WEBVTT - Reggie Smith (2-12-26)

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<v Speaker 1>And now an exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talker.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome back to Dodger Talk. David Vasse with you until

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<v Speaker 2>eight o'clock tonight here on a five to seventy LA

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<v Speaker 2>Sports And earlier this week, the Dodgers announced some promotion dates.

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<v Speaker 2>But this is more than just getting a bobblehead on

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<v Speaker 2>August fifteenth, the Dodgers are going to honor a man

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<v Speaker 2>that certainly has had an impact on many generations, whether

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<v Speaker 2>it's on the field or off the field. The Dodgers

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<v Speaker 2>are honoring the great Reggie Smith by inducting him into

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<v Speaker 2>their pseudo Hall of Fame, the Legends of Dodger Baseball

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<v Speaker 2>before the August fifteenth game at Dodgers Stadium. Reggie Smith

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<v Speaker 2>played seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball, six of those

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<v Speaker 2>with the Dodgers. He was a seven time All Star,

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<v Speaker 2>three of those playing for the Dodgers, and he won

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<v Speaker 2>the World Series. It was a huge part of the

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<v Speaker 2>dodgers a run from nineteen seventy seven to nineteen eighty one,

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<v Speaker 2>and certainly the reason why the Dodgers are inducting Reggie

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<v Speaker 2>Smith is not just about how great he was on

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<v Speaker 2>the field, not just about his two thousand hits, not

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<v Speaker 2>just about his three hundred and fourteen home runs or

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<v Speaker 2>his two eighty seven lifetime batting average. It's the legacy

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<v Speaker 2>that lives on through so many teachers across Major League baseball,

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<v Speaker 2>minor league baseball, and youth baseball, because that's the type

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<v Speaker 2>of impact Reggie Smith has had on so many people,

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<v Speaker 2>and the great number eight. Reggie Smith joins us on

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<v Speaker 2>Dodger Talk. Reggie, thank you so much and congratulations on

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<v Speaker 2>getting this honor.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you very much, David, and thank you for the

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<v Speaker 1>kind words and introduction there. I truly appreciate it.

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<v Speaker 2>What does it mean to you, Reggie, when Lon Rosen

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<v Speaker 2>and the Dodgers called you to let you know that

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<v Speaker 2>you were going to going to be part of the

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<v Speaker 2>legends of Dodger baseball. What was your first reaction.

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<v Speaker 1>I was humbled, almost to the point of being a

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<v Speaker 1>little emotional, to receive that kind of recognition and knowing

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<v Speaker 1>that you know all of the great players, and let

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<v Speaker 1>alone great players, the great men that have put on

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<v Speaker 1>and worn that Dodger uniform that you know, to be

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<v Speaker 1>selected amongst that, it's quite a humbling experience. And I'm

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<v Speaker 1>sure it will be August fifteenth. But again, having grown

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<v Speaker 1>up in the Los Angeles area era area here, it's special.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a special feeling.

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<v Speaker 2>When you were growing up in the Ala area, did

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<v Speaker 2>you ever have dreams of playing for the Dodgers?

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<v Speaker 1>I did, you know, And mainly because I was a

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<v Speaker 1>Dodger before I became a Dodger, you know, having listening

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<v Speaker 1>to games when in school, when the Dodgers were back

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<v Speaker 1>in Brooklyn and they were in the World Series back

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<v Speaker 1>in nineteen fifty five and fifty six, and then go

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<v Speaker 1>and Behold in nineteen fifty eight. They're playing here. But

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<v Speaker 1>because of you know, Jackie Robinson, who was my boyhood

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<v Speaker 1>hero in baseball, all that he stood for that, you

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<v Speaker 1>know what, I wanted to play for the Dodgers. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>I would have, But it was just like anything else.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a little boys dream that that was fortunate

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<v Speaker 1>enough to have come true.

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<v Speaker 2>Reggie going to Centennial High School in Compton. Has it

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<v Speaker 2>come full circle?

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<v Speaker 1>Has you know? Because fortunately by the time I got

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<v Speaker 1>to high school, the Dodgers were well entrenched here in

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<v Speaker 1>the Los Angeles area. And but at the time when

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<v Speaker 1>I was in high school, it was more I was

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<v Speaker 1>thinking of playing football at that time, and pretty much

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<v Speaker 1>had thought that that's what I was going to do,

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<v Speaker 1>to hopefully go to college and play college football. But

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<v Speaker 1>like they say, life intervened in that being my dad

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<v Speaker 1>got sick and it was an opportunity for me to

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<v Speaker 1>help the family because at that time, you know, you

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<v Speaker 1>could sign with any team. There was no draft, and

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<v Speaker 1>I was fortunate enough to get signed and ultimately developed

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<v Speaker 1>the skills enough so that when I did come back,

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<v Speaker 1>ultimately got traded to the Dodgers, came home when I

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<v Speaker 1>was in the prime of my career, and my parents

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<v Speaker 1>got to see me what I like to think when

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<v Speaker 1>I was at my best, and certainly being a part

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<v Speaker 1>of the Dodger organization who had so much tradition and

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<v Speaker 1>winning that I was able to help and participate in

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<v Speaker 1>World Series with him, which is every little boy's dream

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<v Speaker 1>or every baseball player's dream. I think of playing in

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<v Speaker 1>the World Series and winning.

