Mayo Smith
Detroit manager Mayo Smith's bold move in the 1968 World Series was courageous and daring. Wishing to get vetern Al Kaline's bat into his lineup, Smith switched center fielder Mickey Stanley to short and shifted right fielder Jim Northrup to center. Stanley made just one error in the seven game series, and the Tigers were world champions. Smith managed in the National League for parts of five seasons with moderate success before taking the Detroit job in 1967. His understated leadership and big smile won him fans in Motown, and when he was fired after the 1970 season, it was one of the most unpopular moves in franchise history.
| Career Batting Stats |
| G |
AB |
H |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
SLG |
OBP |
OPS |
OPS+ |
| 73 |
203 |
43 |
18 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
.212 |
.236 |
.333 |
.570 |
85.0 |
|
Teams Mayo Smith Managed
Philadelphia Phillies (1955-1958)
Cincinnati Reds (1959)
Detroit Tigers (1967-1970)
Born
Edward Mayo Smith was born on January 17, 1915, in New London, MO.
Died
November 24, 1977, Boynton Beach, FL
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Major League Debut
6 24,
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1945
Red Schoendienst
Whitey Lockman
Del Rice
Billy Pierce
Art Houtteman
Sal Maglie
Joe Astroth
Herm Wehmeier
Pete Gray
Notes
Smith played part of the 1945 season as a part-time outfielder for Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's. Smith spent nearly two decades in the minor leagues as an outfielder.
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