Reggie Smith officially stepped into the Legends of Dodger Baseball on Saturday, cementing his place among the all-time greats. And if you want to know what kind of player he was, just listen to former catcher Steve Yeager: “Reggie Smith is a complete winner in any way, shape, or form.” That kind of praise isn’t handed out lightly, especially when it comes from the guys who played alongside you. Smith got his moment in the sun at Dodger Stadium, celebrated before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers, and it sounds like he absolutely deserved it.
The Game Speaks For Itself
Smith was surrounded by a ton of his old teammates, guys he played with during his six seasons with the Dodgers. Those were some seriously good teams, too, notching pennants in 1977, 1978, and again in 1981. That 1981 squad even snagged a championship! Smith himself said in a pre-ceremony interview, “Those are pretty good ball clubs right there. It’s teammates like that that help to push you and inspire you do good things as we did for one another.” Another Dodgers legend, Dusty Baker, who was inducted into the Legends in 2024, wasn’t shy about Smith’s talent either. He said, “There’s nothing he couldn’t do on a baseball field. He had a shotgun arm, he had power, he was a great baserunner, a tremendous defensive player. And above all, probably one of the smartest baseball players that I’ve never been around.” When you hear that kind of glowing review, you know you are talking about an elite talent who impacted every aspect of the game.
A Legacy Beyond The Field
It wasn’t just about his on-field heroics, though. Smith’s impact stretched far, reaching players coming up through the system like Eric Karros, who called Smith “probably outside of my father, and Tommy [Lasorda], probably the most impactful person for me in my career.” That is massive. The 81-year-old Smith also had his family there, including his 93-year-old brother and 95-year-old sister, which had to be a huge deal. You know the friendship is real when it goes back nearly three decades and includes annual trips to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, like his bond with Dave Roberts. Their connection started at the Pan American Games in 1999, where Smith was hitting coach and Roberts was a player. Smith said Saturday, “We connected then and maintained that connection. Dave is a good friend, and he’s like a son to me, but he’s also one of our group, we call ourselves The Outlaws.” Rick Monday even joked during the ceremony that Smith didn’t like being told he hit better left-handed. The numbers confirm it, too: .287/.369/.503 batting left-handed versus .288/.359/.455 right-handed. Even when he was fourth in National League MVP voting in both 1977 and 1978, Smith wasn’t focused on individual accolades. He simply stated, “I don’t feel I was overlooked. I had a job to do. It was about trying to bring a world championship to Los Angeles, and played with a great bunch of guys.” That’s the mindset of a true champion.
A true competitor, a phenomenal talent, and clearly a deeply respected teammate and friend. Reggie Smith didn’t just play the game, he influenced careers and pushed teams to championships. His induction is a powerful reminder of what a “complete winner” truly looks like.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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