Edgar Smith (pitcher/outfielder)

Edgar Eugene Smith was born on June 12, 1862, in Providence, Rhode Island.[1][2] He lived at 18 Dexter Street. In his hometown, he gained local distinction as an amateur baseball player. His services were in demand because he could play several positions: pitcher, left field, right field, and occasionally first base.[2]

He began his major league career with the Providence Grays of the National League (NL) in 1883, making his debut for them on May 25. With Smith at first base, the Grays defeated the Chicago White Stockings 9–6 at Lake Front Park in Chicago. Smith played one other game for the Grays that year, also at first base.[2] In the contests, he recorded two hits, scored two runs, and had a run batted in (RBI).[1] Later in the season, on June 20 he pitched a game for the Philadelphia Quakers. While Smith recorded three hits and an RBI in the game, he did not do well on the mound; he allowed 18 hits and 17 runs in seven innings, and took a loss as the Boston Beaneaters defeated Philadelphia by a score of 29–4 at Boston's South End Grounds.[1][2] Smith also played minor league baseball for the Brooklyn Grays of the Interstate Association in 1883.[2]

In 1884, he played in 14 games for the Washington Statesmen of the American Association. Used as a pitcher in three games, he lost both of his starts and also made one relief appearance, after having begun the game in the outfield. Counting the relief appearance, he played 12 games in the outfield as well.[2] Smith batted .088 with five runs scored, five hits (one of which was a triple) and no RBI for Washington.[1]

The Messer Street Grounds, where Smith won his only major league start of 1885

Smith was pitching for an amateur team in Providence in 1885 when an opportunity arose for him to return to the major leagues. On August 5, Charles Radbourn, Joe Start, and Dupee Shaw were all unavailable to pitch for Providence, officially because of an illness, though rumor had it that the players simply wanted the day off. Not having any other starting pitchers on his roster, Providence manager Frank Bancroft had the team sign Smith to start that day's game against the St. Louis Maroons at the Messer Street Grounds in Providence. Fans feared that the team would struggle with an amateur on the mound, but Smith limited St. Louis to nine hits and three runs (only one of which was earned) as Providence won the game 4–3. The next day's account of the game in the New York Times reported that "Edgar Smith, a young amateur, did the pitching [...] Sharp fielding gained the victory."[3][2] Though that was his only major league game in 1885, Smith also played for the Columbus Stars, a Georgia team in the Southern League.[2]

The Grays ceased to exist as a major league team following the 1885 campaign, but a minor league team of the same name participated in the Eastern League in 1886, playing at the Messer Street Grounds. Smith played for them, but the team folded in June. After that, Smith played for the Boston Blues of the New England League. He was still with the team when it moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1887. Smith later pitched for the Detroit Wolverines of the International League and the International Association.[2]

In 1890, Smith returned to the major leagues, playing in eight games for the NL's Cleveland Spiders.[4] He was the team's starting pitcher in six of these contests. Smith completed five of his starts but lost four out of five decisions, posting a 4.30 earned run average (ERA). He struck out 11 batters and walked 10, allowing 42 hits in 44 innings pitched. His other appearances were all in the outfield. In 24 at bats, Smith batted .292 with two runs scored, seven hits (one of which was a triple), and four RBI. He also walked four times. His final major league appearance came on August 12, 1890.[1]