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<v Speaker 2>And you certainly did in nineteen eighty one with those

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<v Speaker 2>group of Dodgers, Reggie Smith's first full season back home

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<v Speaker 2>in LA. He only hit three zero seven and only

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<v Speaker 2>slugged five seventy six with an ops of a thousand,

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<v Speaker 2>making the All Star Team for the first of three

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<v Speaker 2>times in Dodger Blue, now Reggie during that period of time,

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<v Speaker 2>we always obviously celebrate the infield that came up together

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<v Speaker 2>through the minor leagues. But for those that remember, it

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<v Speaker 2>was when al Campanis acquired yourself, Dusty Baker, and Rick

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<v Speaker 2>Monday in the outfield that seemed to really change the

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<v Speaker 2>fortunes of the team. What do you remember about Uh

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<v Speaker 2>coming in with those four or five guys with Jaeger included,

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<v Speaker 2>to really become kind of the leaders of the team.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, when when this trade was made for me coming

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<v Speaker 1>over from Saint Louis, al Campanis at the time said

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<v Speaker 1>that he believed that I was that missing piece. He

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<v Speaker 1>Dusty had come UH in a trade that winter, and

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<v Speaker 1>h I came during junior that summer during the trade

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<v Speaker 1>deadline there and Monday came in that that winter. So

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<v Speaker 1>what it was and those pieces that between Baker, myself

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<v Speaker 1>and Monday they believed were the missing pieces that and

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<v Speaker 1>it worked out well because we jeled and all had

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<v Speaker 1>a similar mindset and goal to be the best that

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<v Speaker 1>we can be and win ball games. And it was

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<v Speaker 1>fun because, like I said, those key pieces were already

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<v Speaker 1>there with the players the say Garvey Loats, Russell Jaeger

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<v Speaker 1>and further, those pieces were there. The pitching was already there.

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<v Speaker 1>We just came in and filled in that outfield to

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<v Speaker 1>make one probably one of the most potent lineups that

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<v Speaker 1>had been in history at that time, so that we

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<v Speaker 1>could compete against anyone. And you look, making up almost

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<v Speaker 1>twenty games or thirty games between the years before to

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<v Speaker 1>where we started to dominate against the Reds and other

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<v Speaker 1>teams in the National League.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, back in the day, it was the big Red

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<v Speaker 2>machine in the NL. Lasting they were dominating up until

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<v Speaker 2>nineteen seventy seven, which happened to be Tomu Lasorda's first

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<v Speaker 2>year as the manager of the Dodgers. What do you

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<v Speaker 2>remember the most about the seventy seven season? And A,

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<v Speaker 2>I know, the World Series did not go the way

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<v Speaker 2>you guys wanted, but for the first time in a while,

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<v Speaker 2>it wasn't about the Reds. It was about your Dodgers.

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<v Speaker 1>Well it was you know, you had the big Red

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<v Speaker 1>machine and we became the big Blue wrecking crew, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>So the fact that we were able to have eight

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<v Speaker 1>guys on that field at any time, you know that

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<v Speaker 1>had to not only the desire the skills to win,

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<v Speaker 1>but the desire to win and and make it happen

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<v Speaker 1>were we were eight strong and the motivation off. Tommy

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<v Speaker 1>during that off season had spoken to each one of

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<v Speaker 1>us and it was the first time I ever had

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<v Speaker 1>a manager ever say to me, I need you and

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<v Speaker 1>this is what I would like to see you do

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<v Speaker 1>for this BAFF club. But he had that same conversation

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<v Speaker 1>with all the other players, and we made the commitment

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<v Speaker 1>to doing just that. That we were going to win,

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<v Speaker 1>and we were going to go to spring training and

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<v Speaker 1>one of the sayings that I like to tell a guys,

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<v Speaker 1>because I even said the same thing to mister O'Malley

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<v Speaker 1>at the time, that look, we're not coming here to

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<v Speaker 1>spring training to prepare to play the season. We're coming

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<v Speaker 1>to spring training to prepare to play in the World

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<v Speaker 1>Series and win. And that was our philosophy at that time.

