About Rufus Smith
Lived 1905 – 1984 (aged 79). Rufus Smith was an American baseball player.
Rufus Frazier "Shirt" Smith (January 24, 1905 – August 21, 1984) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in one game for the Detroit Tigers on October 2.
Smith played college baseball at Guilford College where he formed a battery with catcher Rick Ferrell. While pitching at Guilford, he caught the attention of a New England millionaire who signed Smith to one of his semi-pro teams in Massachusetts. At the end of the summer, he enrolled at Brown University. While pitching for a team in East Douglas, Massachusetts in 1927, he caught the attention of a Tigers scout, signed a contract and received a signing bonus of $5,000 .
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Important facts
People in Rufus Smith's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Rufus Smith?
American baseball player (1905-1984)
When was Rufus Smith born?
Rufus Smith was born on 24 January 1905.
When did Rufus Smith die?
Rufus Smith died on 21 August 1984 in Aiken.
What was Rufus Smith's occupation?
Rufus Smith was a baseball player.
What nationality was Rufus Smith?
Rufus Smith was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Rufus Smith (baseball)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Rufus Smith. https://biography.guide/rufus-smith-baseball-player/
MLA: "Rufus Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/rufus-smith-baseball-player/.
Chicago: "Rufus Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/rufus-smith-baseball-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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