Skyrocket Smith
Encyclopedia
Samuel J. "Skyrocket" Smith (March 19, 1868 - April 26, 1916) was a Major League Baseball
first baseman
. He played for the Louisville Colonels
of the American Association
during the first half of the 1888 season (April 18-July 8). The 20-year-old rookie
stood 6'2" and weighed 170 lbs.
As the regular first baseman for 58 games, Smith hit .239 (49-for-206), but 24 bases on balls and 11 hit by pitches (# 9 in the league) pushed his on base percentage
up to .349. He hit 1 home run
, had 31 runs batted in, scored 27 runs
, and had five stolen bases. He was average defensively for his era, with a fielding percentage
of .970. The Colonels had a record of 21-40 (.344) at the time of Smith's departure, and were 27-47 (.365) afterwards. Smith also played in various minor leagues from 1884 to 1895.
After his baseball career was over, Smith became a firefighter
for the city of St. Louis, Missouri
. He died of uremia
at the age of 48.
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. He played for the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
during the first half of the 1888 season (April 18-July 8). The 20-year-old rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
stood 6'2" and weighed 170 lbs.
As the regular first baseman for 58 games, Smith hit .239 (49-for-206), but 24 bases on balls and 11 hit by pitches (# 9 in the league) pushed his on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
up to .349. He hit 1 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...
, had 31 runs batted in, scored 27 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and had five stolen bases. He was average defensively for his era, with a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .970. The Colonels had a record of 21-40 (.344) at the time of Smith's departure, and were 27-47 (.365) afterwards. Smith also played in various minor leagues from 1884 to 1895.
After his baseball career was over, Smith became a firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
for the city of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He died of uremia
Uremia
Uremia or uraemia is a term used to loosely describe the illness accompanying kidney failure , in particular the nitrogenous waste products associated with the failure of this organ....
at the age of 48.