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<v Speaker 1>And that's what Tommy inspired and expected of us, and

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<v Speaker 1>that that's what we did. We went out and did

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<v Speaker 1>just that. Yeah, the World Series didn't turn out like

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<v Speaker 1>we like. You know, it's a short series and it's

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<v Speaker 1>the case where the best team, I believe doesn't always

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<v Speaker 1>win because Baseball is that kind of game. But we

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<v Speaker 1>got there, and we got to the World Series in doubt, didn't.

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<v Speaker 1>We didn't accomplish that mission until nineteen eighty one, and

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<v Speaker 1>that was to win.

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<v Speaker 2>That is the pillar of strength, the voice Reggie Smith,

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<v Speaker 2>who is going to be inducted into the Legends of

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<v Speaker 2>Dodger Baseball this season August fifteenth. You want to get

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<v Speaker 2>there early now. Reggie not only had a great playing career,

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<v Speaker 2>but his legacy is going to live on because of

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<v Speaker 2>how great of a person he is and how many

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<v Speaker 2>lives he has tough. He currently runs the Reggie Smith

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<v Speaker 2>Baseball Academy and Encino. My ten year old son has

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<v Speaker 2>fallen in love with it because Reggie has done a

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<v Speaker 2>great job of teaching the teachers. And Reggie coached for

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<v Speaker 2>the Dodger organization from nineteen eighty nine to nineteen ninety

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<v Speaker 2>eight and still has had an impression on Major leaguers

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<v Speaker 2>like Max Free to this day. With all that being said,

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<v Speaker 2>Reggie and your playing career speaks for itself, But does

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<v Speaker 2>it mean more to you to have this lasting impact

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<v Speaker 2>on so many people, even when you're eighty years old

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<v Speaker 2>and you can't play baseball anymore.

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<v Speaker 1>You know who as I said with Jackie Robinson, And

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<v Speaker 1>what did Jackie say, you know, the legacy. If there's

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<v Speaker 1>anything he wanted to believe that was important to him

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<v Speaker 1>was the impact that it had on other lives. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>if that which Jackie's philosophy and how he wanted to

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<v Speaker 1>be remembered, that's what I wanted to do. So being

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<v Speaker 1>off the field absolutely more to me than what accomplished

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<v Speaker 1>from a stair than what I accomplished on the field,

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<v Speaker 1>because to give individuals hopes and instill confidence and the

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<v Speaker 1>things in them that they need to hopefully be the

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<v Speaker 1>productive life, whether it's through how the things that they

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<v Speaker 1>attain attained through education or having baseball as a vehicle

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<v Speaker 1>to be able to attain those things. I felt that

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<v Speaker 1>that has been my purpose and my goal in life

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<v Speaker 1>is to help others be able to, especially in baseball,

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<v Speaker 1>play this little boy's game and have fun doing it.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know, if anything, just just just be a

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<v Speaker 1>good person, teak people like you want to be treated.

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<v Speaker 1>And the rewards that I've received of seeing my students

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<v Speaker 1>and the people that I've touched be successful and enjoy

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<v Speaker 1>the game. And more importantly, I asked him if there's

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<v Speaker 1>anything that you can give me, give back and share

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<v Speaker 1>the things that were shared with you, because as my

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<v Speaker 1>mother taught me a long time ago, the only way

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<v Speaker 1>to keep a gift is that you have to share it.

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<v Speaker 1>So that's that's what I endeavor to do. And the

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<v Speaker 1>reward is saying and having kids enjoy Like you said

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<v Speaker 1>your son that it made me really feel good that

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<v Speaker 1>he said that he had fun there and he wants

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<v Speaker 1>to come back. So then what else do you want?

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<v Speaker 1>What else can you expect to have a child and

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<v Speaker 1>have someone have fun and enjoy what they're did and

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<v Speaker 1>hopefully take those lessons that they've learned in baseball and

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<v Speaker 1>use them throughout their lives.

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<v Speaker 2>I think that's the greatest compliment Reggie. A ten year

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<v Speaker 2>old kid and ten year old kids that show up

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<v Speaker 2>to the Reggie Smith Baseball Academy that never saw you

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<v Speaker 2>play know who Reggie Smith is and are proud to

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<v Speaker 2>say they went there. And I think that's a testament

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<v Speaker 2>to you and the way you've taught your coaches. That's

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<v Speaker 2>a special gift.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, thank you. I appreciate it, and it's sharing a

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<v Speaker 1>gift that was shared with me. And as long as

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<v Speaker 1>I'm able to do that, and I will continue to

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<v Speaker 1>offer that because as a blessing, because I was blessed

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<v Speaker 1>with the ability to do it.

