Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Smith, Mitch
Mitch Smith
- Induction:
- 2023
- Class:
- 1979
A workhorse on the mound, Mitch Smith is the most accomplished pitcher in terms of statistics in Lehigh baseball history. A four-year standout, Smith led Lehigh in innings pitched in all four seasons in the Brown and White.
Smith graduated in 1979 as Lehigh baseball's career leader in wins (24), strikeouts (262), complete games (23), innings pitched (335) and appearances (52). He continues to sit at the top of Lehigh's career list for innings pitched and complete games and is now second in wins and strikeouts.
The mark of 262 career strikeouts stood remarkably for 44 years, before it was eclipsed in 2023.
“Aside from feelings of appreciation and awe, being inducted reinforced my belief that no matter who you are, how average you are, you can succeed, you can thrive, you can serve,” Smith said.
A native of Allendale, N.J., Smith established himself as one of Lehigh’s top arms from the time he stepped on campus. As a first-year, Smith led Lehigh in appearances (13), innings pitched (76.2) and strikeouts (58), while earning five victories.
Smith’s sophomore campaign was one of the finest in program history. He again led Lehigh with 12 appearances and 93 innings pitched, a school record that still stands. Smith went 7-3 with seven complete games and struck out 85 batters, while maintaining a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4:1. His 1.74 ERA during the 1977 campaign remains the fourth-lowest single season mark in Lehigh baseball history. Smith contributed to Lehigh’s 19-8-1 season that at the time, was a program record for single season victories.
As a junior in 1978, Smith won five more games and added 62 strikeouts, while again leading Lehigh in appearances and innings pitched.
Smith capped his Lehigh career by going 7-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 1979. He struck out 57 batters in 78 innings. He was recognized with Lehigh’s Anderson-Hartzell Pitching Award in both 1978 and 1979.
“Lehigh’s athletics and academic programs allowed me to learn, to grind, to fail, to rise again and to keep going,” Smith said. “Lehigh was a place where I was blessed and lucky to have two outstanding coaches in Stan (Skip) Schultz and Craig Anderson, both with similar personality traits as me, who served as my mentors for four years. I was a true walk-on, an average high school baseball player. Lehigh gave me that opportunity, that environment, that special place to improve, to reach and to become the best I could be.”
After graduating in 1979 with his degree in accounting, Smith added an MBA from Ohio University. He spent 25 years working as a certified public accountant, while also serving as a senior auditor for W.R. Grace, conglomerate and later as vice president and controller for C.R. Bard International. Smith has been an independent investor since 2007.
Smith and his wife LuAnn lived in Middlesex, N.J. where they had two children, daughter Candice and son Colby who played college softball and baseball at Haverford and Elizabethtown, respectively.
Smith continues to actively trade securities while practicing and playing golf in Florida, where he now resides. He volunteers locally with youth golf and is waiting patiently for his grandchildren to be old enough so that he can throw them batting practice.
Smith graduated in 1979 as Lehigh baseball's career leader in wins (24), strikeouts (262), complete games (23), innings pitched (335) and appearances (52). He continues to sit at the top of Lehigh's career list for innings pitched and complete games and is now second in wins and strikeouts.
The mark of 262 career strikeouts stood remarkably for 44 years, before it was eclipsed in 2023.
“Aside from feelings of appreciation and awe, being inducted reinforced my belief that no matter who you are, how average you are, you can succeed, you can thrive, you can serve,” Smith said.
A native of Allendale, N.J., Smith established himself as one of Lehigh’s top arms from the time he stepped on campus. As a first-year, Smith led Lehigh in appearances (13), innings pitched (76.2) and strikeouts (58), while earning five victories.
Smith’s sophomore campaign was one of the finest in program history. He again led Lehigh with 12 appearances and 93 innings pitched, a school record that still stands. Smith went 7-3 with seven complete games and struck out 85 batters, while maintaining a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4:1. His 1.74 ERA during the 1977 campaign remains the fourth-lowest single season mark in Lehigh baseball history. Smith contributed to Lehigh’s 19-8-1 season that at the time, was a program record for single season victories.
As a junior in 1978, Smith won five more games and added 62 strikeouts, while again leading Lehigh in appearances and innings pitched.
Smith capped his Lehigh career by going 7-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 1979. He struck out 57 batters in 78 innings. He was recognized with Lehigh’s Anderson-Hartzell Pitching Award in both 1978 and 1979.
“Lehigh’s athletics and academic programs allowed me to learn, to grind, to fail, to rise again and to keep going,” Smith said. “Lehigh was a place where I was blessed and lucky to have two outstanding coaches in Stan (Skip) Schultz and Craig Anderson, both with similar personality traits as me, who served as my mentors for four years. I was a true walk-on, an average high school baseball player. Lehigh gave me that opportunity, that environment, that special place to improve, to reach and to become the best I could be.”
After graduating in 1979 with his degree in accounting, Smith added an MBA from Ohio University. He spent 25 years working as a certified public accountant, while also serving as a senior auditor for W.R. Grace, conglomerate and later as vice president and controller for C.R. Bard International. Smith has been an independent investor since 2007.
Smith and his wife LuAnn lived in Middlesex, N.J. where they had two children, daughter Candice and son Colby who played college softball and baseball at Haverford and Elizabethtown, respectively.
Smith continues to actively trade securities while practicing and playing golf in Florida, where he now resides. He volunteers locally with youth golf and is waiting patiently for his grandchildren to be old enough so that he can throw them batting practice.
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