Former Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves outfielder Dwight Smith has died. He was just 58.
Smith, a 1984 Cubs draft pick, spent the first five years of his big league career in Chicago, hitting .285/.341/.433/112 wRC+ over those years. He was, of course, a member of the NL East-winning Cubs team in 1989, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting to outfield-mate Jerome Walton. The team was my first real exposure to the Chicago Cubs, watching in the afternoons on WGN. This is a very sad day.
Smith’s passing was announced by the Atlanta Braves, for whom Smith played in 1995 and 1996 before he retired.
Thoughts go out to Dwight Smith’s family and friends, and I hope they can find peace. For Cubs fans who remember Smith’s time with the team fondly, may those memories be fond again today.