To be a closing pitcher in the Major Leagues, a pitcher needs nerves of steel and filthy stuff. Lee Smith had both in spades, dominating the final frame of games for almost two full decades. In 1994, Smith became the first pitcher start the ninth inning in over three quarters of his appearances during a season with the Baltimore Orioles. As the first ninth inning specialist, Smith was often the only man standing between his team and defeat. The six foot six inch tall fireman with a legendary scowl cut an imposing figure on the mound, using his 96 mile-per-hour fastball and darting slider to devastating effect, collecting 478 saves and 72 victories in his 18 season career.

     Smith began his Major League career with the Chicago Cubs in 1980. In 1984, Smith saved 33 games while leading the Cubs to a division title and a rare appearance in the NLCS. The big man from the bayou earned the save in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Padres, but the strong bats of Tony Gwynn and Steve Garvey, along with the suspect glove work of Chicago first baseman Leon Durham, destroyed the Cubs chances of ending their then-76 year World Series drought.

     Smith left the Cubs in 1988 for the Red Sox of the American League, pitching for two and a half solid seasons in Fenway Park before returning to the Senior Circuit with the St. Louis Cardinals. It was under the Gateway Arch that Smith truly became an elite closer, earning All-Star appearances in 1991, 1992, and 1993 while leading the National League in saves his first two seasons. In 1994, Smith, now a free agent, joined the Baltimore Orioles, with whom he had one of the best seasons of his career. Although the season was truncated by the player’s strike, Smith notched 33 saves to lead all MLB pitchers. An All-Star in ’94, Smith tallied 42 strikeouts in only 38.1 innings pitched.

     The ace closer retired in 1997 after spending time with the Angels, Reds, and Expos. At the time, he was the all-time leader in saves and one of the most feared pitchers of his era. Unfortunately for Smith, the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s prejudice against closing pitchers conspired to keep him out of the Hall, although he consistently balloted around the 50% mark.

     This Rolaids Relief Man Award was presented to Smith in 1994, his only season in Baltimore, for being the top reliever in the American League that season. This was the third Rolaids Relief Man Award for the seven-time All-Star, after winning two while playing for Joe Torre and the St. Louis Cardinals. The award features a large, metal firefighter’s helmet displayed above a sturdy wooden pedestal. A plaque on the front of the helmet reads “Rolaids Relief Man” and shows the logo of both MLB and the MLBPA. A gold metal plaque on the pedestal reads “Lee Smith / American League / Baltimore Orioles / 1994”. This award measures approximately 22 inches high and ten inches wide, with the helmet extending roughly 15 inches front to back. Smith signed the bottom of this award in black marker, adding the inscription “My Rolaids Trophy”. This item comes with a LOA from Lee Smith himself.

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