Smyres was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944 after an injury to shortstop-manager Leo Durocher.

[1] Smyres appeared in five games for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1944 Major League Baseball season, recording two at bats but no hits.

Though having never recorded a major league hit, his autograph is one of the rarest among former athletes and is highly sought by collectors.

[2] This is due to the fact that Smyres refused all autograph requests, no matter how much money someone would offer him.

[2] However, his signature has been obtained from a few items, including a hotel register that he had signed and a 1944 Trenton Packers team autographed ball.