His actions led to the creation of the Sam Lacy-Wendell Award
- With the creation of this award, many sports writers aspired to be considered the equals of two African-American writers
- This drastically reduced, and even reversed, the racist sentiment associated with sports writing before Smith and Lacy
- Created in 2013, this award will continue to shed Smith's legacy on baseball and sports as a whole.
“Wendell Smith and Sam Lacy pushed sports owners, media, corporations, players, Halls of Fame, fans–really, everyone involved in sports–to end segregation and racism and admit all athletes to top competition. They possessed a courage and determination that changed sports forever.”
1. "Povich Center Announces Sam Lacy-Wendell Smith Award." Merrill.UMD. U of Maryland, n.d. Web. 16 June 2014. http://www.merrill.umd.edu/deadline/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/LacySmithSlide2.png>.
2. Ottalini, David. "Povich Center Announces Sam Lacy-Wendell Smith Award." Merrill.umd.edu. U of Maryland, n.d. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.merrill.umd.edu/deadline/index.php/2013/07/30/povich-center-announces-sam-lacy-wendell-smith-award/>.
2. Ottalini, David. "Povich Center Announces Sam Lacy-Wendell Smith Award." Merrill.umd.edu. U of Maryland, n.d. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.merrill.umd.edu/deadline/index.php/2013/07/30/povich-center-announces-sam-lacy-wendell-smith-award/>.