Smith, Chino

Smith was born in Greenwood, South Carolina, in 1903. By the time he died in 1931, Smith was considered to be among the greatest players to ever take the field in the Negro Leagues.

His early death in 1931 may have robbed Black Baseball of its most awesome hitter. Chino played with the Brooklyn Royal Giants and the New York Lincoln Giants between 1925 and 1930. After the 1930 season he went to Cuba, where he contracted yellow fever.

In just six seasons, Smith is credited with a career batting average of no less than .428. He was also the first Negro League player to hit a home run in Yankee Stadium.