The sight of Lee Smith trotting to the pitcher’s mound signaled the end of a baseball game. Entrusted with earning the most crucial three outs of a game, Smith was the ideal closing pitcher. A skyscraping fireballer from deep in the Louisiana countryside, Smith thrived on pressure-packed situations. His 96 mile-per-hour fastball and cutting slider stymied opposing batters to the tune of 478 career saves, the most all-time when he retiredin 1997.

     Smith began his 18 season career in 1980 as a relief specialist for the Chicago Cubs. He broke out in 1983, leading the National League in saves and recording an ERA of 1.65. In 1984, Smith led the Cubs to a rare NLCS appearance, earning a save in Game 2 to put the Cubs within a single victory of a World Series appearance. Although the Cubs could not string together the necessary wins to advance to the Fall Classic, Smith’s reputation as a leading closer in the National League was secure.

     The best season of Smith’s career came in 1991, when he again led the National League in saves, this time for the St. Louis Cardinals. He tallied 47 saves, including the 300th of his career, under the management of Joe Torre. The second place finisher in the NL Cy Young Award race, Smith made the third of his seven career All-Star Games in 1991. Smith would play six more seasons in the Major Leagues before retiring after a 25-game spell with the Montreal Expos. He retired with the most career games finished, as well as the third most appearances in baseball history. Largely due to the Hall of Fame voter’s disdain of modern relief pitchers, Smith was snubbed by Cooperstown despite frequently collecting around 50% of the Hall of Fame vote. Regardless of his Hall of Fame status, Smith is deserving of his reputation as one of the best relief pitchers in baseball history.

     This Rolaids 300 Save Club Award was presented to Smith in 1991 to commemorate his entry into the vaunted club. This award, which measures roughly 15 inches tall, features a metal firefighter’s helmet positioned on a wooden stand on a pedestal. The helmet features a metal plaque that reads “Rolaids Relief Man” above the MLB and MLBPA logos. A four inch tall, metal “300” is attached to the pedestal. A gold plaque on the base reads “Rolaids 300 Save Club / Lee Smith / Presented December 10, 1991”. Smith signed the bottom of the trophy in silver marker, adding the inscription “300th Save Trophy”. This item comes with a LOA from Lee Smith himself.

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