Seth Smith
Encyclopedia
Garry Seth Smith (born September 30, 1982, in Jackson, Mississippi
) is a Major League Baseball
corner outfielder
for the Colorado Rockies
.
from 2002–2004, and was also the backup quarterback on the football team at Mississippi. During his freshman year, Smith hit .402 and was named a Freshman All-American. Smith also played for the USA National Team in the Pan-Am games while at Ole Miss. Smith was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the 200th overall pick in the 2004 draft.
, in a 13–0 home win over the Florida Marlins
. He did not record a hit
in two total at bat
s during the game. He got his first hit, an infield single, on September 21, 2007, in a 2–1 extra-innings road win over the San Diego Padres
. His hit came off of Doug Brocail
in the top of the 12th inning. Smith played in seven games during the regular season, racking up five hits in eight at bats.
Smith's successful stint during the regular season earned him a spot on the Rockies' 2007 postseason roster. In the 2007 National League Division Series
against the Philadelphia Phillies
, Smith had one pinch hit
in two at bats. His lone hit came in the second game of the series in a 10–5 win against the Phillies. It was an infield hit
in the top of the fourth inning that loaded the bases with the Rockies down, 3–2. The next batter, Colorado second baseman
Kazuo Matsui
, went on to hit a memorable grand slam
to give the Rockies a lead that they would never relinquish. Colorado went on to sweep the Phillies in three games and then went on to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks
in four games in the 2007 National League Championship Series
. Once again, Smith had one pinch hit in two at bats. The one hit was in the fourth game of the series in a 6–4 series-clinching win against the Diamondbacks. This time, Smith hit a double
that came with two outs and two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Rockies down, 1–0. The double drove in both runners to give Colorado a 2–1 lead. Smith then went on to score during the inning after a Matsui single
. Colorado left fielder
Matt Holliday
also hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to cap off a six-run fourth inning, all with two outs.
Smith struck out with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to end the 2007 World Series
to the Boston Red Sox
, but did very well in the postseason otherwise, hitting above .500.
, in a 4–1 home win over the New York Mets
. He hit the home run off of John Maine
in the bottom of the fourth inning. Smith also hit his first career inside the park home run this season, which was the eighth in Colorado Rockies history.
to Eli Manning
at the University of Mississippi
. Coincidentally, Smith's Rockies teammate, Todd Helton
, was the starting quarterback for the University of Tennessee
until a knee
injury resulted in Manning's older brother Peyton
succeeding him. Furthermore, current Duke Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe
was Helton's quarterback coach at Tennessee and Smith's head coach at Ole Miss.
Smith's batting song is Manifesto by The City Harmonic
.
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
) is a 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...
corner outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Amateur career
Smith played right field for The University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
from 2002–2004, and was also the backup quarterback on the football team at Mississippi. During his freshman year, Smith hit .402 and was named a Freshman All-American. Smith also played for the USA National Team in the Pan-Am games while at Ole Miss. Smith was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the 200th overall pick in the 2004 draft.
2007
Smith made his Major League Baseball debut on September 16, 20072007 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2007 season started off with the team trying to improve on their 2006 record . They finished with a franchise record of 90 wins in 163 games and earned a playoff berth as the National League Wild Card team. The Rockies swept their first seven playoff games en route to winning...
, in a 13–0 home win over the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. He did not record a 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....
in two total 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...
s during the game. He got his first hit, an infield single, on September 21, 2007, in a 2–1 extra-innings road win over the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. His hit came off of Doug Brocail
Doug Brocail
Douglas Keith Brocail is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the interim pitching coach for the Houston Astros.-High school years:...
in the top of the 12th inning. Smith played in seven games during the regular season, racking up five hits in eight at bats.
Smith's successful stint during the regular season earned him a spot on the Rockies' 2007 postseason roster. In the 2007 National League Division Series
2007 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies:-Game 1, October 3:Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaEighteen-game winners Carlos Zambrano and Brandon Webb matched each other pitch for pitch in the opening game of the series. Stephen Drew's fourth-inning home run stood as the game's only run until Ryan...
against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Smith had one pinch hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
in two at bats. His lone hit came in the second game of the series in a 10–5 win against the Phillies. It was an infield hit
Infield hit
An infield hit is an outcome in baseball in which the batted ball stays in the infield but neither the batter nor any of the runners are put out. If the batter and the runners reach safely due to an error, it is not considered an infield hit. Runners normally only advance one base in an infield...
in the top of the fourth inning that loaded the bases with the Rockies down, 3–2. The next batter, Colorado second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Kazuo Matsui
Kazuo Matsui
is a Japanese second baseman for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. Matsui is a switch-hitter...
, went on to hit a memorable grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
to give the Rockies a lead that they would never relinquish. Colorado went on to sweep the Phillies in three games and then went on to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in four games in the 2007 National League Championship Series
2007 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaThe Rockies took a 1–0 series lead behind a strong innings from starter Jeff Francis. Arizona scored first on a first-inning RBI double by Eric Byrnes, but lost the lead two innings later when Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe...
. Once again, Smith had one pinch hit in two at bats. The one hit was in the fourth game of the series in a 6–4 series-clinching win against the Diamondbacks. This time, Smith hit 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....
that came with two outs and two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Rockies down, 1–0. The double drove in both runners to give Colorado a 2–1 lead. Smith then went on to score during the inning after a Matsui single
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...
. Colorado left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday
Matthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
also hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to cap off a six-run fourth inning, all with two outs.
Smith struck out with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to end the 2007 World Series
2007 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe Red Sox cruised to a blowout win in Game 1 behind ALCS MVP Josh Beckett, who struck out nine batters, including the first four he faced, en route to his fourth win of the 2007 postseason...
to the 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"...
, but did very well in the postseason otherwise, hitting above .500.
2008
Smith hit his first career home run, a three-run shot, on May 25, 20082008 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2008 season was the team's 16th season overall. The Rockies attempted to repeat their previous season's success after making it to the World Series; however, they ended up finishing third place in the National League West with a record of 74-88. The Rockies drew 2,650,218...
, in a 4–1 home win over the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He hit the home run off of John Maine
John Maine
John Kevin Maine is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life and college:Maine was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia...
in the bottom of the fourth inning. Smith also hit his first career inside the park home run this season, which was the eighth in Colorado Rockies history.
Personal life
Smith was the backup quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
to Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
at the University of Mississippi
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
. Coincidentally, Smith's Rockies teammate, Todd Helton
Todd Helton
Todd Lynn Helton is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month, and three-time Gold Glove winner....
, was the starting quarterback for the University of Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
until a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury resulted in Manning's older brother Peyton
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
succeeding him. Furthermore, current Duke Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe
David Cutcliffe
David Cutcliffe is the head football coach of the Duke University Blue Devils. He is best known for coaching Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee, and Manning's younger brother and fellow Super Bowl Champion Eli at the University of Mississippi...
was Helton's quarterback coach at Tennessee and Smith's head coach at Ole Miss.
Smith's batting song is Manifesto by The City Harmonic
The City Harmonic
The City Harmonic is a Covenant Award winning Canadian Christian rock band. Elias Dummer , Eric Fusilier , Aaron Powell , and Josh Vanderlaan collectively make up The City Harmonic...
.