Artie Smith, always a good hitter, spent time in the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. But he is best remembered for his contributions to the Twilight League, as a player for the Aubum Asas and Yarmouth Townies, and as a sponsor of a team.
Smith's introduction to the league came in 1943 as a seventh grader, when he was pressed into service in right field on a team-with his father Louie and brothers Jack and Dana.
He lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Portland High School and was signed after graduation by the Giants and assigned to Oshkosh of the Wisconsin State League. He broke his wrist at the Giants’ training camp in 1949, the year the Asas were founded.
Signed by the Phillies after a tryout camp at Portland Stadium in 1950, he played one season In the minors before being drafted for the Korean conflict. He spent are paying for service teams and then received a football scholarship to-Murray State.
Smith was a teacher and coach of football and baseball in the Portland schools and director of SMVTI. He presently owns a real estate agency.
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