Return to Houston as General Manager
Houston was in last place in the National League West division when Smith assumed the reins after the 1975 season, but under his leadership, the team rebuilt itself into a contender. Along the way, Smith was named team president and played a key role in resolving the club's ownership problem when he helped to convince Dr. John McMullen, a limited partner in Steinbrenner's ownership group, to sell his Yankees' shares and become the owner of the Astros. The Astros won their first division title in 1980, which was followed by a dramatic playoff series with the Phillies. The last four games of the series all went into extra innings, and the Astros were just 6 outs short of their first World Series appearance. He was recognized by The Sporting News as Major League Executive of the Year for his efforts.
However, in a move that shocked baseball, McMullen fired Smith only days after the team's successful 1980 season; McMullen went so far as to call Smith a "despicable human being". The move angered fans and partners. In fact, some of the Astros limited partners threatened a lawsuit and brought about a re-organization with the result that two other directors ended up on equal footing with McMullen. The Astros made the playoffs in 1981 before experiencing a slide that did not end until 1986. [4]
Rather than seeking another front-office job, Smith formed his own consulting firm named Tal Smith Enterprises to advise MLB clubs on how best to handle salary arbitration cases with their players. His firm became extremely successful over the next 15 years.
Third term in Astros' front office
In November 1994, Smith returned to the Astros (under then-owner Drayton McLane, Jr.) as president of baseball operations. Smith was a vital aide to McLane in the design of the Astros' new ballpark, Daikin Park, which opened in 2000. This was a similar role to the one he had in the construction of the Astros' first stadium, the Astrodome. Daikin Park's field dimensions and unique angles were designed with Smith's input and assistance. Until the 2017 season, center field included a 30-degree hill named "Tal's Hill" as a tribute to his creativity and contribution to the Daikin Park project.
The Astros made six playoff appearances from 1994-2005, culminating in their first National League Pennant in 2005. The Astros would lose to the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series. On August 27, 2007, Smith was named acting GM after the firing of Tim Purpura. He re-assumed his previous position upon the appointment of Ed Wade as full-time GM on September 21, 2007. Both Wade and Smith were dismissed by the team's new owner, Houston businessman Jim Crane, when he assumed control of the Astros late in November 2011. [1] According to news reports at the time, Smith still heads Tal Smith Enterprises. [5]
In April 2012, Smith was announced as a special advisor for the Sugarland Skeeters of the Atlantic League. [6]
Honors
On January 27, 2022, it was announced that Smith would be elected to the Houston Astros Hall of Fame. [7] He was inducted on August 13, 2022.
Baseball America recognized Smith for his career of achievements and innovations in 2005 by honoring him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of the Culver Academies Athletic Hall of Fame. [3]
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References
- 1 2 mlb.com
- ↑ "The Astrodome, Eighth Wonder of the World // Digital Collections". digitalcollections.lib.uh.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- 1 2 Astros Official Game Magazine (June Yearbook ed.). Professional Sports Publications. June 2010. p. 154.
- ↑ Former Houston Astros general manager Tal Smith called a..., UPI archives, April 25, 1983.
- ↑ astros.com
- ↑ Campbell, Steve. "Skeeters hire experienced baseball hand Smith to help in launch". Chron. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ↑ "Houston Astros - The Houston Astros announced today that former All-Star outfielder Terry Puhl and former front office executive Tal Smith have been elected into the Astros Hall of Fame presented by Houston Methodist. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
External links
- Smith, Talbot, Foreword to "It's Time for Expansion Baseball"; The Society for American Baseball Research (2018)
- Tal Smith at Baseball America Executive Database
| Tal Smith | |
|---|---|
 Smith in 2014 | |
| President of Baseball Operations | |
| Born:September 27, 1933 Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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