Dwight "Dewey" Evans

We honor Dwight Evans as the Boston Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Month. With the opening of the baseball season around the corner, the choice of “Dewey” Evans is fitting. He was a player who gave his all, all the time to the Boston Red Sox where he played from 1972 to 1990. He is one of the best players not in the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

Dwight Michael Evans made an immediate impact in his professional baseball career by winning the International League’s MVP in 1972. With AAA Louisville, Evans had 17 hrs, 95 RBI and hit .300.

Dewey was called up to the tail end of the ’72 season. On September 16^th, he pinch ran and was 0-1 at the plate. He played 18 games and decent numbers during his call up. In 57 plate appearances, Evans had 1 hr, 6 RBI and batted .263.

Dwight Evans called right field in Fenway Park his home. He was a defensive standout and offensively could hold his own.

He would have his first taste of the post season in 1975.  Dewey batted well in the series with a .292 average, 1hr, and 7 RBI. However, it wasn’t Evan’s bat that made the highlight reel.

In Game 6 versus the Reds, Evans robbed Joe Morgan of a sure home run into the bullpen in right. He doubled off the runner and gave the Red Sox life. His superb defensive play gave catcher, Carlton Fisk the opportunity to hit his historic round tripper in the bottom of the 12^th inning.

Dewey was part of one of the best outfields in Red Sox history along with Jim Rice and Fred Lynn. His defensive play was his trademark; he had the hardware to prove it. He won eight gold gloves in his tenure patrolling the grass near Pesky’s Pole.

It wasn’t until the 1980’s that Dwight Evans found his batting stroke. In the strike shortened season of 1981, Dewey hit .296 with 22 homers (tied for league lead) and 71 RBI. He also was an on base monster with OPS of .937 and adding 85 walks.

The 1980’s was the decade of Dwight Evans. Few may know that he had more home runs and extra base hits than any player in the American League in that span. He also was the only player to stroke at least 20 round trippers in every year of the 80’s.

Dewey is amongst the Red Sox greats for all time franchise numbers. Only Carl Yastrzemski (3308) has played more games for the Boston than right fielder, Dwight Evans (2505).

Evans would finish his career in Baltimore and would retire after the 1991 season. In his 20 years in the big leagues, Evans batted .272, with 385 home runs, 1384 RBI, 1470 runs, 2446 hits, 483 doubles, 73 triples, and 78 stolen bases in 2606 games.

Dwight “Dewey” Evans was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall Of Fame in 2000.

We honor Mike Eruzione as the Boston Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Month.   This February will mark the 30^th anniversary of the “Miracle On Ice” when the US hockey team stunned the powerful Soviets and went on to capture the gold.  Eruzione was team captain of that squad and scored “the goal heard around the world.”

Like US Olympic teammate, Jim Craig, Eruzione was also a Massachusetts native and played collegiate hockey at Boston University. Eruzione grew up in Winthrop, MA where he was captain of his high school hockey team. After graduation in 1972, he attended Berwick Academy for one year to polish his hockey skills before attending Boston University.

As a BU Terrier, Mike Eruzione averaged 20 goals (92 career goals) per season from 1973-1977. He was elected team captain as a senior. He is the schools fifth all time leading scorer with 208 points. He only trails John Cullen (241), David Sacco (216), Chris Drury (214) and teammate Rick Meagher (210). His defense was also recognized, as he was voted a four time outstanding defensive forward.

While attending Boston University, Eruzione also played hockey for his country in the 1975 and 1976 World Championships. After graduation, he joined the Toledo Goaldiggers of the International Hockey League. He led the team to a Turner Cup Championship in his first season and was named rookie of the year.

After his second year in Toledo, Eruzione was chosen for the US Olympic Men’s Hockey team.  At the age of 25, he was an elder statesman compared to many of the collegiate players who were still attending school. However, his age and experience helped mold him into a leader and later team captain of Team USA.

During the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, Mike Eruzione recorded 3 goals and 5 assists. No goal was bigger than the one he scored against the almighty Soviets.

