16. Dave Smith, RHP
Career Stats: 609 G (1 GS), 216 SV, 809 1/3 IP, 2.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.43 BB%, 16.32 K%
Coming from San Diego State, the Astros selected Smith in the 8th round of the 1976 draft. He had middling success as a starter, taking each level one stop per season, but he blossomed when the Astros moved him into the bullpen out of spring training in 1980.
On one of the most underrated pitching staffs in recent history, Smith was the anchor to the bullpen on a staff led by guys like Mike Scott and Nolan Ryan. While his save numbers were never incredible, he had dominance in his ability to keep runs off the board with incredibly difficult stuff to square up, even if he didn’t blow it by hitters all that often.
Smith put together a run from 1984-1990 where he averaged 64 innings at the back of the bullpen, finishing 41 games per year on average and saving an average of 23 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through that dominant stretch, becoming the prototype for the late-game closer while everyone focused on another reliever from Oakland for doing the same thing.
Smith made two All-Star teams, garnering votes for MVP once. He was never nominated by the nominating committee to even receive votes for the Hall of Fame in spite of being one of the National League’s best relief pitchers through the decade of the 1980s.
Next: 15. Paps