LEE SMITH
Ninth Year on Ballot (47.3%)
PLAYING CAREER: Chicago Cubs (1980–1987), Boston Red Sox (1988–1990), St. Louis Cardinals (1990–1993), New York Yankees (1993), Baltimore Orioles (1994), California Angels (1995–1996), Cincinnati Reds (1996) and Montreal Expos (1997)
ACHIEVEMENTS: Ranks third all-time with 478 saves. Career ERA of 3.03 in 1022 games with 1251 strikeouts. All-time leader in saves and games finished at the time of his retirement. 13 consecutive seasons (1983-1995) with more than 20 saves, 10 seasons with 30 or more…and three seasons with 40 or more. Led the league in saves four times (1983, 1991, 1992 and 1994). Three-time Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1991, 1992 and 1994). All-time Chicago Cubs saves leader. Holds National League record for most consecutive errorless games by a pitcher with 546. Seven-time All-Star (1983, 1987 and 1991-1995).
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON TWITTER:
@Toirtap: If you can’t vote for a DH because he “solely contributes offensively”, how can you justify voting for Lee Smith and John Franco?
@dhockeyfeed: Lee Smith: the most dominent closer of his era?
@hbryant42: Five days to send in HOF ballot: Alomar and Blyleven…with two undecided (Larkin, Lee Smith)
HOVG THOUGHTS: I met the guy a while back and the man is intimidating. Smith seemed bigger than life standing next to me (I’m 6’4″) and shaking his hand was like grabbing a tractor tire. I can only imagine what it was like having him throw something in your direction from sixty feet, six inches. Now, while that is not a reason to induct someone (if it was, Tim Stoddard would be enshrined), Smith’s 478 saves were pretty darn good. For 13 years, Smith was the all-time saves leader and up until recently, he held the record for most games finished. I mean, when a guy is getting his records broken by the likes or Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera he had to have been decent, right? Right?!?
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