The United States kept clawing back and tied up the game 3-3, on a Mark Johnson tally (second of the game).  With 10 minutes remaining, Eruzione scored on a play set up by Mark Pavelich and John Harrington. The image of Mike Eruzione high stepping in celebration then being engulfed by his teammates has been forever etched in American sports history.

It proved to be the game winner as the youthful, underdog Americans upset the battle tested Soviets to advance to the gold medal game. The US hockey team would beat Finland, after coming from behind yet again, 4-2 to complete the “Miracle On Ice.”

As team captain Mike Eruzione was on the podium to accept his gold medal, he waved over his whole team to join him. They played as team, won as team, and were going to be awarded their gold medals as a team. It was just another incredible moment that would bring tears to any American’s eyes.

This was not just a hockey tournament. It was a galvanizing moment in this country’s history.

And Mike Eruzione was the glue that kept it all together.

Jim Craig

We honor Jim Craig as the Boston Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Month, the backstop of the 1980 Gold Medal winning US Olympic Hockey team. This upcoming February will mark the 30^th anniversary of the “Miracle On Ice” when the US hockey team stunned the powerful Soviets and went on to capture the gold.

Massachusetts native, Jim Craig was an integral part of the impossible dream and Olympic victory in Lake Placid, New York. Craig played collegiate hockey at Boston University where he was an All-American goalie. In two seasons at BU, Craig posted a 29-4-2 record with a 3.65 GAA. He also helped the Terriers capture a NCAA championship in 1978.

After college, Jim Craig chose the US Olympic team over the NHL’s Atlanta Flames. His sick mother wanted him to play for his country and he kept that promise to her. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her illness and never got to see Jim play for the United States. Craig was playing with a heavy heart.

Craig’s play in the Winter games in Lake Placid was nothing short of phenomenal. He backstopped the overachieving US squad to a 6-0-1 record with a microscopic 2.14 GAA.

His defining moment was against the Soviet Union in the Olympic semi-finals. The Soviets embarrassed the US team a few weeks earlier, 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden. The U.S.S.R had the best ice hockey team on the planet.

But not on this night.

The Soviets dominated most of the game by outshooting the Americans 42-16. Craig pushed away 39 of those shots and gave his upstart teammates a chance to scratch away.

Scratch and claw they did on route to a one of the biggest upsets in sports history. The US Olympic team comprised of amateurs beat the seasoned professional Soviet squad, 4-3.

Sports Illustrated said of Team USA’s win over the Soviet Union;

“It may just be the single most indelible moment in all of U.S. sports history. One that sent an entire nation into frenzy.”

Craig and his teammates did not lose focus of the task at hand. They still had a matchup against the Fins for the Gold.  Jim Craig kept his stellar play and backstopped his team to a 4-2 victory. Against all odds, the US Men’s hockey team not only won the Gold medal, but inspired and help rally a deflated country.

After the Olympic Games, Jim Craig signed with the team that drafted him, the Atlanta Flames. He posted a win in his first NHL start. However, he would only play four games for the Flames before being traded to his hometown; Boston Bruins for two draft picks (one who became long time Flames and Red Wings goalie, Mike Vernon).

In Boston, Craig didn’t have much of an impact. He started just 23 games for the Bruins with 9-7-6 record

Jim Craig played for the Boston Bruins during the '80-'81 season.

before Rogie Vachon and Marco Baron took over the goalkeeping duties for good. Jim Craig was sent to the minors.

In 1982, Jim Craig would make a return to the US national team where he played 26 games.  He would impress his former Olympic teammate, Neal Broten who was playing for the Minnesota North Stars at the time. Broten pushed the front office and Craig was given a contract by Minnesota in 1983.

Due to injury, Craig would only play 3 games for the North Stars. Jim Craig would never play hockey again.

Jim Craig’s impact on US hockey is immeasurable. Since his retirement, Craig has been enshrined in the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame, the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, the United State Hockey Hall of Fame, and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.

Jim Craig still resides in his hometown of North Easton, Massachusetts. He works as a successful businessman and motivational speaker. He has helped inspire and instruct employees from over 300 corporations including Coca Cola, Bayer, Dunkin’ Donuts, Walt Disney, and John Hancock.

