[2] Smith attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

He started with Frank Leland and the Chicago Unions at the age of 20, working with the team until 1897.

[1] In his 30s, Smith played for the Cuban X-Giants for a couple seasons.

Then, he moved on to the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1905, and also to half a dozen other teams.

He was still playing baseball for the Schenectady Mohawk Giants and the Brooklyn All Stars at the age of 45 years.