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<v Speaker 2>Reggie Smith as our guest, Reggie, I got to ask

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<v Speaker 2>you a baseball question with what's going on even before

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<v Speaker 2>a single game is played in spring training? We've had

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<v Speaker 2>superstars like Corbin Carro, Francisco Lindor Jackson holiday fracture the

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<v Speaker 2>handmade bone. What do you make of that? It doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>seem like it's a coincidence. Is it because of the

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<v Speaker 2>training of these players during the off season? What do

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<v Speaker 2>you make of three big time players breaking their handmade

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<v Speaker 2>bone before spring training?

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<v Speaker 1>I would venture to say that they are probably overlapping

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<v Speaker 1>the little finger on the bottom hand of the hand

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<v Speaker 1>that the bat is the extension up. So in other words,

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<v Speaker 1>they might be overlapping where either that the pinky finger

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<v Speaker 1>is resting on the knob or just below it. And

0:15:59.640 --> 0:16:03.080
<v Speaker 1>what that does. That puts the pressure on the handmade

0:16:03.120 --> 0:16:11.120
<v Speaker 1>bunk in the hands. It's actually probably more common injury

0:16:11.880 --> 0:16:18.680
<v Speaker 1>then the people know. But I don't know for sure.

0:16:18.760 --> 0:16:22.600
<v Speaker 1>I would have to feed how these guys are gripping

0:16:22.680 --> 0:16:25.880
<v Speaker 1>the bats, But I believe that to be the cause

0:16:25.920 --> 0:16:29.000
<v Speaker 1>of it. Because of that that pressure. You see, the

0:16:29.800 --> 0:16:35.760
<v Speaker 1>grip of the bat is mainly held in the the

0:16:36.560 --> 0:16:39.640
<v Speaker 1>bottom three fingers from in from the middle finger, ring finger,

0:16:39.640 --> 0:16:42.440
<v Speaker 1>and the pinky finger. That's where most of the pressure

0:16:42.600 --> 0:16:46.320
<v Speaker 1>is applied to strength in terms of the grip of

0:16:46.360 --> 0:16:50.280
<v Speaker 1>the bat, so that if you put the knob of

0:16:50.360 --> 0:16:55.520
<v Speaker 1>the bat on that little finger there, it positions it

0:16:55.600 --> 0:16:59.400
<v Speaker 1>perfectly on that handmade bonk and to cause injury.

0:17:00.840 --> 0:17:03.640
<v Speaker 2>That's a great explanation from one of the best hitting

0:17:03.680 --> 0:17:08.200
<v Speaker 2>coaches you will ever find. Extended. Tim Wallack's career brought

0:17:08.240 --> 0:17:11.040
<v Speaker 2>Mike Piazza back to camp and he went on to

0:17:11.040 --> 0:17:13.560
<v Speaker 2>have a Hall of Fame career. To mention just the

0:17:13.560 --> 0:17:16.800
<v Speaker 2>two of the many impacts that he has had as

0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:20.600
<v Speaker 2>a coach and as a teammate, Reggie, look forward to

0:17:20.640 --> 0:17:23.440
<v Speaker 2>celebrating you at Dodgers Stadium. Hopefully we can do this

0:17:23.520 --> 0:17:26.960
<v Speaker 2>before then, but you know how many people are really

0:17:27.040 --> 0:17:30.600
<v Speaker 2>happy that you're going to be celebrated, and rightfully so,

0:17:31.440 --> 0:17:34.480
<v Speaker 2>I can't thank you enough, and everybody has so much

0:17:34.520 --> 0:17:37.280
<v Speaker 2>reverence for you, So thank you so much for your.

0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:41.680
<v Speaker 1>Time, thank you and thank you for the recognition and

0:17:42.040 --> 0:17:49.320
<v Speaker 1>certainly for Lon and the Dodgers to bestowing this dis

0:17:49.760 --> 0:17:53.800
<v Speaker 1>prestigious honor on me, and again I'm truly humbled and

0:17:54.200 --> 0:17:57.320
<v Speaker 1>appreciative of it. Thank you for having me on Dave.

0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:01.440
<v Speaker 2>All Right, there is Reggie Smith shade him taking as

0:18:01.480 --> 0:18:04.000
<v Speaker 2>much time as he did to share a lot of

0:18:04.040 --> 0:18:08.080
<v Speaker 2>stories and memories and just what makes Reggie Smith so

0:18:08.359 --> 0:18:12.919
<v Speaker 2>respected and why he has affected so many people in

0:18:12.960 --> 0:18:15.639
<v Speaker 2>the game of baseball and also you know, doing what

0:18:15.720 --> 0:18:18.560
<v Speaker 2>he's done with the Reggie Smith Baseball Academy out there

0:18:18.880 --> 0:18:21.639
<v Speaker 2>and Encinos. So thank you to Reggie for his time

0:18:21.720 --> 0:18:25.600
<v Speaker 2>and looking forward to celebrating him on August fifteenth when

0:18:25.680 --> 0:18:29.760
<v Speaker 2>he is inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball.