Gerry Smith

Induction Year: 2000

Category: Baseball

Location: Kings Park

Gerry Smith played basketball and baseball at Kings Park High School and graduated in 1950. During his three years of varsity basketball and two years of varsity baseball, Smith had many achievements.

Upon graduation, he attended University of Notre Dame on an athletic scholarship and graduated in 1954 Cum Laude. In 1955, Smith graduated from Pennsylvania State University with his master’s degree.

He went on to play in the Marine Corps. from 1956-1959. Smith holds all-time military service pitching records. These include:

• 38 Wins and 3 Losses 1959
• 391 Strikeouts in 298 Innings 1959
• 1.12 ERA 1959
• 3 No Hit Games
• Represented America in the Far East Tour 1959
• Selected to All-Marine Team 1959
• Camp Lejeune All-Marine Champs 1959

Smith went on to coach at West Islip High School afterwards and is the first person in Suffolk County history, to play both as and coach a Suffolk County Basketball Champion. As a coach, his accomplishments include:

• League II Baseball Champions 1961
• Suffolk County Basketball Champions 1967
• League I Champions Basketball 1967
• Suffolk County Coach of the Year 1967
• League I Coach of the Year 1967
• League I Champions Basketball 1974
• League I Coach of the Year 1967

He was also a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies for 20 years. In 1997, Smith was inducted into the Kings Park Hall of Fame and then the West Islip Hall of Fame in 1998.