The father of major-league infielder Roy Smalley, the elder Smalley was an error-prone, strong-armed shortstop. He was a Cub regular from 1948 through 1950, leading the league’s shortstops in errors each year, but he also led NL shortstop in total chances per game in 1949 and 1950 and in putouts, assists, and double plays in 1950. He hit 21 home runs in 1950 while striking out a league-leading 114 times. He married teammate Gene Mauch‘s sister.
