Dwight Smith
Born: 11/8/1963 in Tallahassee, FL, USA
Died: 7/22/2022 in Peachtree City, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1989-05-01 | Final Game: 1996-09-29
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: John Dwight Smith
Biography
Dwight Smith was a professional baseball player born in 1963 who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball during his career from 1989 to 1996. Primarily playing as a position player, Smith was known for his versatility on the field, contributing as both an outfielder and a designated hitter. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 813 games, compiling a respectable batting average of .275. He recorded 497 hits, which included 46 home runs and 226 runs batted in, showcasing his ability to both get on base and drive in runs. Additionally, Smith demonstrated speed on the bases, finishing his career with 42 stolen bases.
Smith played during a dynamic era in baseball characterized by an evolving offensive landscape. His contributions were particularly notable during his time with the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves, where he was part of teams that experienced varying levels of success. Smith's style of play combined an effective bat with agility, making him a valuable asset in the lineup. His legacy includes being part of the Cubs' roster that aimed to revitalize the franchise and contributing to the Braves' competitive teams in the early 1990s. After retiring from professional baseball, Smith remained a respected figure in the sport, remembered for his prowess at the plate and his contributions to the teams he played for.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 813 | 1807 | 244 | 497 | 88 | 20 | 46 | 226 | 42 | 150 | 334 | 0.275 | 0.333 | 0.422 | 0.755 | 1339.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CHC | NL | 109 | 343 | 52 | 111 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 31 | 51 | 0.324 | 1622.9 |
| 1990 | CHC | NL | 117 | 290 | 34 | 76 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 27 | 11 | 28 | 46 | 0.262 | -9.6 |
| 1991 | CHC | NL | 90 | 167 | 16 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 11 | 32 | 0.228 | -375.4 |
| 1992 | CHC | NL | 109 | 217 | 28 | 60 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 40 | 0.276 | 1.3 |
| 1993 | CHC | NL | 111 | 310 | 51 | 93 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 35 | 8 | 25 | 51 | 0.300 | 856.0 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | 28 | 74 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 0.311 | 147.6 |
| 1994 | LAA | AL | 45 | 122 | 19 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 0.262 | 147.6 |
| 1995 | ATL | NL | 103 | 131 | 16 | 33 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 13 | 35 | 0.252 | -71.9 |
| 1996 | ATL | NL | 101 | 153 | 16 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 42 | 0.203 | -736.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 22 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.273 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | NLDS1 | ATL | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 |
| 1995 | WS | ATL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 |
| 1995 | NLCS | ATL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1989 | NLCS | CHN | 4 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.200 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 484 | 387 | 810 | 24 | 31 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CHN | OF | 102 | 86 | 188 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| 1990 | CHN | OF | 81 | 65 | 139 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 1991 | CHN | OF | 42 | 35 | 73 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1992 | CHN | OF | 63 | 42 | 93 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | CHN | OF | 89 | 76 | 163 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| 1994 | BAL | OF | 22 | 20 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | CAL | OF | 31 | 27 | 50 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 1995 | ATL | OF | 25 | 16 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | ATL | OF | 29 | 20 | 49 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 238 |
| Center Field | 98 |
| Right Field | 173 |
| Designated Hitter | 5 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | ATL | NL | $455,000 |
| 1995 | ATL | NL | $300,000 |
| 1994 | CAL | AL | $755,718 |
| 1993 | CHN | NL | $680,000 |
| 1992 | CHN | NL | $460,000 |
| 1991 | CHN | NL | $225,667 |
| 1990 | CHN | NL | $165,000 |
| 1989 | CHN | NL | $68,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $3,109,385 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg Methodist College | Spartanburg | SC | 1984 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 2nd | 68.0 | 120 | 2 |