Harley Smith

Year Inducted: 2013

A legend among his peers in Church League recreation softball, Harley Smith has been playing softball for over 60 years.

Smith has excelled on fast-pitch, modified, and slow-pitch teams during his playing career.

Beginning at age 12, Smith played Church League fast-pitch for 16 years. While in the military, Smith’s team was the 7th Army Champions in 1954 in Germany.

Smith played modified softball for 41 years in Class A and B leagues. He played in more than 1,400 and competed in more than 150 slow-pitch contests.

Primarily a pitcher, Smith also has served as a utility player and coach, managing about 1000 games. His winning percentage as a pitcher is around .900.

Smith has played on softball teams whose accomplishments include: 34 league titles, two winning streaks over 40 games, several undefeated seasons in the modified City Church League and Blue Water Church League, Class B City League title in 1997, Class B Michigan State Championship in 1996, the U.S.S.S.A. National Class B title in 1994, and second in Class A Division in Atlanta, Ga.

In 1992, Harley Smith won the Bay City Tournament, pitching and winning all 6 games. For that, he was awarded Most Valuable Player at age 60.