Former outfielder Reggie Smith was honored as part of the Legends of Dodger Baseball on Saturday during a pregame ceremony. This event also featured three other teammates, marking a historic moment as they were the first group of players to hit 30 or more home runs in a single season in major league history.
Smith, who is a switch hitter and graduated from Centennial High School in Compton, played six of his 17 seasons with the Dodgers.
In 1977, he hit 32 home runs, while that same season, Steve Garvey tallied 33, and both Dusty Baker and Ron Cey reached 30 home runs. The team made it to the World Series that year but unfortunately lost to the New York Yankees in six games.
The Legends of Dodger Baseball was founded in 2019 to honor former players whose jerseys have been retired despite not being inducted into the Hall of Fame. During the ceremony, Smith received a commemorative jacket from Laura Lasorda, the daughter of the late Tommy Lasorda.
Smith shared, “This has special meaning to me because I get to wear the same uniform as my childhood hero,” a sentiment that resonates deeply, especially for someone reflecting on their past.
During his speech, Smith also suggested that the Dodgers honor Bill Russell and Dave Lopez, both of whom passed away last year.
Among the speakers were Baker and Rick Monday, who played alongside Smith for the Dodgers from 1977 to 1981. Monday reminisced about competing against Smith in football, with himself at Santa Monica High School and Smith at Centennial University.
In a light-hearted moment, Monday quipped, “I’m not going to relive the score from that game because I don’t want Reggie to get up and celebrate again.” This prompted laughter from the audience, highlighting a warm camaraderie among the former players.
The ceremony also saw the presence of notable figures such as former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, current manager Dave Roberts, and a range of former players including Orel Hershiser, Manny Mota, Steve Yeager, and more.
