Frank Smith

Frank Elmer Smith (October 28, 1879 – November 3, 1952) was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1904 to 1915. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Terrapins, and Brooklyn Tip-Tops. Nicknamed "Piano Mover" because that was his offseason job, Smith was a mainstay of the White Sox pitching staff during the early 20th century. He pitched two no-hitters and won over 20 games in two different seasons. He stood at 5' 10" and weighed 194 lbs.

Career Smith was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After attending Grove City College, he started his professional baseball career in 1901 in the Virginia-North Carolina League. In 1903, he went 18–13 on the mound. He was drafted by the White Sox in September. In 1905, he improved to 19 wins. Smith threw his first no-hitter, against the Detroit Tigers, on September 6, and the final score (15–0) was the most lopsided in a no-hitter in American League history.

Smith had his best statistical season in 1909. Finally the White Sox staff ace, he pitched a career-high 365 innings and went 25–17 with a 1.80 ERA. He led all AL pitchers in games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts, and he finished second in wins. He finished his career with two seasons in the Federal League.

Smith was a good hitting pitcher in his 11-year major league career. He posted a .204 batting average (156-for-766) with 81 runs, 41 doubles, 9 triples, 2 home runs, 85 RBI and 64 bases on balls. Defensively, he was better than average, recording a .962 fielding percentage which was 17 points higher than the league average at his position.

After his baseball career ended, Smith went back to the moving business. He died in 1952, of Bright's disease.