Major League Baseball Player. New York City native Alexander Benjamin Smith was nicknamed 'Broadway Aleck' due to his being a native New Yorker and also for his propensity for the New York Night Life. A catcher by trade, he spent parts of 9 seasons in the majors. He debuted for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms of the National League in 1897, staying with that club as it's back-up catcher until 1899. He was reassigned to the Baltimore Orioles on March 11, 1899 by Brooklyn's ownership. (Brooklyn and Baltimore were owned by the same group of owners) His stay in Baltimore lasted less than a month, as he was then traded back to Brooklyn for Pat Crisham and George Magoon on April 4, 1899. He was traded for a third time that season on July 14 along with first baseman Dan McGann to the Washington Senators for Deacon McGuire. Smith's stay in Washington lasted all of 22 days as he was sold back to Baltimore on August 5. Known more for his defense than anything else, (he had only one lifetime home run) he batted a respectable .262 lifetime. Smith was also noted for being one the few Jewish ballplayers to make good in the majors during the turn of the century. He continued to play semipro ball until 4 years before his death in 1919. A gregarious, big hearted man, who was well liked and respected by his teammates and opposing players alike, he died from Chronic Myocarditis at his home in Manhattan at the age of 47.
Major League Baseball Player. New York City native Alexander Benjamin Smith was nicknamed 'Broadway Aleck' due to his being a native New Yorker and also for his propensity for the New York Night Life. A catcher by trade, he spent parts of 9 seasons in the majors. He debuted for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms of the National League in 1897, staying with that club as it's back-up catcher until 1899. He was reassigned to the Baltimore Orioles on March 11, 1899 by Brooklyn's ownership. (Brooklyn and Baltimore were owned by the same group of owners) His stay in Baltimore lasted less than a month, as he was then traded back to Brooklyn for Pat Crisham and George Magoon on April 4, 1899. He was traded for a third time that season on July 14 along with first baseman Dan McGann to the Washington Senators for Deacon McGuire. Smith's stay in Washington lasted all of 22 days as he was sold back to Baltimore on August 5. Known more for his defense than anything else, (he had only one lifetime home run) he batted a respectable .262 lifetime. Smith was also noted for being one the few Jewish ballplayers to make good in the majors during the turn of the century. He continued to play semipro ball until 4 years before his death in 1919. A gregarious, big hearted man, who was well liked and respected by his teammates and opposing players alike, he died from Chronic Myocarditis at his home in Manhattan at the age of 47.
Bio by: Frank Russo
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