Former Demon basketball player Lee Arthur Smith has come a long way since he was hoopin' it up for coach Tynes Hildebrand's Demons from 1975-77. His college career ended because the Chicago Cubs convinced him concentrating on baseball was his best move.
It was a good one. Known to millions of baseball fans as just "Lee Smith," the 6-foot-6 Castor native set the major league record with 478 career saves as a flame-throwing right-handed relief pitcher.
He hopefully will take his rightful place in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame sooner than later. Sunday night, he was an invited guest at the Mid-Summer Classic, All-Star Weekend, for the celebrity softball game pairing entertainers, sports figures and retired stars. Lee Arthur, who comes by to visit Demon basketball coach Mike McConathy when he is around town, evidently had fun playing softball with another basketball coach of note - Bob Knight.
Lee Arthur was a popular figure when he pitched for St. Louis during his 18-year MLB career. Of course, during most of those years, he was on the other side of a heated rivalry, pitching for the Chicago Cubs!
The above photo was sent our way by one of the nicest guys in the media, O.K. "Buddy" Davis, longtime sports editor of the Ruston Daily Leader. He's vacationing in St. Louis for the All-Star Game.
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