# Big Bill Smith

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**William T. "Big Bill" Smith** (1869 – ?) was a [Negro leagues](/source/Negro_league_baseball) [catcher](/source/Catcher) and [manager](/source/Manager_(baseball)) for several years before he founded the first [Negro National League](/source/Negro_National_League_(1920-1931)). He played for several teams, and for most of the seasons he played for the [Chicago Unions](/source/Chicago_Unions),[1] [Brooklyn Royal Giants](/source/Brooklyn_Royal_Giants) and [Cuban Giants](/source/Cuban_Giants).[2]

Smith attended [Fisk University](/source/Fisk_University) in [Nashville, Tennessee](/source/Nashville,_Tennessee). He started with [Frank Leland](/source/Frank_Leland) and the [Chicago Unions](/source/Chicago_Unions) at the age of 20, working with the team until 1897.[1]

In his 30s, Smith played for the [Cuban X-Giants](/source/Cuban_X-Giants) for a couple seasons. Then, he moved on to the [Brooklyn Royal Giants](/source/Brooklyn_Royal_Giants) in 1905, and also to half a dozen other teams.

He was still playing baseball for the Schenectady Mohawk Giants and the Brooklyn All Stars at the age of 45 years.

## References

1. ["Frank Lelands' Chicago Giants Base Ball Club" Fraternal Printing Company, 1910](https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1Wcncq5-bHdOGxTTXJvRVNWRmc)

1. ["Cuban Giants Won Out 5 to 1" Bridgeton Evening News, Bridgeton, New Jersey, Thursday, July 25, 1907, Page 2, Column 6](https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1Wcncq5-bHdVUtxNE8zTTR3aXc)

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