“Gene” Smith was born in Ansley, Louisiana, and began his baseball career in 1938. He played as pitcher in the Negro American League and the Mexican League before World War II interrupted his career. Smith served in the Army from 1943-1945, and was discharged at the rank of corporal. Over the course of his nine-year career Smith played for teams like the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Homestead Grays, and the New York Black Yankees and was credited with pitching three no-hitters. He also started Games 3 and 6 of the 1947 Negro World Series. He retired from baseball in 1951 to work as a packer. Smith was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. He died from congestive heart failure at the age of 95.

Smith was born in Ansley, Louisiana. He was an American pitcher who played for several Negro league baseball teams between 1938 and 1951. Listed at 6' 1", 185 lbs., he was a switch hitter and threw right-handed and was known as a hard-throwing pitcher. He also pitched for teams in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Minor League Baseball.

Smith entered the NBL playing with Atlanta Black Crackers where he threw two no hitters, the joined the Ethiopian Clowns (1939), New Orleans-St. Louis Stars (1940–1941), Kansas City Monarchs (1941) and New York Black Yankees (1942).

Following an honorable military discharge, he played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1946), Homestead Grays (1946–1947), Cleveland Buckeyes (1946–1950) and Chicago American Giants (1951). He also started games 3 and 6 of the 1947 Negro World Series against the New York Cubans.

In 1983, Smith was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.  In 1997, Smith and other Negro league veterans were honored during a St. Louis Cardinals home game for their work in paving the way for Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Content Source - Wikipedia.org
Profile Photo Source - STLtoday.com

Eugene Smith in Negro League Baseball uniform

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

Smith was born in Ansley, Louisiana. He was an American pitcher who played for several Negro league baseball teams between 1938 and 1951. Listed at 6' 1", 185 lbs., he was a switch hitter and threw right-handed and was known as a hard-throwing pitcher. He also pitched for teams in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Minor League Baseball. 

Smith entered the NBL playing with Atlanta Black Crackers where he threw two no hitters, the joined the Ethiopian Clowns (1939), New Orleans-St. Louis Stars (1940–1941), Kansas City Monarchs (1941) and New York Black Yankees (1942). 
Following an honorable military discharge, he played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1946), Homestead Grays (1946–1947), Cleveland Buckeyes (1946–1950) and Chicago American Giants (1951). He also started games 3 and 6 of the 1947 Negro World Series against the New York Cubans. 
In 1983, Smith was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.  In 1997, Smith and other Negro league veterans were honored during a St. Louis Cardinals home game for their work in paving the way for Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. 
Smith served as a Corporal in the @USArmy during #WWII from 1943-45. He died at age 95.

Smith was an American pitcher who played for several Negro league baseball teams between 1938 and 1951. Listed at 6' 1", 185 lbs., he was a switch hitter and threw right-handed and was known as a hard-throwing pitcher. He also pitched for teams in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Minor League Baseball. 

Smith entered the NBL playing with Atlanta Black Crackers where he threw two no hitters, the joined the Ethiopian Clowns (1939), New Orleans-St. Louis Stars (1940–1941), Kansas City Monarchs (1941) and New York Black Yankees (1942). 
Following an honorable military discharge, he played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords (1946), Homestead Grays (1946–1947), Cleveland Buckeyes (1946–1950) and Chicago American Giants (1951). He also started games 3 and 6 of the 1947 Negro World Series against the New York Cubans. 
Like many Negro leaguers, Smith was never allowed to play in Major League Baseball. In 1983, he was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.  In 1997, Smith and other Negro league veterans were honored during a St. Louis Cardinals home game for their work in paving the way for Jackie Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

EUGENE SMITH

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