A Ceremony of Legacy
On a bright afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the franchise welcomed Reggie Smith into its Legends of Baseball pantheon, the 10th member to be enshrined among a group that includes Don Newcombe, Steve Garvey and Dusty Baker.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition, featured remarks from Hall‑of‑Famer Rick Monday and fellow inductee Dusty Baker, a video montage of Smith’s most memorable moments, and tributes from longtime broadcaster Tommy Lasorda, as well as former teammates Steve Yeager, Erick Karros and Petie Montero.
Smith’s induction recognized a career that spanned six seasons with the Dodgers, a 1977 campaign in which he launched 32 home runs and led the National League with a .427 on‑base percentage, and his role on three pennant‑winning teams, the last of which captured the 1981 World Series title.
Beyond his playing days, Smith contributed to the organization as a Minor League instructor, a field coordinator and a major‑league hitting coach, and he helped guide Team USA to a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics under Coach Tommy Lasorda.
In his acceptance speech, Smith thanked Lon Rosen, Cary Osborne and Peter O’Malley for their mentorship, and he reflected on a full‑circle moment with Petie Montero, who had once attended Smith’s youth camp despite financial hardship.