#RememberThatCub — Lee Smith

Let’s take a look back at Cubs franchise all-time saves leader Lee Smith

Cubs All Time Saves Leader With 180, Lee Smith(terren in Virginia via Flickr)

In his time, Lee Smith was one of the most feared players in baseball. When he would be summoned from the bullpen, he would slowly walk to the mound from the third base side bullpen. All 6'6" and 265 pounds of his imposing stature deliberately intimidating the opposition.

When Wrigley Field was still without lights and the late afternoon shadows began to cover the mound and creep towards home it made his full-octane gas even that more difficult to pick up, let alone make contact with. It would cause fear in even the best of hitters.

— “There’s no doubt in my mind he’s the hardest thrower in the game!” — Jody Davis

— “Catching Smith was scary, very scary!” — Keith Moreland

— “I don’t run from anybody, but the opinion around the National League is that you’re in no real hurry to get to him.” — Dusty Baker, Los Angeles Dodgers

Lee Arthur Smith was drafted 28th overall by the Cubs in 1975. In 1980 he was a September call-up to the Cubs and made his major-league debut on September 1st, 1980 versus the Atlanta Braves. He relieved starter Dennis Lamp, who had given up four runs and eight hits in four innings. Smith pitched one inning walked two, struck out one, and gave up no hits. He finished the season for the last-place Cubs and was invited back to the majors in 1981.

The closer in 1981 for the North Siders was Dick Tidrow. He was ineffective in the role, pitching to a 5.06 ERA and a 3–10 record. As a result Smith, Willy Hernandez, and Bill Campbell shared closing duties in 1982.

Bringing the heat(via Flickr)

Also in 1982, Ferguson Jenkins returned to Chicago. Smith credits Jenkins with helping him take his game to the next level. Fergie introduced his pupil to the slider and the forkball as well as improving his curve. He also helped simplify the closer’s delivery and taught him how to set up hitters. He saved 17 games in 18 attempts that year and held on to the closer’s role for the next five seasons.

From 1984 to 1987, Lee Smith joined Dan Quisenberry as one of only two closers to amass 30+ saves in four consecutive seasons.

In the playoff season of 1984 Smith actually compiled his highest ERA of the 1980’s even though he saved more than 30 games. 1984 was the only year the Cubs had a winning record while he was with the team.

Lee Smith saves game 2 of 1984 NLCS

For the first time, in 1985 Smith dominated the league with strike outs as a reliever. He finished the season with 112 K’s in only 97.2 innings pitched.

The relationship between Lee Smith and the Cubs came to an unfriendly end after the 1987 season. During that season Smith blew 12 saves. He was routinely booed by the Wrigley faithful. Chicago sank to last place and GM Dallas Green resigned.

— “I would have been a hell of a lot better pitcher,” a petulant Smith commented, “if they had allowed me to throw the curve ball that Fergie [Jenkins] taught me, it would have been great. He taught me a nasty curve ball. But they said, ‘You don’t need another pitch.’ Yeah, Dallas knew a lot about pitching, he won 20 games, but it took him eight years to do it!” —

Jim Frey was named to replace Green and Don Zimmer became the skipper. Despite his numbers, rumors were swirling about his weight and its effect on his knees and his request for a trade out of Chicago. Smith acknowledged that his weight was causing him problems, and organizational discussions about his weight affecting his knees fueled a trade. Zimmer thought Smith’s knees wouldn’t last another season.

“I can remember to this day what I said to Shawon Dunston,” Smith said. “The first sorry sucker to be traded is me, because I had a good year and I am not making much money. I was a prime candidate to get rid of.”

Smith said his time with the Cubs was fraught with unfulfilled dreams. Of the trade, he said, “The only thing that ticked me off was that it took so long. I wanted to get traded from the Cubs after 1985 and go somewhere where I could win.”

On December 8, Smith, the team’s career leader in saves, was traded to the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi. Nipper pitched only 104 more innings in the majors, and Schiraldi was out of baseball before age 30. Smith, meanwhile, registered nearly 300 saves after the trade. The trade started Smith on a journey involving seven teams in eight seasons, which may have hurt his chances in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ron Santo, Rick Sutcliffe, Lee Smith, and Ernie Banks at Cubs Convention(Mike via Flickr)

All told, Smith pitched 17 seasons in the major leagues and is the Cubs career saves leader with 180.

Lee Smith was a seven time all-star.(1983, 1987, & 1991–1995)

3x Rolaids Relief Man of the Year(1991, 1992, & 1994)

4x Saves Leader(1983, 1991, 1992, & 1994)

Lee Smith played for eight teams during his major league career.

Chicago Cubs 1980–1987

Boston Red Sox 1988–1990

St. Louis Cardinals 1990–1993

New York Yankees 1993

Baltimore Orioles 1994

California Angels 1995 & 1996

Cincinnati Reds 1996

Montreal Expos 1997

He finished his career with a total of 478 saves, third on the all-time list behind Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman.

Lee Smith fell short for 15 years on the ballot for Hall of Fame induction and will now have to hope the veteran’s committee will see fit to induct him as they did Ron Santo.

Lee Smith throws out first pitch before game 2 of 2016 NLDS

Doug Preszler is the type of person who can be a Cubs fan and an Iowa fan while living in South Dakota. He is a man who cares not for regional loyalty. He can be found on Twitter @PreszlerDoug, telling tales of the Dakotan Cubs fan’s existence.