Former Houston Astros closer and 2 time all star Dave Smith died at 53...
source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6170450.html
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Of of the great class act personalities in baseball during his career in the '80s and early '90s, Dave Smith was incredibly popular on and off the field.
An avid surf fan and one of the more charitable players of his time, Dave Smith was liked by many fans across baseball.
Up until a few years ago, Dave Smith's 199 career saves with the Astros was the franchise record before it was broken by Billy Wagner.
He was a very key member of those 1980 and 1986 Astros teams that made the postseason...
And an All-Star in 1986 and 1990.
He later on went on be a very effective pitching coach for the San Diego Padres in the late '90s.
“He was probably one of the most giving people I ever met,” former Astros reliever Charlie Kerfeld said of Smith via phone Wednesday. “He was probably known around the league as the best tipper around the league. (The news of his death) is a tough one. You ain’t supposed to go this early.”
"He was the most giving, unconditionally compassionate man anyone ever came across," (a coach with Smith when they were coaching the Padres) Tim Flannery said. "Everybody's got Dave Smith stories. Usually it's him reaching into his pocket and pulling out $100 to give to someone selling newspapers for a quarter.
"Going back to his playing days, he was one of the great closers and a fierce competitor," Flannery said. "He also had a zest for life; reckless abandon at times. He's gone at 53. He earned every moment of his life. He packed a lot into it."
"It is with great sadness that the San Diego community learned that it has not only lost a great baseball man, but a great friend to so many of us here," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said in a statement. "He was an integral part of the Padres for many years, as a minor league instructor and coach and later as our major league pitching coach."
Dave Smith was only 53 years old.
An avid surf fan, Flannery said services were pending, but added that he and other surfers plan to paddle out onto the Pacific Ocean to spread Smith's ashes across the water.
An avid surf fan and one of the more charitable players of his time, Dave Smith was liked by many fans across baseball.
Up until a few years ago, Dave Smith's 199 career saves with the Astros was the franchise record before it was broken by Billy Wagner.
He was a very key member of those 1980 and 1986 Astros teams that made the postseason...
And an All-Star in 1986 and 1990.
He later on went on be a very effective pitching coach for the San Diego Padres in the late '90s.
“He was probably one of the most giving people I ever met,” former Astros reliever Charlie Kerfeld said of Smith via phone Wednesday. “He was probably known around the league as the best tipper around the league. (The news of his death) is a tough one. You ain’t supposed to go this early.”
"He was the most giving, unconditionally compassionate man anyone ever came across," (a coach with Smith when they were coaching the Padres) Tim Flannery said. "Everybody's got Dave Smith stories. Usually it's him reaching into his pocket and pulling out $100 to give to someone selling newspapers for a quarter.
"Going back to his playing days, he was one of the great closers and a fierce competitor," Flannery said. "He also had a zest for life; reckless abandon at times. He's gone at 53. He earned every moment of his life. He packed a lot into it."
"It is with great sadness that the San Diego community learned that it has not only lost a great baseball man, but a great friend to so many of us here," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said in a statement. "He was an integral part of the Padres for many years, as a minor league instructor and coach and later as our major league pitching coach."
Dave Smith was only 53 years old.
An avid surf fan, Flannery said services were pending, but added that he and other surfers plan to paddle out onto the Pacific Ocean to spread Smith's ashes across the water.
