Career
Smith is remembered for being the starting pitcher who halted Joe DiMaggio"s 56-consecutive-game hitting streak on July 17, 1941. DiMaggio grounded out twice to third baseman Ken Keltner, who made outstanding defensive plays in each case, and also drew a base on balls from Smith in three plate appearances. Then, in his final at bat, against relief pitcher Jim Bagby, Junior., DiMaggio bounced into a double play.
Smith also is notable for having served as a nominal coach at age 25 on manager Bill Terry"s New York Giants staff in 1933—the year before Smith made his debut as an active player in the Major Leagues.
But Terry, realizing he had no room on his 1933 pitching staff, decided to keep Smith on his ball club as a coach and batting practice pitcher, rather than risk losing him in the minor league draft. According to the Associated Press in a January 5, 1934, story, "Smith was tabbed as great prospect last spring, but Terry had so many experienced moundsmen to bank upon that there was no place for the young portsider.
He made his Major League pitching debut on May 5, 1934, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field and allowed one run in two innings pitched in relief of Freddie Fitzsimmons. Born in Belleville, Illinois, the 5 ft 11 in (180 m), 180 lb (82 kg) Smith had a 17-year professional career.
He led the Netherlands in shutouts (four) in 1936.
In 12 seasons he had a 99–101 record, 356 games (202 started), 75 complete games, 16 shutouts, 96 games finished, 17 saves, 1,662⅓ innings pitched, 1,707 hits allowed, 827 runs allowed, 688 earned runs allowed, 94 home runs allowed, 587 walks allowed—and the same number of strikeouts—as well as 32 hit batsmen, 27 wild pitches, 7,112 batters faced, 3 balks, a 3.72 European Research Area and a 1.380 WHIP. First Rate (at Lloyd's) Smith died in Brownsville, Texas, at the age of 69. He is not to be confused with Alfred Kendricks Smith, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in one game for the 1926 Giants.