Billy Smith (second baseman)

Infobox MLB retired
name=Billy Smith
position=Second baseman


bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1953|7|14
city-state|Jonesboro|Louisiana
debutdate=April 13
debutyear=by|1975
debutteam=California Angels
finaldate=September 24
finalyear=by|1981
finalteam=San Francisco Giants
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.230
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=17
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=111
teams=
*California Angels (1975-76)
*Baltimore Orioles (1977-79)
*San Francisco Giants (1981)

Billy Edward Smith is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors between by|1975 and by|1981. He also played one season in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in by|1983.

Smith was originally drafted by the California Angels in by|1971. He played in their farm system for several years until making his debut early in the 1975 season. That year, he mainly played shortstop, batting just .203 in 59 games. After a brief stint in the majors in by|1976, he was let go by the Angels.

Smith was signed by the Baltimore Orioles prior to the by|1977 season, and in spring training he was chosen to replace Bobby Grich as the Orioles' starting second baseman. As the year went on, however, he lost playing time to rookie Rich Dauer, and he finished 1977 with a batting average of .215 with just 29 RBI in 367 at bats. In by|1978, Smith split time with Dauer again, and he boosted his average to .260. After backing up Dauer again during the Orioles' pennant-winning season in by|1979, Smith was released by the Orioles the following spring.

In June, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but never made it to the majors for them. He was purchased from the Phillies by the San Francisco Giants in March 1981, but after hitting .180 in 36 games for the Giants his major league career was over.

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