Today, the Indianapolis Indians hosted their annual Hot Stove Luncheon, a hoity-toity event with all of the hobnobbing one would expect from an event where (nearly) everyone is dressed to the nines.
As part of the goings-on, Indians general manager Cal Burleson recognized the team's and the city's efforts in making the week-plus-long Super Bowl celebration an experience where fun was had by all and field manager Dean Treanor gave his report on the team, which is beginning to take shape at the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training facility in Bradenton, Fla.
The highlight of the event, however, was former Major League Baseball career saves leader Lee Smith serving as the keynote speaker. Smith played for eight teams in his 17-year major league career, racking up 478 saves while serving as the bridge from the era of the multiple-inning closer to the era of the ninth-inning specialist. He served admirably in both roles despite taking a short hiatus from baseball to play college basketball because he did not want to be a relief pitcher.
Smith is a big man, standing about 6-6 and towering over nearly everyone in attendance. It is not hard to see how he could be an intimidating presence on the mound even before chucking a mid-90s fastball past a batter.
Off the field, though, Smith is as amiable as they come, shaking hands, greeting fans and taking time to interview with every media outlet that requested his time.
He's so friendly, in fact, that many of the interviews ran over the allotted time simply because Smith loves talking to people.
I did not do a one-on-one interview with Smith, but I did spend enough time with him to see that he is undoubtedly a good guy, very down-to-earth, a great representative for the sport of baseball.
"I enjoy getting back and seeing that enthusiasm in the face of guys talking about the Chicago Cubs. I did see a lot of Cardinals fans and a lot of other people that were Boston Red Sox fans," Smith said during his keynote address, singling out three of the teams he played for while emphasizing the wide-spread fanbase of a city without a Major League Baseball team.
Smith said he's always enjoyed interacting with fans, even in his time as a player. "I would always be into going out after the game, not to party, but just to see the fans together and share the love that you have for the game because, I tell you, I feel it in here," Smith said, tapping his chest above his heart. "It’s unbelievable."
After his playing days, Smith figured he could quit the game for good, but he was wrong. "I got back into the game because I just can’t get it out of my system, you know? I thought once I retired from playing baseball, 'You know what, I’m just going to go home and retire and just relax,'" Smith said. "But as anyone who has ever played the game of baseball [will tell you], you can’t just relax as a ballplayer, you find everything you do in life sort of brings you back around to baseball."
Smith's return to the game has come in the role of coach. He is currently a roving pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants organization, a position he said he has held for 13 years, working with players in every level, from the Single-A minor leaguers to seasoned MLB veterans.
In addition to his role with the Giants, Smith enjoys working overseas, spreading the game of baseball across the globe. "I coach international baseball a little bit. I do it in South Africa," Smith said.
"I’m thinking, 'At least if we go to Africa we’re going to have some brothers that can run.' But you’re looking at the only black guy on the team," Smith said, referring to himself. "The whole team was blonde hair, blue eyes."
In terms of global talent in areas where baseball hasn't always been prevalent, Smith believes it's out there; it just has to be refined. "It’s unbelievable. I was actually just in the midst of trying to teach my pitchers … how to stand on the mound and how to throw the ball," Smith said of working with the South Africans.
"If they could play cricket or something, if I could get that guy to run from second and throw it, we’d have a chance," Smith said with a laugh, referring to the way bowlers (the cricket versions of pitchers) take a running start. "I don't think Cuba could hit that."
Smith is seemingly very happy in his position with the Giants, but he apparently wouldn't be opposed to working in Indy someday. "I really like to see that look on Dean’s face about pitchers, just to see that excitement in that look on his face," Smith said. "He’s got a pitching coach now who was a teammate of mine, Tom Filer. I was hoping to see Filer here, because I’m going to leave my résumé here in case Filer doesn’t get it right."
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