Raymond Bourque

We honor Raymond Bourque as the Boston Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Month, one the best defensemen in Boston Bruins and NHL History.

Following in the skates of Bruins legend Bobby Orr, Raymond Jean Bourque was a stellar blue liner with offensive instincts. He was the face of the Boston Bruins for 21 seasons before being traded to Colorado where he became a Stanley Cup champion. However, all Bruins fans knew from his rookie year in 1979 that he had the heart of a champion.

Raymond Bourque was drafted in the first round (eight overall) of the 1979 NHL draft. Boston acquired the draft pick in a trade with Los Angeles for goaltender Ron Grahame. Being born in Quebec and a fan of the Montreal Canadiens as youth, Bourque was now going to lace up his skates for their arch nemesis, the Boston Bruins.

Bourque made an instant impact in his rookie season. He scored in his first game as a Boston Bruin. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year and set the all time record for scoring by a first year defensemen with 65 points.

Bourque scored at least 55 points a season through 1985 with his best being 96 points in 1983-1984. The Bruins chose Bourque as a co-captain with teammate Rick Middleton in 1985. Upon Middleton’s retirement in 1988, Bourque became the sole captain of the club. His tenure as captain (1988-2000) with one club was a NHL record before being broken by Detroit’s, Steve Yzerman.

Bourque wore #7 since his rookie season of 1979. However, in a surprise move during a 1987 ceremony for Bruins great Phil Esposito, Bourque removed his number #7 jersey to showcase his new number, #77. Bourque made a very respectful and unselfish gesture for one of Boston’s great players. His new number, #77, would also become synonomous with hockey greatness.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Bourque was consistently one of best players in the NHL. He was selected to 17 All-Star games. The most memorable being the 1996 All Star game played on his home rink in Boston. Bourque broke a 4-4 tie at 19:22 of the third period to win the game for the Eastern Conference and capture the game’s MVP award.

Raymond Bourque was also recognized for his superb play as a NHL defenseman. He won the Norris Trophy five times which is the third most in league history. Only former Bruin, Bobby Orr and Doug Harvey have won the award more.

The Boston Bruins reached the 1988 and 1990 Stanley Cup Finals versus Edmonton, but fell short both times. Boston never got close again and Raymond Bourque’s dreams of being a Stanley Cup champion were fleeting.

Ray Bourque requested a trade to have an opportunity to win a championship before his career came to a close. In 2000, Bruins GM Harry Sinden granted Bourque his wish, and the long time captain of the Boston Bruins, was shipped to the Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado fell short in the 2000 playoffs, so Bourque decided to play one more season. He achieved his boyhood dream in 2001 when the Avalanche defeated New Jersey in seven games.  He finally was able to hoist the Stanley Cup and cap off his career as a champion. It took Bourque 1,826(regular season and playoffs) games to win his first and only championship, a NHL record.

Bourque hung up his skates for good following his championship season of 2001.

In his career, he scored 410 goals and recorded 1,169 assists for 1,579 points in 1,612 regular season games. In the playoffs, Bourque added 41 goals and 139 assists in 214 games.

Raymond Jean Bourque was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

If you had a favorite athlete growing up that you would like to see featured as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month, send me a nomination by e-mail.

Bob Cousy

In recognition of the start of the NBA season, we honor as the Boston Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Week the first in a long line of superstars to play for the Boston Celtics.

Before there was Bill Russell and Larry Bird, the Boston Celtics were powered by a 6-foot-1 inch guard from Holy Cross. Bob Cousy was the on-the-court leader for the Celtics in the era during which they emerged as a basketball power.

After earning All-America honors for three straight seasons at Holy Cross, Cousy was originally drafted by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, but refused to sign with the team. He eventually joined the Boston Celtics and, as they say, the rest is history.

Cousy led the NBA in assists eight straight years and also scored more than 20 points per game in four seasons during his career. Known for his creative passing, Cousy was dubbed the “Houdini of the Hardwood.”

Making an immediate impact as a rookie during the 1950-51 season, Cousy averaged 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists as the Celtics improved from 22 wins the year before to 39 during his rookie season.

