Up with the bases loaded and the league championship on the line, Salt Lake reliever John Gilligan got Smith to strike out, The News wrote.
"I knew I could get that last guy. He swings at breaking balls all the time," Gilligan gave his assessment of Smith to The News. "No better way to end it than with a strikeout."
Smith fell short of that title in his second season as a pro. He went on to play in four more. He made AA, but he never made the majors.
Smith's career began in 1990, taken by the Dodgers in the fifth round of the draft out of Riverside Poly High School in California.
At Riverside Poly, Smith helped break open a May 1989 playoff game with a home run.
Smith started with the Dodgers in the rookie Gulf Coast League, at Kissimmee. The outfielder got into 50 games and hit .222.
He moved to rookie Great Falls for 1991. There, he knocked in 37 over 50 games and hit .264.
Smith returned to Great Falls and saw rookie Yakima in 1992. He then played at high-A Bakersfield in 1993, where he hit .258.
He made high-A Vero Beach and AA San Antonio in 1994. In 27 games at San Antonio, Smith hit .271.
Smith played his final season at high-A San Bernardino in 1995. He hit a home run in a May game. Overall, he hit .205 in 58 games to end his career.
- Deseret News, Sept. 4, 1991: Traps take Pioneer League title
Players/Coaches Featured:3,123
Made the Majors:1,139-36.5%
Never Made Majors:1,984-63.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 472
10+ Seasons in the Minors:282
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