#565 Reggie Smith - #566 In Action - Reggie Smith

A star but short of a superstar….did many things very well… switch hitter….kept himself in shape and was a student of the game…A healthy .287 career average with 2020 hits and over 300 home runs…drafted by the Twins but only played rookie ball with the organization…climbed up the Red Sox organization and after a cup of coffee broke into the Boston lineup in pennant winning 1967…numbers were OK but significant improvement was to come… BA jumped by 19 points in 1968….BA took off even more with a .309 mark and hit 25 home run and had 93 RBIs….in the next four seasons in Beantown, Smith did not deviate much from the 1969 benchmark…was third in AL RBIs 1971.....a 1974 trade to Cardinals did not diminish his above .300 hitting for the next two season….Had a uncharacteristic slow start in 1976 bringing on a mid season trade to the Dodgers….salvaged the rest of season hitting .280 for his new West Coast gig….Returned to form during LA’s pennant winning years of 1977 and 1978…played four more years in the bigs, three in Los Angeles…hampered by injuries  during  the final years but was able to hit .322 in 311 at bats 1980….Bowed out nicely with a 18 home runs and .284 avg. in his final MLB playing year of 1982 with San Francisco Giants….Sprinkled in 7  All star games in his 17 years....Spent two tumultuous years in Japan afterwards…turning down coaching offers he has started baseball instructional camps for inner city youth