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A multitalented player, Smith took over as regular left fielder for the pennant-winning 1954 Indians and in 1955 led the AL in runs scored and batted .306. He was traded to the White Sox in 1958 for Minnie Minoso in a deal that was very unpopular with Chicago fans. To counteract some of the Comiskey Park boo birds, owner Bill Veeck held an Al Smith Night on August 26, 1959. Any fan named Smith, Smythe, Schmidt or Smithe was admitted free and given a button that said, "I'm a Smith and I'm for Al." On his big night, Smith hit into two double plays and dropped a fly ball that led to Boston's winning run. The 1959 White Sox were Smith's second pennant winner, and he finally won some of the fans over by hitting .315 in 1960 and slugging 28 homers in 1961. (RL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 25, 1954: Billy Pierce and Virgil Trucks combine to give the White Sox a 4–2 win over the Indians, and stop Cleveland's 11-game win streak. Bob Lemon takes the loss. Cleveland's Al Smith steals a base off Sherman Lollar, the last base runner to swipe one this year. The Sox catcher will throw out the next 18 base runners who try. » December 4, 1957: The White Sox send fan-favorite Minnie Minoso and infielder Fred Hatfield to the Indians for P Early Wynn and OF Al Smith. Wynn coming off his 1st losing season, will rebound with the White Sox, topping the American League in wins and innings in 1959. The trade was the first for the new Indians' GM Frank Lane. » May 20, 1958: In Chicago, New York coast to a 5–1 win over the last-place Sox behind the pitching of Johnny Kucks. Mickey Mantle's line drive between Al Smith and Jim Rivera goes for his 2nd inside-the-park homer of the year. The Yankees have now won seven in a row. Mantle will hit three inside-the-park this year, and a Yankee-record six during his career. » May 19, 1959: At Baltimore, Billy O'Dell's 120 foot 2-run home run is all he needs to beat the White Sox, 2–1. O'Dell slices a ball that bounces over Al Smith's head in LF for an inside-the-park home run in the 2nd. » September 4, 1961: In Minnesota, the White Sox and Twins split a pair of 9–5 decisions in a day-nite DH. Harmon Killebrew hits his 39th homer in the opener to back Schroll's six innings of spotty pitching. Al Smith has four hits and four ribbies in the nitecap. Numberless rookie Joe Horlen makes his ML debut in relief and picks up the win. The only road uniform available has no number on it (as noted by Maxwell Kates). » January 14, 1963: The White Sox trade SS Luis Aparicio and OF Al Smith to the Orioles for P Hoyt Wilhelm, OF Dave Nicholson, 3B Pete Ward, and SS Ron Hansen. » December 4, 1963: Cleveland trades OF Willie Kirkland to the Orioles for OF Al Smith and an estimated $25,000.