He played five seasons in Major League Baseball, for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, from 1902 until 1906, primarily as a center fielder.

He attended prep school at Wesley Collegiate Academy in Dover, Delaware.

Smoot attended Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, where he played both football and baseball.

Smoot is also one of the few players to hit two inside-the-park home runs in a single game, which he did on April 25.

His .311 average, which also tied a career high, led the team and was seventh highest in the league.

That prompted a midseason trade with the Reds, who sent Shad Barry in return for Smoot.

He played with the Louisville Colonels and Kansas City Blues-both in the American Association-in 1910, hitting .236 combined.

He started 1911 with the Blues, hitting .379 with them before his contract was sold to the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the New York State League.

He was an assistant manager and weekend player in 1912 for Wilkes-Barre, but the rheumatism got so bad he had to finish his playing days.

He spent ten years as a chicken farmer and operating a feed business before getting the chance to be involved in professional sports again.