1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker. 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Dodger Talk. David Vasse with you until 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 2: eight o'clock tonight here on a five to seventy LA 4 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,639 Speaker 2: Sports And earlier this week, the Dodgers announced some promotion dates. 5 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 2: But this is more than just getting a bobblehead on 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 2: August fifteenth, the Dodgers are going to honor a man 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: that certainly has had an impact on many generations, whether 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 2: it's on the field or off the field. The Dodgers 9 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 2: are honoring the great Reggie Smith by inducting him into 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 2: their pseudo Hall of Fame, the Legends of Dodger Baseball 11 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 2: before the August fifteenth game at Dodgers Stadium. Reggie Smith 12 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 2: played seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball, six of those 13 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: with the Dodgers. He was a seven time All Star, 14 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 2: three of those playing for the Dodgers, and he won 15 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: the World Series. It was a huge part of the 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 2: dodgers a run from nineteen seventy seven to nineteen eighty one, 17 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 2: and certainly the reason why the Dodgers are inducting Reggie 18 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 2: Smith is not just about how great he was on 19 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: the field, not just about his two thousand hits, not 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: just about his three hundred and fourteen home runs or 21 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,839 Speaker 2: his two eighty seven lifetime batting average. It's the legacy 22 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: that lives on through so many teachers across Major League baseball, 23 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: minor league baseball, and youth baseball, because that's the type 24 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: of impact Reggie Smith has had on so many people, 25 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 2: and the great number eight. Reggie Smith joins us on 26 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 2: Dodger Talk. Reggie, thank you so much and congratulations on 27 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: getting this honor. 28 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, David, and thank you for the 29 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: kind words and introduction there. I truly appreciate it. 30 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: What does it mean to you, Reggie, when Lon Rosen 31 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: and the Dodgers called you to let you know that 32 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 2: you were going to going to be part of the 33 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: legends of Dodger baseball. What was your first reaction. 34 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: I was humbled, almost to the point of being a 35 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: little emotional, to receive that kind of recognition and knowing 36 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: that you know all of the great players, and let 37 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: alone great players, the great men that have put on 38 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: and worn that Dodger uniform that you know, to be 39 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: selected amongst that, it's quite a humbling experience. And I'm 40 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: sure it will be August fifteenth. But again, having grown 41 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: up in the Los Angeles area era area here, it's special. 42 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: It's a special feeling. 43 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: When you were growing up in the Ala area, did 44 00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: you ever have dreams of playing for the Dodgers? 45 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: I did, you know, And mainly because I was a 46 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: Dodger before I became a Dodger, you know, having listening 47 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 1: to games when in school, when the Dodgers were back 48 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: in Brooklyn and they were in the World Series back 49 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: in nineteen fifty five and fifty six, and then go 50 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: and Behold in nineteen fifty eight. They're playing here. But 51 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: because of you know, Jackie Robinson, who was my boyhood 52 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: hero in baseball, all that he stood for that, you 53 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: know what, I wanted to play for the Dodgers. Yes, 54 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: I would have, But it was just like anything else. 55 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: It was a little boys dream that that was fortunate 56 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: enough to have come true. 57 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 2: Reggie going to Centennial High School in Compton. Has it 58 00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 2: come full circle? 59 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: Has you know? Because fortunately by the time I got 60 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: to high school, the Dodgers were well entrenched here in 61 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles area. And but at the time when 62 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: I was in high school, it was more I was 63 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: thinking of playing football at that time, and pretty much 64 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: had thought that that's what I was going to do, 65 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: to hopefully go to college and play college football. But 66 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: like they say, life intervened in that being my dad 67 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: got sick and it was an opportunity for me to 68 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: help the family because at that time, you know, you 69 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: could sign with any team. There was no draft, and 70 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: I was fortunate enough to get signed and ultimately developed 71 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: the skills enough so that when I did come back, 72 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: ultimately got traded to the Dodgers, came home when I 73 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: was in the prime of my career, and my parents 74 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: got to see me what I like to think when 75 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: I was at my best, and certainly being a part 76 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: of the Dodger organization who had so much tradition and 77 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: winning that I was able to help and participate in 78 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: World Series with him, which is every little boy's dream 79 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: or every baseball player's dream. I think of playing in 80 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: the World Series and winning. 