Major League Baseball Player, Coach. For six seasons (1956 to 1961 and 1965), he played at the catcher position with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Born Harold Raymond Smith, he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cardinals in 1949. Following service with the United States Military during the Korean War, he marked his Major League debut with St. Louis on May 2, 1956. In 75 games that year, he yielded a .282 batting average. In 1957, he secured the starting catcher spot for the Cardinals and earned all-star status that year. In 1959, he produced a career-high 122 hits, which included 13 home runs and received all-star recognition a second time. He retired as a player after the 1960 season and served as a Minor League coach and manager (1961 to 1964). He briefly returned to the Major Leagues as a player with the Pirates during the 1965 season. Among his coaching stints include the Pittsburgh Pirates (1965 to 1967), Cincinnati Reds (1968 to 1969) and Milwaukee Brewers (1976 to 1977). In addition, he served as a Major League scout. In 570 regular season games, he compiled 437 hits with a .258 lifetime batting average. He is not to be confused with Hal Wayne Smith, a former Major League catcher from 1955 to 1964. He was the uncle of former Major League infielder Tim Flannery.
Major League Baseball Player, Coach. For six seasons (1956 to 1961 and 1965), he played at the catcher position with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Born Harold Raymond Smith, he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cardinals in 1949. Following service with the United States Military during the Korean War, he marked his Major League debut with St. Louis on May 2, 1956. In 75 games that year, he yielded a .282 batting average. In 1957, he secured the starting catcher spot for the Cardinals and earned all-star status that year. In 1959, he produced a career-high 122 hits, which included 13 home runs and received all-star recognition a second time. He retired as a player after the 1960 season and served as a Minor League coach and manager (1961 to 1964). He briefly returned to the Major Leagues as a player with the Pirates during the 1965 season. Among his coaching stints include the Pittsburgh Pirates (1965 to 1967), Cincinnati Reds (1968 to 1969) and Milwaukee Brewers (1976 to 1977). In addition, he served as a Major League scout. In 570 regular season games, he compiled 437 hits with a .258 lifetime batting average. He is not to be confused with Hal Wayne Smith, a former Major League catcher from 1955 to 1964. He was the uncle of former Major League infielder Tim Flannery.
Bio by: C.S.
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