Mike Smithson

Who is Mike Smithson?

Billy Mike Smithson is a retired American professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher who appeared in 240 games in the Major Leagues over eight seasons for the Texas Rangers. Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox. Smithson stood 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 215 pounds.

After attending the University of Tennessee, Smithson was selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft. During the course of his seven-year minor league apprenticeship, he participated in the longest baseball game in history between the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings during the 1981 season. During the early morning hours of Sunday, April 19, 1981, he worked the full 15th, 16th and 17th innings, and got two outs in the 18th inning before turning the ball over to Win Remmerswaal. Smithson allowed two hits and three bases on balls in 3²⁄₃ innings pitched—but no runs. The game was suspended after 32 innings, and resumed June 23; Smithson's PawSox won it in the bottom of the 33rd frame.

After attending spring training with the 1982 Red Sox, Smithson was traded to the Rangers on April 9 for left-handed relief pitcher John Henry Johnson.