81 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 2: And you certainly did in nineteen eighty one with those 82 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 2: group of Dodgers, Reggie Smith's first full season back home 83 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 2: in LA. He only hit three zero seven and only 84 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 2: slugged five seventy six with an ops of a thousand, 85 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: making the All Star Team for the first of three 86 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 2: times in Dodger Blue, now Reggie during that period of time, 87 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: we always obviously celebrate the infield that came up together 88 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 2: through the minor leagues. But for those that remember, it 89 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 2: was when al Campanis acquired yourself, Dusty Baker, and Rick 90 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: Monday in the outfield that seemed to really change the 91 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: fortunes of the team. What do you remember about Uh 92 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 2: coming in with those four or five guys with Jaeger included, 93 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 2: to really become kind of the leaders of the team. 94 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: Well, when when this trade was made for me coming 95 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: over from Saint Louis, al Campanis at the time said 96 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: that he believed that I was that missing piece. He 97 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: Dusty had come UH in a trade that winter, and 98 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 1: h I came during junior that summer during the trade 99 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 1: deadline there and Monday came in that that winter. So 100 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: what it was and those pieces that between Baker, myself 101 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: and Monday they believed were the missing pieces that and 102 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: it worked out well because we jeled and all had 103 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: a similar mindset and goal to be the best that 104 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: we can be and win ball games. And it was 105 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: fun because, like I said, those key pieces were already 106 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: there with the players the say Garvey Loats, Russell Jaeger 107 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: and further, those pieces were there. The pitching was already there. 108 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: We just came in and filled in that outfield to 109 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: make one probably one of the most potent lineups that 110 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: had been in history at that time, so that we 111 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: could compete against anyone. And you look, making up almost 112 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: twenty games or thirty games between the years before to 113 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: where we started to dominate against the Reds and other 114 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: teams in the National League. 115 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, back in the day, it was the big Red 116 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 2: machine in the NL. Lasting they were dominating up until 117 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 2: nineteen seventy seven, which happened to be Tomu Lasorda's first 118 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: year as the manager of the Dodgers. What do you 119 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 2: remember the most about the seventy seven season? And A, 120 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: I know, the World Series did not go the way 121 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 2: you guys wanted, but for the first time in a while, 122 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 2: it wasn't about the Reds. It was about your Dodgers. 123 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: Well it was you know, you had the big Red 124 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: machine and we became the big Blue wrecking crew, you know. 125 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: So the fact that we were able to have eight 126 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: guys on that field at any time, you know that 127 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: had to not only the desire the skills to win, 128 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: but the desire to win and and make it happen 129 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: were we were eight strong and the motivation off. Tommy 130 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: during that off season had spoken to each one of 131 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 1: us and it was the first time I ever had 132 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: a manager ever say to me, I need you and 133 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: this is what I would like to see you do 134 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: for this BAFF club. But he had that same conversation 135 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: with all the other players, and we made the commitment 136 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: to doing just that. That we were going to win, 137 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: and we were going to go to spring training and 138 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: one of the sayings that I like to tell a guys, 139 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,599 Speaker 1: because I even said the same thing to mister O'Malley 140 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: at the time, that look, we're not coming here to 141 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 1: spring training to prepare to play the season. We're coming 142 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: to spring training to prepare to play in the World 143 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: Series and win. And that was our philosophy at that time. 144 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: And that's what Tommy inspired and expected of us, and 145 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:13,839 Speaker 1: that that's what we did. We went out and did 146 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: just that. Yeah, the World Series didn't turn out like 147 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 1: we like. You know, it's a short series and it's 148 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: the case where the best team, I believe doesn't always 149 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: win because Baseball is that kind of game. But we 150 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 1: got there, and we got to the World Series in doubt, didn't. 151 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: We didn't accomplish that mission until nineteen eighty one, and 152 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: that was to win. 153 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 2: That is the pillar of strength, the voice Reggie Smith, 154 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 2: who is going to be inducted into the Legends of 155 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 2: Dodger Baseball this season August fifteenth. You want to get 156 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: there early now. Reggie not only had a great playing career, 157 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 2: but his legacy is going to live on because of 158 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 2: how great of a person he is and how many 159 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: lives he has tough. He currently runs the Reggie Smith 160 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 2: Baseball Academy and Encino. My ten year old son has 161 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 2: fallen in love with it because Reggie has done a 162 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: great job of teaching the teachers. And Reggie coached for 163 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 2: the Dodger organization from nineteen eighty nine to nineteen ninety 164 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 2: eight and still has had an impression on Major leaguers 165 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: like Max Free to this day. With all that being said, 166 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 2: Reggie and your playing career speaks for itself, But does 167 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 2: it mean more to you to have this lasting impact 168 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 2: on so many people, even when you're eighty years old 169 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 2: and you can't play baseball anymore. 