Walt Smallwood
Encyclopedia
Walter Clayton Smallwood (April 24, 1893 – April 29, 1967) was a professional baseball pitcher
from 1913 to 1931. He won 192 games in the minor leagues and also played two seasons in Major League Baseball
for the New York Yankees
. Smallwood was 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 190 pounds.
, in 1893. He started his professional baseball career in 1913. The following season, he joined the South Atlantic League's Savannah Colts
and compiled a win–loss record of 17–6. Smallwood then went 8–16 in 1915 to lead the league in losses. He moved to the International League
in 1916 and went 14–19 there to lead that league in losses, too.
Smallwood rebounded in 1917, going 21–15, and he made his major league debut in September with the New York Yankees. In two MLB relief appearances that year, he did not allow a run. Smallwood was out of professional baseball in 1918. He returned to the Yankees in 1919 and relieved in six games, all of which the Yankees lost.
For the next few years, Smallwood bounced around the minor leagues. He had stints in the Pacific Coast League
, American Association
, International League, and Eastern League from 1920 to 1927 and pitched over 150 innings in most of those seasons. He finished his playing career with the Western League
's Pueblo Braves, which he also managed, in 1931.
Smallwood won 192 games and lost 201 during his 17-season career in professional baseball. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1967 and was buried in New Cathedral Cemetery.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
from 1913 to 1931. He won 192 games in the minor leagues and also played two seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Smallwood was 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 190 pounds.
Career
Smallwood was born in Dayton, MarylandDayton, Maryland
Dayton is an unincorporated community of about 10,000 located in Howard County, Maryland.Dayton is also the home to the annual Dayton Daze Parade that began in honor of Lenny Hobbs. Dayton is in the 21036 zip code area and belongs to the 410 area code...
, in 1893. He started his professional baseball career in 1913. The following season, he joined the South Atlantic League's Savannah Colts
Savannah Colts
The Savannah Colts were a South Atlantic League baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia, USA that played from 1913 to 1915. Mainly under manager Perry Lipe, they won their league's championship in their first two years of existence....
and compiled a win–loss record of 17–6. Smallwood then went 8–16 in 1915 to lead the league in losses. He moved to the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in 1916 and went 14–19 there to lead that league in losses, too.
Smallwood rebounded in 1917, going 21–15, and he made his major league debut in September with the New York Yankees. In two MLB relief appearances that year, he did not allow a run. Smallwood was out of professional baseball in 1918. He returned to the Yankees in 1919 and relieved in six games, all of which the Yankees lost.
For the next few years, Smallwood bounced around the minor leagues. He had stints in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, International League, and Eastern League from 1920 to 1927 and pitched over 150 innings in most of those seasons. He finished his playing career with the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
's Pueblo Braves, which he also managed, in 1931.
Smallwood won 192 games and lost 201 during his 17-season career in professional baseball. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1967 and was buried in New Cathedral Cemetery.