John Lawrence Smith

John Lawrence Smith (February 10, 1889 – July 10, 1950) was a German-born American chemist, pharmaceutical industry executive, and sportsman. He was born Johann Schmitz in Krefeld, Prussia, in the German Empire. When he was three years old, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in Stonington, Connecticut. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1908 and the family legally changed its name to Smith in 1918. and would spend almost his entire business career at the Brooklyn-based pharmaceuticals giant. He rose to the positions of director, secretary (1925), vice president (1929), president (1945) and chairman of the board (1949). His only absence from Pfizer, from 1913 to 1918, came when he was a general superintendent at E. R. Squibb and Sons. and is credited as having led the transformation of Pfizer from a chemicals supplier to a research-based pharmaceuticals company.

In February 1950, newly turned 61, Smith was stricken with lung cancer. Surgery proved unable to halt the spread of the disease and he died at his Prospect Park West home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, on July 10.

His illness and death coincided with a critical period for the Dodgers. Rickey's five-year contract as club president and general manager was due to expire at the end of October 1950. O'Malley secured the support of Smith's widow, Mary Louise, and refused to renew Rickey's contract, effectively forcing him to sell his shares in the Brooklyn club. O'Malley then acquired Rickey's one-quarter interest, making him the team's largest shareholder with 50 percent. He purchased Mrs. Smith's stock in January 1958—the Dodgers' debut season in Los Angeles—to gain 75 percent control of the franchise, and became sole owner in 1975.