Reggie Smith played Major League Baseball for 17 years in the US. He was the first major star to play in Japan. Originally signed by the Minnesota Twins, Reggie was acquired by the Red Sox in 1963. He hit 149 home runs and drove in 536 runs during his seven years with Boston, both team records for a switch hitter. In 1968, he garnered a Gold Glove Award as an outfielder, with 390 putouts and, in 1970, notched an amazing fifteen outfield assists.
Reggie hit twenty or more doubles for nine straight seasons, twice leading the American League. His 314 career home runs place him fourth on the switch-hitters list. He appeared in seven All-Star games with the Red Sox, the Cardinals (1974-1976), and Los Angeles (1976-1981). Reggie played in four World Series, winning in 1981.
After a one-year stint with the Giants in 1982, Reggie played two years in Japan before retiring as a player. The Dodgers brought him back to be their Minor League Coordinator. Later, Reggie became the Dodgers’ hitting instructor and first base coach, before leaving the organization in 1998. Reggie was named the hitting instructor of the United States baseball team for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He coached the ragtag bunch of minor league players who stunned a heavily-favored Cuban team in the Gold Medal game.
For his Major League career, Reggie hit .287 with 314 home runs, 1,092 RBI, and 1,123 runs scored. He hit two home runs in the 1967 World Series and three in the 1977 World Series. He was second to Mantle in home runs from both sides of the plate when he retired and is currently fourth on the all time list. The Dodgers celebrated their 50th anniversary in Los Angeles during 2008. Reggie was voted to the all time Dodger’s best team by the fans.
Most recently, Reggie was a Team USA Coach for the 2008 Olympic teams, the 2007 Baseball World Cup team and the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He won gold with the 2000 Olympic and 2007 World Cup Teams. During his time as a Coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Reggie was instrumental in developing such major league talent as Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, Raul Mondesi, Todd Hollandsworth, Adrian Beltre and Eric Young.
Today, Reggie Smith Baseball Centers consults with major league baseball organizations, conducts youth baseball camps throughout the year, offers private and small-group instruction for players of all levels and trains and certifies coaches for various amateur and school baseball leagues from around the world.
http://www.reggiesmithbaseball.com/about.html
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