Books and articles about Lonnie Smith

A first-pitch hitter, good with the hit-and-run, and a fine bunter, Smith was named TSN 1980 Rookie of the Year when he batted .339. His one liability proved to be erratic defensive play ; he earned his nickname Skates for his tendency to slip while pursuing balls in the outfield, and he twice led NL outfielders in errors.

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Smith was a catalyst for the 1982 World Champion Cardinals when he led them in hits, doubles, triples, batting average, runs, and stolen bases. He also tied a NL record by stealing five bases in a game. He experienced drug problems in 1983; he fought through them, but wasn't the same player. Traded to Kansas City for outfielder John Morris in May 1985, Smith faced his old teammates in the World Series that fall and contributed a .333 average, four RBI, five runs, and two stolen bases to the Royals' victory.

Released after a disappointing 1987 season, Smith signed with Atlanta's Richmond (International League) farm club and worked his way back to the majors in 1988. He exhibited newfound power in 1989 as Atlanta's left fielder and had his best season ever (.315, 21 HR, 79 RBI, .415 on-base average). (FO)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 5, 1974: The June draft produces just 725 picks, the fewest in history, and only 300 of these are from the college ranks, with the low number blamed on the introduction of aluminum bats this past season. The Padres, with their 3rd number-one free-agent pick in five years, select Brown University SS Bill Almon, the TSN College Player of the Year. They had selected him three years earlier out of high school, but he attended college instead. The Rangers take P Tommy Boggs with the 2nd pick and the Phils follow with prep OF Lonnie Smith. With the 5th pick, the Braves select Dale Murphy; the Angels, picking 10th take the ill-fated Mike Miley, who quarterbacked LSU to a win in the Orange Bowl. the Tigers take Lance Parrish with the 16th pick, the Royals pick prep football star Willie Wilson with the 18th, and the Red Sox, picking 20th, take SS Eddie Ford, son of Whitey Ford. Picking next, the Dodgers get Rick Sutcliffe. The Orioles, with the 24th pick in round one pick Rich Dauer, the top player for USC's championship team; four of their other picks will end up in the NFL (QB's Andy Johnson, Steve Bartkowski, and John Sciarra, and Anthony Davis). The Cards use a pick on the NFL Giants Brad Van Pelt, the 5th time he's been selected. The Twins pick up prep C Butch Wynegar, who will make the American League All-star team at age 20. » December 1, 1980: Dodgers pitcher Steve Howe wins the National League Rookie of the Year Award, edging the Expos Bill Gullickson and the Phillies Lonnie Smith. Howe was 7-9 with a 2.65 ERA and 17 saves. » June 11, 1983: Cardinals OF Lonnie Smith checks into a drug rehabilitation program, joining the Phillies Dickie Noles and the Dodgers Steve Howe, as the 3rd ML player to leave his team because of a substance-abuse problem this season. » May 17, 1985: The Cardinals trade OF Lonnie Smith to the Royals for minor leaguer John Morris, unloading Smith's $850,000 salary and clearing the way for rookie OF Vince Coleman to play every day. » September 20, 1985: A federal jury in Pittsburgh convicts Curtis Strong of 11 counts of cocaine distribution after a trial whose prosecution witnesses revealed how widely the drug problem afflicts major league baseball. Prominent players who were granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for testimony include Dave Parker, Lonnie Smith, Keith Hernandez, Jeffrey Leonard, and Tim Raines. » February 28, 1986: In baseball's sternest disciplinary move since the Black Sox were banished for life, Commissioner Ueberroth gives seven players who were admitted drug users a choice of a year's suspension without pay or heavy fines and career-long drug testing, along with 100 hours of drug-related community service. Joaquin Andujar, Jeffrey Leonard, Enos Cabell, Keith Hernandez, Dave Parker, Dale Berra, and Lonnie Smith will be fined 10 percent of their annual salaries, while 14 other players will receive lesser penalties for their involvement with illegal drugs. » April 10, 1989: San Diego's Bruce Hurst pitches a one-hitter and collects his first ML hit in a 5–2 win over the Braves. Lonnie Smith's 2-run home run in the 3rd is the only hit. » July 14, 1989: The Mets Sid Fernandez strikes out 16 Braves, but the portly Polynesian portsider still loses 3-2 on Lonnie Smith's leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth. » August 14, 1991: Atlanta's Tom Glavine (18–3) leaves after seven innings and Randy St. Claire and Mike Stanton mop up a 15–0 whitewash over Pittsburgh. Lonnie Smith has five hits and Brian Hunter and Otis Nixon four apiece for the Braves. St. Claire, in his 2nd year with Atlanta, along with his father Ebba, is the first father-son pair to play for the Braves. » October 23, 1991: The Braves even the Series at two games apiece with a 3-2 win in Game 4. Journeyman catcher Jerry Willard's sac fly in the bottom of the 9th is the deciding blow. Terry Pendleton and Lonnie Smith stroke solo homers for the NLers, while Mike Pagliarulo does the same for the Twins. » October 24, 1991: The Braves win their 3rd game in a row, 14-5, to take the Series lead. Lonnie Smith, David Justice, and Brian Hunter pound out home runs, with Smith becoming the 1st player to homer in three consecutive Series games since Reggie Jackson in 1977. Smith became Atlanta's starting LF when Otis Nixon was suspended for failing a drug test in September. » August 14, 1992: Atlanta OF Lonnie Smith gets five hits, and drives home six runs, in the Braves’ 15-0 whitewashing of the Pirates. Brian Hunter and Otis Nixon each have four hits. Tommy Glavine coasts to his 18th win and his league leading fifth shutout. Starter Zane Smith allows four runs in a third of an inning to lose. » October 22, 1992: The Braves cut the Blue Jays' lead to 3–2 with a 7–2 win in Game 5. John Smoltz gets the win, with Lonnie Smith's 5th-inning grand slam being the big blow for Atlanta. » January 4, 1993: The Pirates sign free agent OF Lonnie Smith. » September 8, 1993: The Pirates trade OF Lonnie Smith to the Orioles in exchange for two minor league players to be named.