Nate Smith (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Beverly Smith is a retired American
professional baseball
player, a catcher
whose career was confined to minor league baseball
except for a five-game Major League
stint with the Baltimore Orioles
at the end of the season. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
Smith attended Tennessee State University
. His professional career (1956–1959; 1961–1964) was spent in the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers'
organization until the Orioles purchased his contract from the Triple-A Omaha Dodgers
in September 1962. In his first MLB at bat
, Smith pinch hit for Oriole pitcher
Wes Stock
and singled
off left-hander Ted Bowsfield
of the Los Angeles Angels
. He would collect one more hit
, a double
off another lefty, Jack Kralick
of the Minnesota Twins
, in his last MLB game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player, a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
whose career was confined to minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
except for a five-game Major League
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...
stint with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
at the end of the season. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
Smith attended Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
. His professional career (1956–1959; 1961–1964) was spent in the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers'
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
organization until the Orioles purchased his contract from the Triple-A Omaha Dodgers
Omaha Dodgers
The Omaha Dodgers were a minor league baseball affiliate, based in Omaha, Nebraska, of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Class AAA American Association in 1961-62. The team was Omaha's second AAA and American Association franchise, succeeding the Omaha Cardinals of 1955-59.The Omaha Dodgers were the...
in September 1962. In his first MLB at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, Smith pinch hit for Oriole pitcher
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...
Wes Stock
Wes Stock
Wesley Gay Stock is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, pitching coach and television commentator...
and singled
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
off left-hander Ted Bowsfield
Ted Bowsfield
Edward Oliver Bowsfield is a former major league pitcher.He pitched a total of 7 seasons going 37-39 W-L Record with a 4.35 ERA. He played for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, and the Kansas City Athletics.-Boston Red Sox:Ted Bowsfield debuted with the Boston Red Sox on...
of the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. He would collect one more hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
off another lefty, Jack Kralick
Jack Kralick
John Francis Kralick , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1959 to 1967. He participated in 235 games in the course of an eight-year career that included stints with the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians...
of the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, in his last MLB game.