About Big Bill Smith
Born 1869. Big Bill Smith was an American baseball player.
William T. "Big Bill" Smith (1869 – ?) was an American Negro leagues catcher and manager for several years before he founded the first Negro National League. He played for several teams, and for most of the seasons he played for the Chicago Unions, Brooklyn Royal Giants and Cuban Giants.
Smith attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He started with Frank Leland and the Chicago Unions at the age of 20, working with the team until 1897.
In his 30s, Smith played for the Cuban X-Giants for a couple seasons. Then, he moved on to the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1905, and also to half a dozen other teams.
He was still playing baseball for the Schenectady Mohawk Giants and the Brooklyn All Stars at the age of 45 years.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Big Bill Smith?
American baseball player
When was Big Bill Smith born?
Big Bill Smith was born in 1869 in Tennessee.
What was Big Bill Smith's occupation?
Big Bill Smith was a baseball player.
What nationality was Big Bill Smith?
Big Bill Smith was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Big Bill Smith. https://biography.guide/big-bill-smith/
MLA: "Big Bill Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/big-bill-smith/.
Chicago: "Big Bill Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/big-bill-smith/.
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