It wasn’t long before Cousy was an All-Star regular and annually honored as a member of the All-NBA team.

The Celtics continued to improve, but it wasn’t until the addition in 1956 of Bill Russell, K.C. Jones and Tom Heinsohn that the Celtics finally became a championship team.

Cousy averaged 20.6 points and 7.5 assists during the 1956-57 season to earn MVP honors as the Celtics went 44-28 in the regular season. They claimed their first World Championship by defeating the St. Louis Harks in seven games.

It would be the first of six championship teams Cousy would play on during his career.

In his 13 seasons with the Celtics, Cousy was an All-Star each season and was a first team All-NBA pick ten times.

Cousy retired following the 1962-63 season with career averages of 18.4 points and 7.5 assists per game.

While serving as coach of the Cincinnati Royals, Cousy made a brief comeback at the age of 41 during the 1969-70 season.

Cousy was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 and his number 14 hangs in the rafters at the Fleet Center. He was selected to the NBA’s all-time team for the 25th anniversary of the league, the 35th anniversary and the 50th anniversary. He is one of only four players to be selected to each of those teams.

If you had a favorite athlete growing up that you would like to see featured as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week, send me a nomination by e-mail.

Rico Petrocelli

With the baseball playoffs gearing up, we honor as our Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week a former Red Sox player who was on both the 1967 and 1975 World Series teams.

In 13 seasons with the Red Sox, Rico Petrocelli provided Boston with solid defense as well as regular offensive pop.

After a brief stint with the team in 1963, Petrocelli joined the Red Sox for good in 1965 and quickly established himself as a quality shortstop.

As a rookie, Petrocelli played in 103 games and hit .232with 13 home runs and 33 RBI. He made steady improvements and in 1967 earned his first All-Star trip and finished 17th in the MVP voting while hitting .259 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI.

As part of the “Impossible Dream” team of 1967, Petrocelli and the Red Sox held off the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins to win the American League Pennant by a single game and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1946.

In the World Series, Petrocelli blasted two home runs in game six to force a deciding contest, but the Red Sox ultimately lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 in the seventh game.

After previously not hitting more than 18 home runs in a season, Petrocelli emerged as one of the top sluggers in the game in 1969. He set an American League record for home runs by a shortstop as he blasted a career-high 40 homers while hitting .297 and driving home 97 runs. Petrocelli earned his second All-Star invitation and finished seventh in the MVP voting.

The following season, he set a new career-high with 103 RBI while hitting .261 with 29 home runs.

Boston acquired future Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio prior to the 1971 season and Petrocelli made a smooth transition to third base. He hit 28 home runs and drove in 89 runs in 1971.

His power production started to slip slightly in 1972 as he hit 15 home runs and drove in 75 runs. He was limited to only 100 games in 1973 as injuries started to hamper his performance.

The 1975 season was Petrocelli’s final as the regular third baseman for the Red Sox as he hit .239 with seven home runs and 59 RBI in 115 games.

However, he was still an important component of the Red Sox squad that won the American League East Division and then defeated the Oakland A’s to reach the World Series.

Playing in all seven games against the Cincinnati Reds, Petrocelli hit .308 and drove home four runs. Unfortunately, the Sox again fell short in seven games.

Petrocelli retired after playing in 85 games in 1976.

He finished his career with 210 home runs, 773 RBI and a .251 career batting average. He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.

After retiring, Petrocelli spent one year as a broadcaster for the Red Sox before becoming a coach. In 1992 he managed the Pawtucket Red Sox to the International League playoffs.

If you had a favorite athlete growing up that you would like to see featured as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week, send me a nomination by e-mail.

Steve Nelson

We recognize as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week a former defensive standout that spent his entire 14-year career with New England.

When the Patriots drafted Steve Nelson out of North Dakota State in 1974 few could have imagined that the young linebacker would serve as the leader of the Patriots defense for more than a decade.

After starting nine games as a rookie in 1974, Nelson emerged as the defensive MVP in 1975 as he led the squad with 157 tackles.

In 1976 Nelson started the first 10 games as the Patriots surged to the AFC Eastern Division title. However, he suffered a dislocated kneecap against the Colts and missed the final four games of the regular season. He did return for the Patriots’ last minute 24-21 playoff loss to the Raiders.

Injuries would prove to hamper Nelson throughout his career with the Patriots. He managed to play in every game in only four of his 14 seasons.

In 1978 Nelson earned second team all-conference honors as he led the team with 115 tackles while registering career-highs with five interceptions and four fumble recoveries.

Nelson eclipsed the 100-tackle mark during nine different seasons and was the top tackler for the Patriots eight times.

He earned his first Pro Bowl appearance following a 1980 season in which he started every game and led the squad with 186 tackles. He also earned team MVP honors for the second time.

In 1984 Nelson earned his second Pro Bowl trip by wracking up a career-high 207 tackles.

The following season, he was again chosen for the Pro Bowl while earning second team All-Pro honors.

Nelson suffered a separated shoulder in the second quarter of the Wild Card playoff game against the New York Jets, but stayed in the game and finished with seven tackles and a fumble recovery.

He had 26 tackles during the post-season as the Patriots became the first team ever to reach the Super Bowl after winning three road games during the playoffs.

Injuries limited Nelson to 10 games in 1986 and he retired after playing in 11 games during the 1987 campaign.

He registered 1,776 tackles in 174 career games (average of 10.2 per game). In addition, he totaled 17 interceptions and 16 fumble recoveries.

Nelson is one of only seven players in Patriots history to have his number retired and he was enshrined in the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2009 he was honored as one of the top 50 players in franchise history.

If you had a favorite athlete growing up that you would like to see featured as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week, send me a nomination by e-mail.

Joe Cronin

We recognize as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week an individual spent nearly 25 years with the Red Sox as a player, manager and general manager.

When the Boston Red Sox acquired Joe Cronin following the 1934 season they didn’t just get an All-Star player, they also got a new manager.

Originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Joe Cronin joined the Washington Senators in 1928 and by 1930 was one of the top shortstops in the game.

During his breakout 1930 season, Cronin hit .346 with 127 runs scored, 203 hits, 41 doubles, 13 home runs and 126 RBI. He won the AL Writer’s MVP Award and the Sporting News MVP Award.

Between 1930 and 1934, he drove in over 100 runs every season and hit better than .300 four times.

In 1933, at the age of 26, Cronin was named player-manager of the Senators and led the team to 99 wins and the AL Pennant. During that season he finished second in the MVP voting as he hit .309 with 45 doubles and 118 RBI.

The Senators struggled the following season and Cronin was traded to Boston.

Cronin earned five All-Star appearances during his 11 seasons as player-manager of the Red Sox, but stopped playing full-time following the 1941 season and retired as a player in 1945.

During his tenure with the Red Sox, Cronin hit .300 with 645 runs scored, 270 doubles, 119 home runs and 737 RBI. He drove in more than 100 runs three times for the Sox and hit above .300 in four of his seven seasons as a regular in Boston.

In 20 seasons as a player, Cronin hit .301 with 2,285 hits, 515 doubles, 170 home runs and 1,424 RBI.

The Red Sox posted a winning record in nine of his 13 seasons as manager. In 1946 he led the Sox to a 104-50 record and their first World Series since 1918. Boston lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

Following the 1947 season, he moved to the front office to become general manager.

In January 1959 he left the Red Sox after being the first former player selected to serve as the President of the American League. He served in that capacity until the end of 1973.

Cronin was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956. The Red Sox retired his number four jersey in 1984.

He passed away in 1984 at the age of 77.

If you had a favorite athlete growing up that you would like to see featured as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week, send me a nomination by e-mail.

Jim Nance

In preparation for the start of the 50th anniversary season for the New England Patriots, we are recognizing as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week one of the great running backs in Patriots history.

For two seasons during his seven-year career with the New England Patriots, Jim Nance was the best running back in professional football.

After seeing only limited action as a rookie in 1965, the big fullback became the workhorse running back for the Patriots during his second season in the league.

Nance led the AFL (and NFL) with 1,451 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns as the Patriots went 8-4-2. He gained 100 or more yards in eight of 14 games, including a career-high 208 yards in a victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Named the AFL MVP in 1966, Nance was also a first-team All-Pro and earned the first of two Pro Bowl selections.

