Born:  Chicago, Ill., 12/22/1955

B-R, T-R...  5'9", 170 lbs

 

A rookie left fielder in 1980, Lonnie added a new dimension to the Phillies' lineup- speed. Hitting well over the .300 mark and stealing 33 bases, Lonnie played left field while Greg Luzinski was injured, and split time with him afterward.  Smith's 33 stolen bases set a new Phillies' record for a rookie, later broken by Juan Samuel.  Smith scored two runs in the deciding game of the World Series against the Royals.  Smith would play through 1994 and appear in four more World Series, winning one each with the  Cardinals in 1982 and Royals in 1985.

1980 Statistics

 

Games

 Hits

 HR

RBI

Avg.

1980

    100

101

3

20

.339

LCS

        3

     3

 0

0

.600

WS

        6

     5

0

1

.263

Lifetime Statistics

Year

Team

AB

Runs

Hits

HR

RBI

Avg.

1978

Phillies

     4

    6

     0

   0

     0

.000

1979

Phillies

    30

    4

     5

   0

     3

.167

1980

Phillies

  298

   69

  101

   3

   20

.339

1981

Phillies

  176

   40

   57

   2

   11

.324

1982

Cardinals

  592

120

  182

   8

   69

.307

1983

Cardinals

  492

  83

  158

   8

   45

.321

1984

Cardinals

  504

  77

  126

   6

   49

.250

1985

Cardinals

    96

  15

   25

   0

     7

.260

1985

Royals

  448

  77

 115

   6

   41

.257

1986

Royals

  508

  80

 146

   8

   44

.287

1987

Royals

  167

  26

   42

   3

     8

.251

1988

Braves

  114

  14

   27

   3

     9

.237

1989

Braves

  482

  89

 152

 21

   79

.315

1990

Braves

  466

  72

 142

   9

   42

.305

1991

Braves

  353

  58

   97

   7

   44

.275

1992

Braves

  158

  23

   39

   6

   33

.247

1993

Pirates

  199

  35

   57

   6

   24

.286

1993

Orioles

    24

    8

     5

   2

     8

.208

1994

Orioles

    59

  13

   12

   0

   11

.203

TOTALS

 

5170

909

1488

 98

533

.288

Phillies Publications

From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:

 

How Obtained:  Phillies No. 1 selection, June 1974 draft; signed by Gordon Goldsberry and Ron Squire.

 

Six-year pro...  Has averaged .308 and 39 steals in his minor league career...  .330 last summer at Oklahoma City was a personal high as well as his 26 doubles...  Led league in runs scored...  Led League in steals in 1975 and 1978...  21 assists led all American Association outfielders in 1978...  Has six steals in seven tries in the big leagues...  Runner-up for batting title in 1975...  All-American baseball player at Centennial High School...  Played for Zulia, Venezuela, the last three winters.

 

Oklahoma City manager Lee Elia:  "When he gets hot, he can carry the ballclub.  Has the knack of making things happen when he's on base.  Excellent speed."

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

1980 Season:  Had outstanding rookie season winning THE SPORTING NEWS and Baseball Digest Rookie of the Year Award.  Finished third behind Dodgers' Steve Howe and Expos' Bill Gullickson in BBWAA Rookie Award...  Led the Phillies in hitting with .339 average in 100 games...  Went over .300 in his 6th AB of the season...  His 33 stolen bases broke Richie Ashburn's record for stolen bases by a Phillies rookie (32 in 1948)...  Stole three bases in a game twice...  Collected five hits in six AB vs. Pirates on 7/14 @ Vet...  Saw considerable playing time in July and August hitting .337 and .340...  Had a 12-game hitting streak in August and batted .365 at the Vet...  Has a lifetime .318 average in the majors...  Hit first major league HR on 7/25, 1st game, off Braves Larry McWilliams @ Vet.

 

1980 Post-Season:  Performed well in post-season play batting .600 in the LCS and .263 in the WS scoring four runs in the two series.

 

Career:  Averaged .308 and 39 steals in his six years in the minor leagues...  .330 at Oklahoma City in 1979 was a minor league high...  Led league in steals in 1975 and 1978...  21 assists led all American Association outfielders in 1978.

 

Personal/Misc:  All-American baseball player at Centennial (Cal.) High School...  Played winter ball for Zulia, Venezuela three winters.

From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:

  • Favorite Color:  Blue (it's the main color that attracts my attention)
  • Favorite Singer/Group:  Funkadelic (their funky music just puts me and my bat in a groove)
  • Favorite Song:  Love Ballad
  • Favorite City:  Los Angeles (I love going to the beaches anytime of the year)
  • Least Favorite City:  Oklahoma City (I can't stand the heat in the summer)
  • Person You'd Most Like To Meet:  Richard Pryor (to share some of his jokes)
  • Boyhood Idol(s):  Muhammed Ali
  • Biggest Turn-On:  Doing the things I love to do
  • Biggest Turn-Off:  Doing the things I hate to do
  • Favorite Subject in School:  Black History- I liked reading about what our ancestors accomplished
  • Favorite TV Show:  Saturday Night Live- I enjoy it because it's very witty and lots of laughs
  • Favorite Book:  None
  • Person You Most Admire:  My wife Pearl
  • Greatest Achievement:  Winning the TOPPS Chewing Gum Player of the Year in 1975
  • Most Memorable Moment:  My wedding day, August 28, 1978- it was a very long day
  • Hobbies:  Fishing, music, reading and going to the movies
  • Toughest Pitcher You've Faced:  The "Candy Man," John Candelaria of the Pirates