The Atlantics were one of the premiere clubs active in the sport's Amateur Era, which pre-dated the advent of paid professionalism.

However, in that era, game-by-game statistics were not regularly compiled, so there is no way to assess Smith's value compared to other players.

The late Harry Wright said once in speaking about Charlie [sic] Smith: 'Undoubtedly, he was the king of third baseman.

'"[1] Smith played in an era before fielders wore gloves and had to handle the ball barehanded.

An 1897 obit in the Brooklyn Daily Times reported, "Up to the day that he died, Charlie Smith's crooked fingers bore eloquent testimony to many a hot grounder that he had gathered in and many a foul ball fly that he had nipped.