Ex-Astros reliever Dave Smith dies at 53

Former Houston Astros All-Star relief pitcher Dave Smith has died from a heart attack, the team said on its Web site.

Smith died Wednesday at his home near San Diego. He was 53.

Smith, an All-Star in 1986 and 1990 with Houston, finished his 13-year major league career in 1990 when he pitched for the Chicago Cubs.

The native of Richmond, Calif., was the Astros' eighth round pick in the 1976 amateur player draft.

His 563 appearances is tops all-time for a pitcher in an Astros uniform, and his 199 saves ranks second on the club's career list behind Billy Wagner.

"He was a surfer guy from Southern California," said former Astros teammate Jim Deshaies. "He was just real likeable. I didn't know anyone that didn't like Smitty."

Smith recorded double digits in saves every year from 1985-91.

When he retired, he had a 53-53 record and a 2.67 earned run average, and later was the San Diego Padres' pitching coach for 2 ½ seasons.