Post by Fish Troll on Mar 24, 2007 17:25:27 GMT -5
Smith award handed out Saturday
Crawford receives honor named after late MLB.com reporter
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG -- The legacy of Paul C. Smith was further perpetuated when the award bearing his name was handed out before Saturday's Devil Rays-Red Sox game at Progress Energy Park.
In 2006, the Tampa-St. Petersburg chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America officially renamed its Champion Award, which exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field, after the late MLB.com reporter and former Tampa Tribune sports editor. The award, which is now known as the Paul C. Smith Champion Award, was presented to Rays left fielder Carl Crawford.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the BBWAA Tampa-St. Petersburg chapter chairman, presented the award in an on-field ceremony.
"One thing that struck you about Paul is he really enjoyed being around the game," Topkin said. "It was a job, but to him it was truly more than a job."
The award was the first award in the chapter to be named after anybody. Also receiving awards on Saturday were James Shields (top rookie) and Crawford (team MVP).
Smith passed away at age 46 on Feb. 26, 2005. He left such an impression on the Rays' organization that a commemorative plaque was placed where he once sat covering games in the Tropicana Field press box. Colleagues of Smith remembered their friend Saturday.
"The first big thing I remember about Paul isn't about him being a member of the media; it's as a human being," Rays TV play-by-play man DeWayne Staats said. "Anyone who knew him, the first thing that registered about him was his heart. He was one of those people who led with his heart."
Reporter Carter Gaddis worked for Smith at the Tampa Tribune, and alongside him once Smith moved to MLB.com.
"He was a mentor, a friend -- always fun to be around," Gaddis said. "More like a big brother than a colleague. I miss him this time of year, especially."
Dennis Maffezzoli of the Sarasota Herald Tribune remembered how Smith loved being around the team in the clubhouse.
"And he knew how to work it," Maffezzoli said. "Every player knew who he was, because he not only dealt with them on a professional level, but knew and cared about their personal lives. He also knew where to draw the line when it came to personal and professional -- that's what set him apart."
Roger Mooney of the Bradenton Herald remembered how Smith looked forward to coming to the ballpark each day.
"Because he was convinced he would see something in the game he had never seen before," Mooney said.
Bob Bellone, who worked with Smith at the Tribune and at times alongside him during Rays games, said: "I never had seen Paul, then the sports editor of The Tampa Tribune, more content than the day he was pinch-hitting for his Devil Rays beat reporter at Tropicana Field. Before we knew it, he was fulfilling his passion for baseball with MLB.com."
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Crawford receives honor named after late MLB.com reporter
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG -- The legacy of Paul C. Smith was further perpetuated when the award bearing his name was handed out before Saturday's Devil Rays-Red Sox game at Progress Energy Park.
In 2006, the Tampa-St. Petersburg chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America officially renamed its Champion Award, which exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field, after the late MLB.com reporter and former Tampa Tribune sports editor. The award, which is now known as the Paul C. Smith Champion Award, was presented to Rays left fielder Carl Crawford.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the BBWAA Tampa-St. Petersburg chapter chairman, presented the award in an on-field ceremony.
"One thing that struck you about Paul is he really enjoyed being around the game," Topkin said. "It was a job, but to him it was truly more than a job."
The award was the first award in the chapter to be named after anybody. Also receiving awards on Saturday were James Shields (top rookie) and Crawford (team MVP).
Smith passed away at age 46 on Feb. 26, 2005. He left such an impression on the Rays' organization that a commemorative plaque was placed where he once sat covering games in the Tropicana Field press box. Colleagues of Smith remembered their friend Saturday.
"The first big thing I remember about Paul isn't about him being a member of the media; it's as a human being," Rays TV play-by-play man DeWayne Staats said. "Anyone who knew him, the first thing that registered about him was his heart. He was one of those people who led with his heart."
Reporter Carter Gaddis worked for Smith at the Tampa Tribune, and alongside him once Smith moved to MLB.com.
"He was a mentor, a friend -- always fun to be around," Gaddis said. "More like a big brother than a colleague. I miss him this time of year, especially."
Dennis Maffezzoli of the Sarasota Herald Tribune remembered how Smith loved being around the team in the clubhouse.
"And he knew how to work it," Maffezzoli said. "Every player knew who he was, because he not only dealt with them on a professional level, but knew and cared about their personal lives. He also knew where to draw the line when it came to personal and professional -- that's what set him apart."
Roger Mooney of the Bradenton Herald remembered how Smith looked forward to coming to the ballpark each day.
"Because he was convinced he would see something in the game he had never seen before," Mooney said.
Bob Bellone, who worked with Smith at the Tribune and at times alongside him during Rays games, said: "I never had seen Paul, then the sports editor of The Tampa Tribune, more content than the day he was pinch-hitting for his Devil Rays beat reporter at Tropicana Field. Before we knew it, he was fulfilling his passion for baseball with MLB.com."
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070324&content_id=1857453&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb
