CLEMSON — Clemson baseball’s 2024 roster now has two No. 10s.
The first everyone knows — preseason All-American outfielder, Cam Cannarella, listed at 6-foot, 180 pounds from Hartsville.
The second one, many knew but more have come to know. He’s Mason Smith, a 4-10, 85-pound left-handed pitcher and utility player from Lexington.
The bio on Clemson’s online roster shows the 10-year-old in an orange Clemson T-shirt, smiling wide as he poses for a picture with the Tigers’ mascot.
“Forever and ever, when you pull up 2024, Team 127, you’ll see Mason Smith, No. 10, next to Cam Cannarella, No. 10,” Clemson coach Erik Bakich said.
Mason Smith (center) was a true Clemson baseball fan. He died on April 13 in an ATV accident, but the 10-year-old from Lexington was added to the Tigers’ roster online as a way to celebrate his life.
Bakich was moved to honor Mason, who died in an ATV accident on April 13, because he came to know the boy. The coach joins his players after games as they sign autographs for young fans, and just a few weeks ago the ever-spunky Mason — a baseball cap atop his red mullet — stood out in the crowd.
Two years ago, Mason was over the moon when he met Clemson infielder Bryar Hawkins. This last time, after a game in the Florida State series, outfielder Will Taylor and pitcher Aidan Knaak signed his baseball.
“He thought he was the best thing since sliced bread because he got their autographs,” said Brittini Smith, Mason’s mother.
On the field, Mason wore No. 10, and one of his favorite players was Clemson’s fiery but smooth-swinging No. 10 Cannarella.
Bakich came to Mason’s celebration of life on April 21 with a camo-colored No. 10 jersey, along with a baseball bat signed by the entire team.
It just so happened the Tigers’ series with Pittsburgh concluded April 20 with a doubleheader. Bakich could make the trip to Lexington the next day, which would have meant more to Mason than he could have known.
An avid outdoorsman, Mason’s one ambition in life was to take over his father Michael’s tree-cutting service when he grew up.
“Unless Clemson wants me to play baseball,” Brittini recalled her son saying. “That’s the only way I’m going to college.”
It’s because of Michael that Mason and Brittini, originally a South Carolina fan, adopted Clemson. But the rest of her pro-Gamecocks family switched allegiances during Mason’s service.
His uncles wore Clemson T-shirts. His aunt wore orange pants.
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney sent the family his condolences via a video message. Bakich listened intently to a stirring eulogy from a family friend, Josh Temples, who laid out just how much life Mason packed into 10 years.
As it’s described in his obituary, Mason was full of energy, always laughing, always cheering on his teammates on the baseball field. He loved clay shooting, cutting trails in the woods, hunting, boating on the lake, singing country songs.
His baseball teammates liked to call him “Rev,” because he was the only one who knew the Lord’s Prayer by heart at such a young age.
“He wore No. 10 on the baseball field, and he did everything to a 10,” said his “uncle” Josh. “Just an awesome individual where his life got cut way too short. The world ain’t gonna be the same without him.”
After Mason’s service, Bakich spent ample time with the Smith family. He wanted to do more than offer a jersey and a bat.
“The impact he had on so many people, the way he lived his life, he did more in 10 years than most people do in a lifetime. He was just incredible,” Bakich said. “I just felt like this kid needs to be on our roster. He needs to be on our team.”
The online profile of No. 10 Mason Smith sits to the right of Cannarella, but it’s just one of many ways Mason has been honored.
The family established The Mason Foundation, hoping to raise money for families who are financially stressed by their child’s participation in sports. The GoFundMe set a modest goal of $100.
In three weeks, the page has drawn nearly 800 donations totaling more than $84,000. Some of that money was raised at a local baseball tournament the weekend of Mason’s celebration of life, where No. 10 decals were sold for players’ helmets and the Lexington Longhorns organization pledged a dollar for every runner who reached base.
”Bases for Mason,” it was called.
Players razored No. 10 into the sides of their haircuts, while others dyed their hair red to match Mason’s mullet. His team retired jersey No. 10, which hangs in the dugout. Now Clemson’s roster will list two No. 10s on this year’s squad.
“That will live there forever,” Bakich said of the online bio for his 4-10, 85-pound utility man.
Mason’s family has been blown away by the community’s support, including what Bakich has done. Uncle Josh, also a Gamecocks fan, said he might have to wear orange on baseball’s opening day in 2025 to honor Mason and thank Bakich.
The family is just now thinking about ways it can distribute donations to The Mason Foundation, but Brittini said one use could be funding trips for athletes to Clemson’s youth baseball camp.
Mason always wanted to go to one of those.
“It’s amazing, the kids we’re going to be able to help through Mason,” Brittini said. “He’s gonna be able to touch other people’s lives because he lived.”
