Elliot Smith has been coming into San Quentin with his team, the Oaks/Cubs, to participate in baseball games for approximately 16 seasons. In 2009, he took it to the next level and became a coach for the San Quentin Giants.
Smith, 67, is an unassuming man and pitchers consistently misjudge his moderate stature and his ability and always seem surprised when he laces yet another line drive to right-center. He has an extensive knowledge of the history of baseball, its rules, and how to play it. But there is a lot more to him than baseball as you will soon find out.
The following interview took place during a baseball game (the perfect venue) on a beautiful Saturday morning at San Quentin’s Field of Dreams.
When did you first come to San Quentin?
“1994 or 1995. I started coming in early in the inception of the program. (Former SQ recreation coordinator, the late) Jim Chiminiello was involved. They left all the coaching to (inmate) Leonard Neal. There was also a guy coaching named Dan Jones that I had coached against in Little League and played with in Senior League. When I saw him I thought he was in prison! He told that story to all the players and it made it easier to get along and it paved the way to get to know everyone else. Kent (Philpott, the S.Q. Giants current coach) was involved too.
What made you come in to begin with?
“Beside the fact it was baseball, there was curiosity, and some recognition of the social aspects. Society benefits from the interaction. I realized the value to the inmates and that my participation had a benefit. It benefits everyone, even the spectators. If someone cares from the outside they feel they have some hope. I’m a lawyer and people knew that. People looked at me as a lawyer, and people generally respect lawyers. I think that had a positive result because they thought that a lawyer cares enough about us to come in.”
What was your impression and experience coming into the prison at that time?
“I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t afraid. I had no conception of what the yard was like. I just came in to see what it is. I turned the corner on the ramp coming down to the yard and saw the field and Mt. Tam and it’s beautiful. And it occurred to me that people are in one of the most scenic areas and can’t enjoy it. I remember my first game we had a bunch of players from different places and I didn’t even know some of them. I went back to work and my secretary asked me how was the game and I told her the biggest asshole was on my team!”
In 2004, you participated in the making of the documentary ‘Bad Boys of Summer’. What was that like for you?
“It was interesting to be part of the production of it and be miked. I liked being able to give some advice and leads. It was frustrating that it never got released or distributed. It’s a shame because I think the movie broke two stereotypes about prison. One was, it showed inmates are human beings and have the same emotions as everyone else, and humor, and grace. The second was that everyone in prison says they’re innocent, and in the movie everyone they showed said what they did and acknowledged that they were stupid and are remorseful. They may say they were overcharged or over-sentenced but they are not saying they are innocent.”
Does baseball in prison differ from baseball on the “streets”?
“No. I like playing in here. I like the games. It’s actually my favorite baseball. I never played a team that is more appreciative of playing the game. Year in and year out, and it doesn’t matter who is on the team, the team hustles and pushes you. And there is always good sportsmanship, which you don’t always find on the outside.”
What made you want to come in and coach?
“I felt I had something to add as far as baseball knowledge and also on a personal level. I thought there would be people on the team, for that matter the spectators, who would gain something as far as socialization from me. So to me it was a perfect merging of two issues close to me: One is baseball and the other is social justice.”
What do you get out of it?
“My job is as a corporate lawyer. I basically help rich people get richer. It’s more beneficial to society what I do in here and gives me a sense of self-worth.”
What is the biggest challenge or obstacle to coming in?
“Dealing with the prison bureaucracy on all levels, gate clearances, bringing traditional baseball equipment through and the arbitrariness of it, and the fear that the program will be canceled on a whim. I’m not really challenged by coaching or a relationship with players.”
You recently were able to go on a tour of the prison, along with members of the St. Louis Cardinals. What was that experience like for you?
“It was interesting to rub elbows with people on the Cardinals even though I’m a Cubs fan! I got to see a part of the prison that I wouldn’t normally be able to see. The murals were interesting, and I got to see South Block and talk to people on Death Row. It made me realize that there are different strata in prison, not just based on race and ethnicity.”
Do you think sports should be taken away from prisoners?
“No. People who are playing or watching are going to get out. They need to be treated like human beings. They make mistakes and not everyone who makes mistakes are in prison. I don’t think it’s a valid argument to say, “Why should prisoners have baseball, or college, or medical care, or anything else, when I don’t?” The answer is to demand that you have access to those things on the outside.”
