Mansfield in Newton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Mansfield's Famous Southpaw

Photographed by David Seibert, November 8, 2007

1. Mansfield's Famous Southpaw Marker

Inscription. Sherrod Malone Smith (1891-1949) played 23 years of professional baseball including 14 seasons in the major leagues. Babe Ruth, another left-hander, said that he was, "the greatest pick-off artist who ever lived." He played in Pittsburgh, Brooklyn and Cleveland and in the 2,052 innings he pitched, only two bases were stolen. Smith posted a 115/118 won/lost record in the majors with 21 saves, and a record of 67/39 in the minors. He pitched 30-1/3 innings in three World Series games with a 0.89 earned-run average. His career batting average was .233. In 1916, he pitched against Babe Ruth in a 14 inning World Series games in which Ruth failed to get a hit and struck out twice. Smith doubled once in his five trips against Ruth.

"Sherry" Smith was born in Monticello and played town ball in Mansfield, Madison, Elberton, and Newborn before turning pro in 1910. He managed the Macon Peaches in his last pro season in 1932. Smith served in the Army during World War I, and was the Chief of Police in Porterdale and Madison. Smith and his wife, Addilu (a native of Mansfield) are both buried in Mansfield. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in February, 1980.

Erected 1994 by Georgia Department of Natural Resources. (Marker Number 107-10.)

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Sports • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1980.

Location. 33° 30.996′ N, 83° 44.022′ W. Marker is in Mansfield, Georgia, in Newton County. It is on S. Main Street (Georgia Route 11) 0 miles south of Kellogg Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mansfield GA 30055, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont

and in Metro Atlanta.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mansfield's First School (approx. ¼ mile away); Newborn (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Old Loyd Place (approx. 2.9 miles away); Charlie Elliott's Internment Site (approx. 3.7 miles away); Old Starrsville Store (approx. 4.3 miles away); Dow’s Pulpit (approx. 4.4 miles away); Trail of the Stage Coach Cross Roads (approx. 5.9 miles away); Brick Store (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mansfield.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,990 times since then and 33 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 8, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?