170 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: You know who as I said with Jackie Robinson, And 171 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: what did Jackie say, you know, the legacy. If there's 172 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: anything he wanted to believe that was important to him 173 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: was the impact that it had on other lives. Well, 174 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: if that which Jackie's philosophy and how he wanted to 175 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: be remembered, that's what I wanted to do. So being 176 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 1: off the field absolutely more to me than what accomplished 177 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: from a stair than what I accomplished on the field, 178 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: because to give individuals hopes and instill confidence and the 179 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: things in them that they need to hopefully be the 180 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: productive life, whether it's through how the things that they 181 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: attain attained through education or having baseball as a vehicle 182 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: to be able to attain those things. I felt that 183 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: that has been my purpose and my goal in life 184 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: is to help others be able to, especially in baseball, 185 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: play this little boy's game and have fun doing it. 186 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 1: And you know, if anything, just just just be a 187 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: good person, teak people like you want to be treated. 188 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: And the rewards that I've received of seeing my students 189 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: and the people that I've touched be successful and enjoy 190 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: the game. And more importantly, I asked him if there's 191 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: anything that you can give me, give back and share 192 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: the things that were shared with you, because as my 193 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,719 Speaker 1: mother taught me a long time ago, the only way 194 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: to keep a gift is that you have to share it. 195 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: So that's that's what I endeavor to do. And the 196 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 1: reward is saying and having kids enjoy Like you said 197 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: your son that it made me really feel good that 198 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: he said that he had fun there and he wants 199 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 1: to come back. So then what else do you want? 200 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: What else can you expect to have a child and 201 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: have someone have fun and enjoy what they're did and 202 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: hopefully take those lessons that they've learned in baseball and 203 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: use them throughout their lives. 204 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 2: I think that's the greatest compliment Reggie. A ten year 205 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 2: old kid and ten year old kids that show up 206 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 2: to the Reggie Smith Baseball Academy that never saw you 207 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 2: play know who Reggie Smith is and are proud to 208 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 2: say they went there. And I think that's a testament 209 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 2: to you and the way you've taught your coaches. That's 210 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 2: a special gift. 211 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: Well, thank you. I appreciate it, and it's sharing a 212 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: gift that was shared with me. And as long as 213 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: I'm able to do that, and I will continue to 214 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: offer that because as a blessing, because I was blessed 215 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: with the ability to do it. 216 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 2: Reggie Smith as our guest, Reggie, I got to ask 217 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 2: you a baseball question with what's going on even before 218 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 2: a single game is played in spring training? We've had 219 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 2: superstars like Corbin Carro, Francisco Lindor Jackson holiday fracture the 220 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 2: handmade bone. What do you make of that? It doesn't 221 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: seem like it's a coincidence. Is it because of the 222 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: training of these players during the off season? What do 223 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 2: you make of three big time players breaking their handmade 224 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 2: bone before spring training? 225 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: I would venture to say that they are probably overlapping 226 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: the little finger on the bottom hand of the hand 227 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: that the bat is the extension up. So in other words, 228 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: they might be overlapping where either that the pinky finger 229 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: is resting on the knob or just below it. And 230 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: what that does. That puts the pressure on the handmade 231 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: bunk in the hands. It's actually probably more common injury 232 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: then the people know. But I don't know for sure. 233 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: I would have to feed how these guys are gripping 234 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: the bats, But I believe that to be the cause 235 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: of it. Because of that that pressure. You see, the 236 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: grip of the bat is mainly held in the the 237 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: bottom three fingers from in from the middle finger, ring finger, 238 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: and the pinky finger. That's where most of the pressure 239 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 1: is applied to strength in terms of the grip of 240 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: the bat, so that if you put the knob of 241 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: the bat on that little finger there, it positions it 242 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: perfectly on that handmade bonk and to cause injury. 243 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 2: That's a great explanation from one of the best hitting 244 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 2: coaches you will ever find. Extended. Tim Wallack's career brought 245 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: Mike Piazza back to camp and he went on to 246 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 2: have a Hall of Fame career. To mention just the 247 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 2: two of the many impacts that he has had as 248 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 2: a coach and as a teammate, Reggie, look forward to 249 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: celebrating you at Dodgers Stadium. Hopefully we can do this 250 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 2: before then, but you know how many people are really 251 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 2: happy that you're going to be celebrated, and rightfully so, 252 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 2: I can't thank you enough, and everybody has so much 253 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: reverence for you, So thank you so much for your. 254 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: Time, thank you and thank you for the recognition and 255 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: certainly for Lon and the Dodgers to bestowing this dis 256 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: prestigious honor on me, and again I'm truly humbled and 257 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: appreciative of it. Thank you for having me on Dave. 258 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 2: All Right, there is Reggie Smith shade him taking as 259 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: much time as he did to share a lot of 260 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 2: stories and memories and just what makes Reggie Smith so 261 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 2: respected and why he has affected so many people in 262 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 2: the game of baseball and also you know, doing what 263 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 2: he's done with the Reggie Smith Baseball Academy out there 264 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 2: and Encinos. So thank you to Reggie for his time 265 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 2: and looking forward to celebrating him on August fifteenth when 266 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 2: he is inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball.