A crowd of longtime fans and current players gathered at Dodger Stadium this Saturday as the franchise announced the induction of Reggie Smith into the Legends of Dodger Baseball, a tribute that finally acknowledges a career that has shaped the team’s history.
The Numbers That Speak
Among Dodgers hitters with at least 1,500 plate appearances, Smith ranks seventh in OPS (.915), seventh in slugging percentage (.528) and fifth in adjusted OPS+ (152). His 1977–78 season was especially dominant, posting a .302/.406/.568 line, 54 doubles and 61 home runs while leading the majors in wRC+ (165) and finishing fourth in National League MVP voting.
Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in June 1976 as part of a trade that sent Joe Ferguson, Bob Detherage and Freddie Tisdale to St. Louis, Smith became a cornerstone of a roster that also added Dusty Baker, Rick Monday and later Manny Mota. That infusion of talent helped the club reach the World Series in each of the first two seasons featuring the new players.
Smith’s World Series pedigree stretches back to 1967 with the Boston Red Sox and includes three championships with the Dodgers in 1977, 1978 and 1981. In those Fall Classic appearances he hit .247/.321/.521 with six home runs over 21 games, underscoring his clutch contributions on baseball’s biggest stage.
Beyond the Field
After retiring, Smith spent nine years in the Dodgers organization, coaching from 1989 to 1998 and serving as minor‑league coordinator and later as hitting and first‑base coach. When the team was sold in 1998, he was among the staff let go, but he continued to nurture young talent through the Reggie Smith Baseball Academy in Encino, where he mentors the next generation of players.
Smith’s influence extends to the present day, where he is a close friend and mentor to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Roberts often refers to Smith as the elder statesman of their group, The Outlaws, a testament to the respect and camaraderie he commands within the clubhouse.
The Legends of Dodger Baseball, established in 2019, honors those whose contributions merit recognition even without a Hall of Fame plaque. Smith’s induction completes a cohort of key figures — Steve Garvey, Manny Mota, Dusty Baker, Ron Cey and himself — who were integral to the Dodgers’ three pennant‑winning teams from 1976 to 1981, including the 1981 World Series champions.