That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: Greatest first round picks in team history

By Kerry Kauffman

Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1980: Bill Russell #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers get the put out at second base on Lonnie Smith #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Russell played for the Dodgers from 1969-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1980: Bill Russell #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers get the put out at second base on Lonnie Smith #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Russell played for the Dodgers from 1969-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

7: Lonnie Smith (3rd overall 1974)

Lonnie Smith was drafted out of Centennial High School in Compton, California wit the third overall pick in 1974. He hit .286 with 12 stolen bases in lower A ball in 1974 and .323 with 114 runs scored and 56 stolen bases in higher A ball in 1975.

After advancing to AAA Oklahoma City, Smith hit around .300 for the next three seasons, using his speed to swipe 137 bases, including 66 in 1978. He made his Major League debut with the Phillies as a pinch-runner against the Giants on September 2, 1978.  Although he went 0-for-4 at the plate in 17 games the rest of the season, Smith stole four bases in as many attempts and scored six runs.

After a cup of coffee again in 1979, Smith became a key part of the 1980 Phillies title run, hitting .339 with 33 stolen bases in 100 games and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting.  Once again showing his hitting proficiency, Smith hit .324 in 62 games in 1981 with 21 stolen bases.

Smith was traded to the Cardinals in November of 1981 to the Cardinals in a three-way deal that brought catcher Bo Diaz to the Phillies. Smith had his best overall season in 1982, hitting .307 with a league-leading 120 runs, 35 doubles, eight triples, and 68 stolen bases. His efforts were good enough to earn second-place in NL MVP voting.

After three-plus seasons in St. Louis, Smith was off to Kansas City and then a five-year run in Atlanta from 1988-1992. His 21 home runs and 79 RBI in 1989 was a career-high, also hit .315 with a league-leading .415 on-base percentage.

Smith finished out his career with the Pirates and Orioles over the next two years, retiring with 1488 hits, 909 runs scored and 370 stolen bases.

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