| Craig Smajstrla | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Smajstrla with theBuffalo Bisonsc. 1987 | |
| Second Baseman | |
| Born: (1962-06-19)June 19, 1962 (age 63) Houston, Texas | |
Batted: Both Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 6, 1988, for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1988, for the Houston Astros | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games played | 8 |
| Runs scored | 2 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Craig Lee Smajstrla (pronounced: Suh-ma-struh-luh), (born June 19, 1962), is a formerMajor League Baseball player with theHouston Astros baseball club in 1988. A native of theHouston area, he only had three at-bats in his entire big league career and never recorded a hit or walk, but did reach base several times as a pinch runner. He tied a record set by many who have appeared in the Majors and yet never recorded a hit. His Astros record was broken in 1990 when Jeff Baldwin went 0 for 7 in his career. Smajstrla was nicknamed "Mr. Buy A Vowel" by Astros broadcasterMilo Hamilton. He was one of only three Houston natives on the '88 Astros roster (the others wereCraig Reynolds andSteve Henderson). Smajstrla was also known for being one of the smallest players in baseball as he was only 5'9" tall and weighed 165 lbs.
Smajstrla scored the game-winning run on September 9, 1988 when he pinch-ran forBuddy Bell in the 11th inning of a game inCandlestick Park versus theSan Francisco Giants. He scored one other run as a pinch runner later in that same month.
He was the Texas High School Baseball Player of the Year in 1980 forPearland High School and was a 4th round pick by the Chicago White Sox in 1981.
In 1988 he hit .310 with 4 homers, 56 rbi, 28 steals, in 134 games as theTucson Toros (the Astros Triple A affiliate) starting second baseman.
Smajstrla had hits in 25 straight games from July 30 to August 26, 1988. He was called to the Majors by the Astros on September 6, 1988 and grounded out versusTom Browning of theCincinnati Reds in his first big league at-bat on the same day.
He and his wife Denice currently live inHouston, Texas with their daughters Emily (18) and Lyndsi (15)