Gene was one of the brightest stars in the Nego National League. The right-handed ace pitched three no-hitters. Gene was a member of the Cleveland Buckeyes, the 1947 champions of the Negro American League. In 1942, Smith was selected to the West’s All-Star Team. A solid hitter from the right side, he batted .375 while pitching over 20 years.

Smith’s career afforded the chance to travel with teams like the New York Black Yankees, Homestead Grays, Cleveland Buckets, St. Louis Stars, Louisville Buckeyes, Chicago American Giants, to places like Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada. He also served as a coach and director in the Mathews-Dickey Boys Club, and took great pride in developing the successful baseball careers of major leaguers Nate Colbert, Ezell Carter, Frank Pickens and others.