Reggie Smith
Smith ranks among the most underrated sluggers of the 1970s, delivering consistent power and patience across 17 seasons with four different clubs. His 314 home runs came with a stellar .287 average and an OPS+ of 122, numbers that scream All-Star caliber production year after year.
The 1977 campaign with Los Angeles represents his offensive peak — a .307 average with 32 homers and an OPS over 1.000. That 137 OPS+ tied his career high, showcasing the rare blend of contact and power that made him valuable in multiple lineup spots. Smith's seven All-Star selections weren't charity cases.
What separates Smith from typical sluggers of his era was his defensive versatility and Gold Glove recognition. He patrolled right field with enough skill to earn top honors while maintaining that 122 OPS+ across nearly 2,000 games. The longevity tells the story — teams kept penciling him in because he delivered both sides of the ball.
Career · Batting
17 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | BOS | 6 | 26 | 0 | 0 | .154 | .346 | — |
| 1967 | BOS | 158 | 565 | 15 | 61 | .246 | .704 | — |
| 1968 | BOS | 155 | 558 | 15 | 69 | .265 | .772 | — |
| 1969 | BOS | 143 | 543 | 25 | 93 | .309 | .895 | — |
| 1970 | BOS | 147 | 580 | 22 | 74 | .303 | .857 | 121 |
| 1971 | BOS | 159 | 618 | 30 | 96 | .283 | .840 | 123 |
| 1972 | BOS | 131 | 467 | 21 | 74 | .270 | .840 | 126 |
| 1973 | BOS | 115 | 423 | 21 | 69 | .303 | .913 | 130 |
| 1974 | STL | 143 | 517 | 23 | 100 | .309 | .917 | 132 |
| 1975 | STL | 135 | 477 | 19 | 76 | .302 | .870 | 124 |
| 1976 | LAD | 112 | 395 | 18 | 49 | .253 | .765 | 112 |
| 1977 | LAD | 148 | 488 | 32 | 87 | .307 | 1.003 | 137 |
| 1978 | LAD | 128 | 447 | 29 | 93 | .295 | .942 | 134 |
| 1979 | LAD | 68 | 234 | 10 | 32 | .274 | .825 | 113 |
| 1980 | LAD | 92 | 311 | 15 | 55 | .322 | .900 | 126 |
| 1981 | LAD | 41 | 35 | 1 | 8 | .200 | .632 | 92 |
| 1982 | SF | 106 | 349 | 18 | 56 | .284 | .834 | 117 |
| Career | 1987 | 7033 | 314 | 1092 | .287 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.