Dwight Smith

John Dwight Smith Sr. (November 8, 1963 – July 22, 2022) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for four teams from 1989 to 1996, primarily the Chicago Cubs.

As a rookie with the Cubs, he batted .324 with 52 runs batted in (RBI) as the team captured a division title, and he was runner-up behind teammate Jerome Walton in voting for the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award. He was increasingly used as a pinch hitter in his five seasons with the team. After a season split between two American League (AL) clubs, he played two final seasons with the Atlanta Braves, helping them win the 1995 World Series title. His son, Dwight Smith Jr., is a former major league outfielder who most recently played in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Early life and amateur career Smith was born in Tallahassee, Florida.

Smith attended Wade Hampton High School in Varnville, South Carolina, and played for the school's baseball and football teams. He enrolled at Spartanburg Methodist College in 1983. Playing college baseball for Spartanburg, Smith competed in the Junior College World Series. He made his professional debut with the Pikeville Cubs of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, struggling to a .236 batting average, but his 39 stolen bases were the most in the league. He batted .289 with 30 stolen bases for the Geneva Cubs of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League in 1985 and .310 with 53 stolen bases for the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League in 1986. He was promoted to the Iowa Cubs of the Class AAA American Association in 1988. Though he batted .293 for Iowa, he returned there for the start of the 1989 season because the Cubs felt that he needed to improve his defense.

After batting .325 in 21 games for Iowa, the Cubs promoted Smith to the major leagues due to injuries on the major league team. He made his debut with the Cubs on May 1, and batted .324 as a rookie, with nine home runs and 52 runs batted in. Smith received the other two.

Smith struggled in the 1990 season and lost his starting job. Smith was again a bench player with the Cubs in the 1991 season. He batted .228 in 167 at bats in 1991. Smith began the 1992 season in a platoon with Sammy Sosa playing in left field, but was demoted to the minor leagues from late April to late May after starting the season batting .217. Smith finished the season with a .276 average, three home runs, and 24 RBIs, and signed a one-year contract worth $630,000 for the 1993 season. Under pressure to reduce their salary obligations, the Cubs did not offer Smith salary arbitration after the 1993 season, making him a free agent.

Later career (1994–1998) The California Angels signed Smith to a one-year contract for the 1994 season, worth a reported $700,000. He began the 1994 season in a platoon with Bo Jackson, but became a bench player on June 1 when the Angels began to play Jim Edmonds on a daily basis. Smith requested a trade, and the Angels traded Smith to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named later on June 15. For California and Baltimore, Smith batted .281 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 73 games. He batted .252 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 103 games during the 1995 season. and 0-for-2 in the NL Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds. In the 1995 World Series, Smith batted 1-for-2 with a walk, as the Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians in six games. He batted .203 for the Braves during the 1996 season, and was not included on their postseason roster. An injury to his sciatic nerve prevented Smith from playing, and the Devil Rays released him in May. After he recuperated, Smith played for the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League, an independent baseball league, in 1997. In 1998, Smith played for the Rochester Red Wings, a minor league affiliate of the Orioles.

Personal life Smith began singing when he was four years old in his church choir. During the baseball offseasons, he sang in nightclubs and talent shows. He also sang the national anthem on Opening Day of the 1992 season. During the 1993–94 offseason, Smith recorded a demo rhythm and blues album titled R U Down.

Smith and his wife Cheryl had one son and two daughters.

Smith was arrested for driving under the influence and cannabis possession in Tyrone, Georgia, on November 22, 2003. He was arrested for cocaine possession and driving with a suspended license in Peachtree City, Georgia, on September 6, 2006.

Smith died on July 22, 2022, of congestive heart and lung failure.