The following season, Nance again had the most rushing yards in professional football with 1,216 yards while scoring seven touchdowns. He had a season-high 185 yards rushing in a shutout win over Buffalo and secured the rushing title with a 164-yard performance in the final game of the season against Miami.

With his two great seasons, Nance became the only player in AFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Jim Nance was the leading rusher in pro football in both 1966 and 1967.

Following his two dominant seasons, Nance remained a solid rusher for the Patriots, but never again challenged for the rushing title.

He gained 593 yards in 12 games in 1968 and then in 1969 rushed for 750 yards while catching a career-high 29 passes.

After seven seasons with the Patriots, Nance was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972, but refused to report. He did return to the NFL in 1973, but gained only 78 yards in seven games for the New York Jets.

He completed his AFL/NFL career with 5,401 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns.

However, that wasn’t the end of Nance’s football career as he joined the fledgling World Football League in 1974.

He rushed for 1,240 yards during the 1974 season and then added 767 in 1975. He is the answer to a great trivia question as he is the all-time leading rusher in WFL history with 2,007 yards.

Nance passed away in 1992 and was recently inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.

If you had a favorite athlete growing up that you would like to see featured as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week, send me a nomination by e-mail.

Reggie Smith

Our Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week helped the Boston Red Sox reach the World Series during his rookie season and was a key slugger for the team for eight years.

Reggie Smith became the starting centerfielder for the Red Sox in 1967 and finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.

Though his .246 average as a rookie was the lowest of his seven full seasons in Boston, Smith showed signs of the offensive power that would become his trademark.

A switch hitter, Smith had 24 doubles, 15 home runs and 61 RBI. He also stole 16 bases and scored 78 runs.

Smith was a valuable addition as the Red Sox reached the World Series for the first time in 21 years.  In the seven-game loss to the Cardinals, Smith hit .250 with two home runs and three RBI.

The following season, Smith earned the only Gold Glove of his career and began to improve his offensive statistics.

In 1969 Smith earned the first of seven All-Star selections in his career and hit .309 with 25 home runs and 93 RBI. He followed that up in 1970 by again hitting over .300 and scoring a career-high 109 runs.

His best power numbers for the Sox came in 1971 when Smith hit 30 home runs and drove in 96 runs.

Smith was third in the AL in RBI during the 1971 season.

In 1973, Smith was limited to only 115 games, but still hit .303 with 21 home runs and 69 RBI and ended a streak of four straight years in which he had received votes in the MVP balloting.

Following that season, Smith and veteran pitcher Ken Tatum were traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bernie Carbo and Rick Wise.

Playing rightfield for the Cardinals, Smith hit .309 with 23 home runs and a career-high 100 RBI in 1974 to finish 11th in the MVP voting. He repeated as an All-Star in 1975 and again hit over .300.

Smith was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers midway through the 1976 season and in 1977 and 1978 was among the best players in the National League.

He finished fourth in the MVP voting each season as the Dodgers reached the World Series both years, only to lose to the New York Yankees.

In the 1977 World Series, Smith blasted three home runs and drove home five runs. He had a home run and five RBI in the 1978 Series.

He earned his final All-Star appearance in 1980 when he hit a career-high .322 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI in just 92 games.

By the following season, Smith was no longer a regular, but he did appear in two games and had one hit as the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees to claim the World Series title.

Smith signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants in 1982 and spent one season there before finishing his career with two seasons playing for the Yomiuri Giants in the Japanese League.

For his 17-year career, Smith’s numbers were very impressive. He finished with a .287 batting average, 314 home runs, 1,092 RBI and 1,123 runs scored.

Since retirement, Smith has served as a hitting coach. He was the hitting coach for Team USA at the 1988 Olympics and the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.

Each week you can help decide which former sports great is recognized as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week by nominating your favorite athletes from the past. This week’s pick was nominated by Geoff Hobson. If you would like one of your favorites of the past to be honored as the Boston Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week, please send me you nomination by e-mail.