| Phenomenal Smith | |
|---|---|
.jpeg) Smith, c. 1888 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: December 12, 1864 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| Died: April 3, 1952 (aged 87) Manchester, New Hampshire, US | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 18, 1884, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 15, 1891, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 54–74 |
| Earned run average | 3.89 |
| Strikeouts | 519 |
| Teams | |
| |
John Francis "Phenomenal" Smith (December 12, 1864 – April 3, 1952), born as John Francis Gammon, was an American professional baseball player and player-manager from 1884 to 1905. He played eight seasons in Major League Baseball, principally as a pitcher, for six different clubs.
In his eight seasons in the major leagues, Smith appeared as a pitcher in 140 games and compiled a 54–74 (.422) win–loss record with a 3.89 earned run average (ERA) and 519 strikeouts. He saw his most extensive playing time with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association, compiling a 41–50 win–loss record during the 1887 and 1888 seasons.
Smith later served as a player-manager in the minor leagues from the early 1890s through 1905. He was credited with discovering Christy Mathewson in 1899 and developing him into an outstanding pitcher during the 1900 season.