1903, he went 18–13 on the mound. He was drafted by the White Sox in September.
Smith made his major league debut in April 1904. That season, he was taught how to throw a spitball
by Elmer Stricklett
and was able to harness the pitch on his way to 16 wins. In 1905, he improved to 19 wins. Smith threw his first no-hitter, against the Detroit Tigers
, on September 6, and the final score (15–0) was the most lopsided in a no-hitter in American League
history. Smith did not allow a home run
in either 1904 or 1905 and kept his earned run average
under 2.20 in both seasons, as well.
The "Piano Mover" slumped in 1906, going just 5–5 with a 3.39 ERA. The White Sox won the World Series
that year, but Smith did not pitch in the six games. The next season, he bounced back with 23 wins, although his ERA+
was below 100 and he also led the league in walks. He then lowered his ERA to 2.03 in 1908. On September 20, he pitched his second no-hitter, this time against the Philadelphia Athletics
. He won the game 1–0 when Chicago scored the only run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Smith was the only pitcher in team history to throw two no-hitters before Mark Buehrle
accomplished the feat over 100 years later.
Smith had his best statistical season in 1909. Finally the White Sox staff ace, he pitched a career-high 365 innings and went 25–17 with a 1.80 ERA. He led all AL pitchers in games started, innings pitched
, and strikeout
s, and he finished second in wins. In 1910, Smith started off 4–9 and was traded to the Red Sox in August. He was then sold to the Reds in 1911. Smith spent 1912 and 1913 in the International League
and led the league in innings pitched in 1913 while winning 21 games. He finished his career with two seasons in the Federal League
.
After his baseball career ended, Smith went back to the moving business. He died in 1952, of Bright's disease
, and was survived by his wife and son.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1904 to 1915. He played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Baltimore Terrapins
Baltimore Terrapins
The Baltimore Terrapins were one of the most successful teams in the short-lived Federal League of professional baseball from to , but their brief existence led to litigation that led to an important legal precedent in baseball...
, and Brooklyn Tip-Tops
Brooklyn Tip-Tops
The Brooklyn Tip-Tops were a team in the short-lived Federal League of professional baseball from 1914 to 1915. The team was named by owner Robert Ward, who owned the Tip Top Bakery. They were sometimes informally called the Brooklyn Feds or BrookFeds due to being the Brooklyn team of the Federal...
. Nicknamed "Piano Mover" because that was his offseason job, Smith was a mainstay of the White Sox pitching staff during the early 20th century. He pitched two no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s and won over 20 games in two different seasons. He stood at 5' 10" and weighed 194 lbs.
Career
Smith was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. After attending Grove City College
Grove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
, he started his professional baseball career in 1901 in the Virginia-North Carolina League. In 1903, he went 18–13 on the mound. He was drafted by the White Sox in September.
Smith made his major league debut in April 1904. That season, he was taught how to throw a spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
by Elmer Stricklett
Elmer Stricklett
Elmer Griffin Stricklett , was a professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1904 through 1907. He is best known for being the first pitcher to master the spitball.-Career:...
and was able to harness the pitch on his way to 16 wins. In 1905, he improved to 19 wins. Smith threw his first no-hitter, against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, on September 6, and the final score (15–0) was the most lopsided in a no-hitter in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
history. Smith did not allow a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in either 1904 or 1905 and kept his earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
under 2.20 in both seasons, as well.
The "Piano Mover" slumped in 1906, going just 5–5 with a 3.39 ERA. The White Sox won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
that year, but Smith did not pitch in the six games. The next season, he bounced back with 23 wins, although his ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
was below 100 and he also led the league in walks. He then lowered his ERA to 2.03 in 1908. On September 20, he pitched his second no-hitter, this time against the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He won the game 1–0 when Chicago scored the only run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Smith was the only pitcher in team history to throw two no-hitters before Mark Buehrle
Mark Buehrle
Mark Alan Buehrle is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He has pitched his entire baseball career for the Chicago White Sox, starting the opening game every season from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2011....
accomplished the feat over 100 years later.
Smith had his best statistical season in 1909. Finally the White Sox staff ace, he pitched a career-high 365 innings and went 25–17 with a 1.80 ERA. He led all AL pitchers in games started, innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, and strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, and he finished second in wins. In 1910, Smith started off 4–9 and was traded to the Red Sox in August. He was then sold to the Reds in 1911. Smith spent 1912 and 1913 in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and led the league in innings pitched in 1913 while winning 21 games. He finished his career with two seasons in the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
.
After his baseball career ended, Smith went back to the moving business. He died in 1952, of Bright's disease
Bright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
, and was survived by his wife and son.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters