I got word recently that another former Columbia County athlete had passed away. A few months back, former Evans baseball star Chris Halliday died unexpectedly, and it seemed like the entire community mourned his passing.
I remember how shocked I was to hear that news. This time, the crushing news came for teammates, friends and family members of former Greenbrier standout Tony Smith, who was just 41 years old.
Both will always be remembered for providing two of the most incredible sports memories in the history of the CSRA. Halliday launched a 17th inning home run to lead Evans and head coach Terry Holder to the state baseball title in 1993.
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Ironically, Terry Holder was there for Smith’s special moment as well. Holder had left Evans to take over the athletic director post at Greenbrier. Holder was also the school’s football and baseball coach. In 1996, in the school’s first football game ever, Tony Smith (then a sophomore) returned the opening kickoff — literally the school’s “opening” kickoff — for a touchdown.
Long before that moment, Smith already made a name for himself in the Winfield community as a great athlete. He would go on to become an All-State running back during his senior season in 1998. He led the ‘Pack to an 8-3 mark that season and the offense put up 332 points, which is still a school record.
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As good as Smith was on the gridiron, he may have been even better on the baseball diamond. He was a member of Greenbrier’s state championship squads in 1997 and 1998. However, he was ineligible to play in the spring of 1998. Despite missing his senior season, major league teams still were showing interest. Cincinnati Reds’ legendary scout Bob Zuk (who signed Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell, and Gary Carter) and another top scout, Steve Kring, came to town to see Smith hit. However, it was raining that day and the only place they could find to hit indoors was the Martinez Putt-Putt.
Smith showed off his massive strength by splitting Putt-Putt’s almost indestructible dimple balls in half. George Blackburn, a scout with the Reds at the time, said Zuk and the Reds were immediately sold on his strength. Smith propelled himself into almost folk hero status in some baseball circles in the spring of 1999. Following his power display at Putt-Putt, Smith traveled with Blackburn to Cincinnati to workout for the Reds. On day one, he did not perform well and seemed a bit in awe of his surroundings. It seemed as if he may have blown his big chance, but as he seemed to always to on the field, Smith rose to the occasion.
He hung around the following day and was given a second chance to show the team what he had. After that day’s batting practice session, the Reds were sold.
“Tony hit several balls up into the third deck,” said Blackburn. “As we walked in the tunnel after he finished hitting, Jim Bowden (then Reds general manager) stopped us and told Tony, ”Not many people hit balls where you were hitting them. I am here every day, and it just doesn’t happen.”
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The Reds selected the 6’0 205 lbs. lefty slugger in the 47th round of the 1999 MLB draft. He spent his first season in rookie ball, playing in the Gulf Coast league. There, he flashed more of the eye-popping power that got him drafted. There are not many home runs hit in that league, but Smith blasted seven.
He appeared to be on his way within the organization. However, he would never play again. He decided to hang up his cleats and move back home. While I am sure his family and friends loved having him back home, it is hard not to be disappointed that we did not get a chance to see him reach his full potential. The sky was the limit.
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Blackburn, who has followed sports in the area for a long time, said it best:
“Tony’s name does not come up when people talk about the best athletes from Columbia County. He may be the most underrated athlete in Columbia County history,” said Blackburn.
I cannot argue with that.
Smith was adored by his family, loved by his friends and was a role model for young athletes in his community. He is gone way too soon and will be missed by many.
Ashley Brown covers sports for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Ashley.brown@theaugustapress.com.
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