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Smith was most famous as one of the two Cleveland pitchers (with Jim Bagby, Jr.) who stopped Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1940. Earlier, he'd been a steady winner with the Giants' pennant winners of 1936 and 1937. A sore arm in 1939 sent him back to the minors, where he developed his pitching finesse. Given a chance with the Indians in 1940, he responded with a 15-7 season. In 1943 he had his top season (17-7) and made the AL All-Star team. (EW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 19, 1919: Pushed through the legislature by future New York City mayor Jimmy Walker, a bill legalizing Sunday baseball in the state is signed by Governor Al Smith. » June 15, 1935: In New York the Giants defeat the Cards, 7–5. Mark Koenig's single in the 8th drives in two runs to give reliever Al Smith the winning vote. Collins and Rothrock have homers for the Cards. Viewing the proceedings are Alabama Pitts, late of Sing Sing, along with Johnny Evers, manager of the Albany club (his team loses today, 12–0, to Montreal) and Warden Lewis Lawes. The three are friends and are awaiting a favorable ruling from Judge Landis that will allow Pitts to play pro baseball. » June 25, 1935: Billy Herman cracks a first inning home run off Carl Hubbell and the Cubs score seven runs in the past three innings to beat the 1st-place Giants, 10–5. Herman adds another three hits and Augie Galan has three hits, including two triples. Dick Bartell has four hits for the Giants. Al Smith takes the loss for New York, while Fabian Kowalik pitches the last inning for the win. » May 29, 1936: In the 2nd 15–0 shutout in a week, New York's Al Smith is the beneficiary of the hitting as he closes down the Braves. Smith will toss four shutouts this year, tops in the NL. Smith gives up a Texas Leaguer by Hal Lee in the 8th and a ground single in the 9th. » May 20, 1940: The Yankees slip back into last place, losing to the Indians, 10–2. Al Smith allows just three NY hits. » August 14, 1940: Cleveland's Al Smith pitches a one hitter in beating the White Sox for his 13th victory. A 3rd inning single is the only safety. » May 4, 1941: The Indians win their 10th in a row, 12–4, over Washington. Al Smith is the winner. » July 17, 1941: In front of more than 60,000 fans at Cleveland, Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak is ended at 56 games. Indian P Al Smith and Jim Bagby, Sr., plus sensational plays by 3B Ken Keltner, stop the Yankee Clipper, but New York edges the Indians 6-5. » July 19, 1953: Boston lefty Mickey McDermott and relief P Ellis Kinder combine for a one-hitter against Cleveland. OF Al Smith's fourth-inning single is the only Tribe safety. » September 30, 1954: With lefty Johnny Antonelli going the distance, the Giants defeat Early Wynn and the Indians 3-1 in game 2. Dusty Rhodes drives in all the Giants runs with a pinch-hit single and a solo HR. The Indians' only score is a first-pitch HR by leadoff hitter Al Smith.