Lonnie Smith
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Lonnie Smith is an U.S. baseball player born December 22, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. He made his debut for the Philadelphia Phillies on September 2, 1978 and later played for such teams as the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and the Atlanta Braves. Smith played his final game on August 10, 1994 for the Baltimore Orioles.
1991 World Series
Despite having a successful major league career, Smith is unfortunately remembered most for a baserunning blunder in the eighth inning of Game Seven of the 1991 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. Smith was at first base with no outs in a scoreless game when Braves third baseman Terry Pendleton lined a double to left field. It appeared that Smith would be able to score on the play, but as he was rounding second base, he stopped and stumbled. Smith said then and maintains now that he lost sight of the ball in the Metrodome roof. To those watching the game, especially those who were watching on TV and had the advantage of close-ups and instant replay, it was obvious that Twins second basemen Chuck Knoblauch faked out Smith by appearing to take the throw from the outfield, although Smith denies that that was the case. (There's a lesson here for young players: Watch your third base coach, not the ball, when you're running the bases.) Whatever the reason may have been, by the time Smith realized where the ball was, he was only able to reach third base instead of crossing home plate and giving the Braves a 1-0 lead that likely would have given them the World Series title. Twins ace Jack Morris was able to pitch out of the jam and leave Smith stranded at third. The Twins went on to win 1-0 in ten innings.Trivia
- He was nicknamed "skates" due to his awkward footwork while playing in the outfield.
- Is one of the few players in win three different World Series for three different teams in the same decade.
- A replay showed that he probably should have been credited with stealing home in the 1982 World Series, but he was called out.
- On September 4, 1982, he stole a St. Louis Cardinal team record 5 bases in a game.
- Smith (while with the Atlanta Braves) hit a grand slam in Game 5 of the 1992 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Transactions
- June 5, 1974: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1974 amateur draft.
- November 20, 1981: Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Philadelphia Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals.
- May 17, 1985: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Kansas City Royals.
- November 12, 1986: Granted Free Agency.
- May 18, 1987: Signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals.
- December 15, 1987: Released by the Kansas City Royals.
- March 12, 1988: Signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.
- November 5, 1992: Granted Free Agency.
- January 4, 1993: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- September 8, 1993: Traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Baltimore Orioles.
- October 29, 1993: Granted Free Agency.
- February 4, 1994: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles.
- October 24, 1994: Granted Free Agency.
See also
External link
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