Baseball Murderers

[KCBOOMER]

I was reviewing a book called "Baseball's Most Wanted" and in it it stated that pitcher Charles "Pacer" Smith was the only major league player to be executed for murder. It says the execution happened in 1895. It also goes on to say that a teammate of his, catcher Frank Harris, who was to be executed on the same day for an unrelated murder, was given a reprieve.

I thought the reprieved guy would be a good trivia question but when I looked Frank Harris up on B-R and the SBE the only Smith on his team (1884 Altoona Mountain City) was Germany Smith who was a shopstop and played until 1898.

The book says "Pacer" Smith was on the Cincinnati Club during the first two seasons in the NL. I can't find a Charles Smith whoever played for the Reds before 1900.

Anybody know the facts in this case? Smed?

[gyb13]

that story is repeated here, though the source is not mentioned
http://www.maximonline.com/sports/sp.../last_week.asp

[Max Power]

From "Baseball Babylon" which is a great book by Dan Gutman:

Baseball has had its share of player/murderers, the most famos being Hank Thompson and Cesar Cedeno. Charlie Sweeney, who pitched 6 years, was charged with murder in 1894 after he shot a man named Con McManus in a bar. In 1917, ex-SS Danny Shay got into an argument with a waiter in an Indy hotel over the amount of sugar in the bowel at his table. Shay pulled out a gun and shot the waiter. He was charged with murder, but pleaded self-defense and was acquitted. The fact that Shay was whote and the waiter balck probably had something to do with the verdict.

Baseball's 1st and only execution took place on 11/28/1895 when Pacer Smith was hanged in Decatur, IL. Smith, who pitched for the Cincy Red Stockings in 1876-77 had shot and killed his 5 year old daugher and his 17 year old sister in law. He fired 2 shots at his wife, but missed, and she escaped.

"The tragedy was the culmination of several years of domestic infelicity" reported SPORTING LIFE mag, "coupled with a career of drunkenness and immorality on the part of Smith."

The jail was packed with spectators as SSmith climbed the scaffold. "I am sorry" he said with tears trickling down his face. "Goodbye."

Smith's long time catcher, Frank Harris, was supposed to be hanged the same day on a separate murder charge, but he recieved a reprieve from the Gov. of IL.

[KCBOOMER]

Therein lies the rub. That story can be found verbatim in several places. But when you go to Baseball-Reference, Baseball-Almanac, Baseball-Library, or the SBE you find ZERO mention of the guys. I even looked at the B-R roster for the 1876-1877 Red Stockings and the team didn't have a Harris or Smith.

I am having a hard time believing these excellent resources are missing two players that an obscure resource has.

I am beginning to think the story is apochryphal.

[hmrsf]

Great story Steve!

Better question Boom!

Smed.............Answer please!!! or Pat, anyone....we MUST know!! Skip baffle us with BS, Lee quantify it with a number.........I VANT to know NOW!!!!

[Max Power]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
Therein lies the rub. That story can be found verbatim in several places. But when you go to Baseball-Reference, Baseball-Almanac, Baseball-Library, or the SBE you find ZERO mention of the guys. I even looked at the B-R roster for the 1876-1877 Red Stockings and the team didn't have a Harris or Smith.

Does B-R go back to 1876?

I'll check the STATS All-Time Handbook when I'm back home. Wonder if they have it?

[SmedIndy]

The Red Stockings were a bad, bad club - but also remember in this era they played many games outside of league play. It is POSSIBLE they were employed by the club and only participated in exhibitions and not in the league.

I would think this story is dubious.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

The closest TBVII comes is the mention of a "Smith" who debuted with Cincy in 1886, pitching 1 complete game loss. No first name or other biographical info is given.

TBVII also mentions another similarly anonymous "Smith" who pitched in one game for Baltimore of the Union Assn in 1884. These are the only two pitchers named Smith who aren't otherwise accounted for.

If the fellow in the story never played in a game, he wouldn't be mentioned in the references -- but he still could have been on the major league roster.

[pathogan]

...either.baseball babylon nothwithstanding} D, I think you might be correct on the stories being apocraphyl...

[pathogan]

...it's a helluva story, would be better if it were true

[WiredTiger]

Originally posted by Max Power
In 1917, ex-SS Danny Shay got into an argument with a waiter in an Indy hotel over the amount of sugar in the bowel at his table. Shay pulled out a gun and shot the waiter. He was charged with murder, but pleaded self-defense and was acquitted.

If some waiter brought a bowel of sugar to my table I'd be pissed off too.

[hmrsf]

Datta guys! A girl needs to know!

[KCBOOMER]

Originally posted by Max Power
Does B-R go back to 1876?

Yes, it does. I had to hunt a little bit because the 1876 Red Stockings are apparently of different lineage than the Reds of today (which surorised me).

I can't believe in that day a guy would be on the roster and not play.

[Skip]

Originally posted by hmrsf
Skip baffle us with BS, ....

I did not realize that was my role here.

[hmrsf]

Originally posted by Skip
I did not realize that was my role here.

I am sorry, you must have a higher degree......baffle us with MS or DS or PMS.......forget that one.........that is mine!

Lighten up Skip! The mouse is getting to u!