Ballard F. Smith (born June 20, 1946)[1] is an American former sports executive who was president of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1987.[2]
Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana,[1] and attended Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois.[3] After graduating from Carleton College and the University of Minnesota Law School, he was an attorney for five years in Meadville, Pennsylvania, before being elected district attorney of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in 1975.[1][4] He ended his term in 1976 to join the front office of the San Diego Mariners, a World Hockey Association team purchased by his father-in-law, Ray Kroc.[4] Smith was vice president and general manager of the Mariners before joining Kroc's Padres as vice president in 1977.[5][6] In 1979, he succeeded Kroc as team president.[4]
Ordered to control spending, Smith enabled the 1983 free agent signing of first baseman Steve Garvey after persuading Ace Parking and KFMB-AM radio to invest money in the Padres, convincing them that their revenues would increase if the team succeeded. In 1984, they signed relef pitcher Goose Gossage using a long-term annuity at the suggestion of Dick Freeman, the Padres’ chief financial officer, an innovative move to lessen the immediate financial obligations. Padres general manager Jack McKeon also arranged to acquire third baseman Graig Nettles in a trade with the New York Yankees. However, with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner wanting to talk to team owners, not McKeon, Smith finalized the deal on the account of being Kroc's son-in-law.[7] That season, the Padres won the National League pennant.[4] Smith also served on the executive committee of Major League Baseball from 1981 to 1985.[8] He resigned from the Padres mid-season in 1987.[9]
Smith also served on the board of directors of McDonald's from 1983 to 1997. He subsequently moved to Idaho and to other business interests and activities.[8] In 2012, Smith co-founded an educational non-profit called Science of Sport with University of Arizona professor Ricardo Valerdi aimed at promoting STEM education through sports examples.[10][11][12] Smith served as executive director[13] for the non-profit which has established educational programs for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Washington Nationals.[citation needed]
Smith was married for 16 years to Linda Smith, the only child of Ray and Joan Kroc. Linda filed for divorce in 1987. The couple had four daughters together.[14]