# Smitty — Short Fiction character guide

> Smitty in Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** V, V Smitty

**First appearance:** 0010-horseshoes

## Snapshot

A ballplayer whose easy grin and easygoing ways make him the clubhouse's favorite audience, though his calm hides how much he notices.

## Who they are

Smitty belongs to the loose brotherhood of the diamond, one of the teammates who fill the hotel lobbies and dugouts with banter. His laid-back manner is both armor and instrument: he watches the louder men chase the same girl, the same hit, the same break, and says less than he knows. That quiet angle of vision is what makes him useful to Lardner's stories, where the joke is usually on whoever is talking loudest.

## Relationships

### [Art Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/art_graham)

_friendship_

Art Graham and Smitty are close companions, likely sharing adventures or working together as allies.

### [Red Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/red_smith)

_friendship_

Red Smith and Smitty are friends or allies, possibly sharing a common goal.

### [Red Fulton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/red_fulton)

_friendship_

Red Fulton and Smitty are friends or companions, likely sharing experiences.

### [Hurry Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/hurry_kane)

_rivalry_

Hurry Kane and Smitty are competitors or enemies, with frequent confrontations.

### [Red Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/red_smith)

_friendship_

Red Smith and Smitty are friends or allies, possibly sharing a common goal.

### [Art Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/art_graham)

_friendship_

Art Graham and Smitty are close companions, likely sharing adventures or working together as allies.

### [Art Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/art_graham)

_friendship_

Art Graham and Smitty are close companions, likely sharing adventures or working together as allies.

### [Red Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/red_smith)

_friendship_

Red Smith and Smitty are friends or allies, possibly sharing a common goal.

### [Red Fulton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/red_fulton)

_friendship_

Red Fulton and Smitty are friends or companions, likely sharing experiences.

### [Hurry Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/hurry_kane)

_rivalry_

Hurry Kane and Smitty are competitors or enemies, with frequent confrontations.

### [Hurry Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/hurry_kane)

_rivalry_

Hurry Kane and Smitty are competitors or enemies, with frequent confrontations.

### [Red Fulton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/red_fulton)

_friendship_

Red Fulton and Smitty are friends or companions, likely sharing experiences.

## In the story

### [Sick ’Em](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/sick-em)

A talented but lazy pitcher acquired from Fort Wayne, who refuses to pitch to his full potential, frustrating the team.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii)

Hosts the card game in his room and is the one who receives the phone call meant for him.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii)

Teammate involved in a sign mix-up with Ike.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v)

Smitty plays piano and joins in the conversation, commenting on Ike's engagement.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii)

Participates in the teasing of Skull, inventing stories about Evanston and the fried chicken vendor.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii)

Comments on Carey's hit, calling it the hardest wallop ever made on the grounds.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v)

Shares news about his younger brother's golf achievements and challenges Hawley's claims.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi)

Defends Carey after his bad throw, telling Hawley to shut up and that bad throws don't always have a reason.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/smitty
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters