Cardinals Congratulate Lee Smith on Hall of Fame Selection

FORMER REDBIRDS RELIEVER VOTED IN ON “TODAY’S GAME ERA” BALLOT 

           LAS VEGAS, Nevada, December 10, 2018 – The St. Louis Cardinals congratulate former Redbirds relief pitcher Lee Smith who earned selection yesterday to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Smith, who was a unanimous selection, joined Harold Baines in receiving the necessary 75 percent of all ballots cast from the Today’s Game Era voting committee.

“During his 18-year career, Lee Smith enjoyed some of his best seasons while playing for the Cardinals,” stated Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr.  “On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I am pleased to congratulate Lee on his well-deserved selection to the Hall of Fame.”

Smith, who pitched for the Cardinals over parts of four seasons from 1990-1993, compiled 160 of his 478 career saves with St. Louis and twice (career-high 47 saves in 1991, 43 in 1992) led the National League in saves during his time with the Cardinals.  Smith’s 160 saves with St. Louis currently rank 2nd to Jason Isringhausen (217) on the team’s all-time saves list.

Smith earned three All-Star selections (1991-93) while with St. Louis, and is the only Cardinal to have posted three seasons with 40 or more rescues.  Smith finished second in National League Cy Young award voting in 1991to the Braves Tom Glavine, closing out more than half of the Cardinals 84 wins that season.

A Louisiana native, Smith finished his Cardinals career with a 15-20 mark and 2.90 ERA in 245 games (266.2 innings pitched) and he saved 47 pct. of the Cardinals 340 games won during his time with St. Louis.

Smith will become the 49th person with ties to the St. Louis Cardinals organization to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame during its induction ceremony to be held on Sunday, July 21, 2019 in Cooperstown, NY.

Next Post:

Previous Post:

Please share, follow, or like us :)

Archives