Hal Smith

Harold Raymond Smith (born June 1, 1931 in Barling, Arkansas) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1956 through 1965 in baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals (1956-1961) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1965). Smith batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on May 2, 1956, and played his final game on July 8, 1965. Smith was a competent catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals during six years. An All-Star in 1957 and 1959, he was disabl... more

Harold Raymond Smith (born June 1, 1931 in Barling, Arkansas) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1956 through 1965 in baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals (1956-1961) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1965). Smith batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on May 2, 1956, and played his final game on July 8, 1965. Smith was a competent catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals during six years. An All-Star in 1957 and 1959, he was disabled in 1961 after suffering heart ailments. In 1965, he appeared in four games for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Smith suffered a heart attack the morning after having been given wheat germ pills by roommate Red Schoendienst. Schoendienst promised Smith that if he took the pill he would never suffer a heart problem. Smith's disability cleared the way for Tim McCarver to become the Cardinals new regular catcher. In a seven-season career, Smith was a .258 hitter with 23 home runs and 172 RBI in 570 games. As a catcher, he appeared in 548 games and... less