Roy Frederick Smalley Jr. (June 9, 1926 – October 22, 2011) was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. From 1948 through 1958, Smalley played for the Chicago Cubs (1948–1953), Milwaukee Braves (1954) and Philadelphia Phillies (1955–1958). He batted and threw right-handed. In an 11-season career, Smalley was a .227 hitter with 61 home runs and 305 RBI in 872 games played. Smalley was the father of major league shortstop Roy Smalley III. Career Smalley was signed at age 17 by the Cubs as an amateur free agent out of Springfield Catholic High School. He began his professional career in 1944 with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, where he batted just .188 in 61 games. After missing the 1945 season due to military service, Smalley was moved down to the Shelby Cubs for the 1946 season. By the end of the year, he was back with the Angels. In 1947, Smalley spent the entire season with the Class A Des Moines Bruins, where he batted .244 in 114 games. Chicago Cubs Smalley's 1947 minor league season was impressive enough that in 1948 he was given the starting shortstop job with the major league Cubs, replacing incumbent Lennie Merullo, who was sent to the minors himself for the season. Smalley remained the Cubs' primary shortstop for the remainder of his tenure with the team. Smalley's best season statistically was 1950. He posted career highs in home runs (21), RBI (85), runs (58), hits (128) and doubles (21), including hitting for the cycle on June 28. He struck out a league-leading 114 times. He made 51 errors (the last time a player made at least 50), but he also led National League shortstops in total chances per game, as he had in 1949, and in double plays. Smalley was the last regular shortstop for the Cubs prior to the debut of "Mr. Cub", Ernie Banks. Smalley appeared in 77 games at short during the 1953 season, more than any other Cubs player. Banks debuted on September 17 and started the last 10 games of the season. In his six seasons with Chicago, Smalley appeared in 661 games, batting .232 with 52 home runs and 242 RBIs. Milwaukee Braves Smalley was traded to the Braves in March 1954 for pitcher Dave Cole. He appeared in 25 games for the Braves during the 1954 season, batting .222 with 1 home run