Chicago Cubs: HOF closer Lee Smith to have uniform number retired
By Ryan Sikes
The Chicago Cubs are currently in discussions to retire the jersey number of former closer Lee Smith who collected 478 career saves.
The Chicago Cubs selected a lanky right-handed pitcher in the second round of the 1975 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. That guy was Lee Smith and played his high school ball at Castor High School in Jamestown, Louisiana
He made his professional debut when rosters expanded on September 1 against the Atlanta Braves. Smith came into the game with a runner on base, faced 5 batters in all but pitched a scoreless inning in which he walked 2 guys and struck out 1.
The 1980 Cubs team finished dead last in the National League East at the time, so it made perfect sense to get him accilimated to the big leagues in that scenario. Smith played his first 8 seasons in Chicago and collected 180 saves while striking out 1,251 batters, walked 486, all to the tune of a 3.03 ERA.
His 180 saves are tops in franchise history well ahead of Bruce Sutter‘s 133 career saves with the team. For his efforts, the Cubs front office is reportedly in serious discussions to have his number retired.
Discussions are moving forward with the Cubs retiring Lee Smiths number 46 uniform.All the other living hall of famers who were inducted with a Cub cap on their plaque have been given the .same honor ( Williams - Sandberg - Maddux - Jenkins ) Banks also - Santo posthumously.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) August 4, 2019
The team currently has 5 numbers retired that are displayed on the flag poles at Wrigley Field. Ron Santo (10), Ernie Banks (14), Ryne Sandberg (23), Billy Williams (26), and Fergie Jenkins/Greg Maddux (31) have been cemented in franchise history to ensure that no one will ever wear their uniform numbers again.
My guess is that the Cubs would wait until the offseason to officially retire his number as Pedro Strop currently owns that number. Strop is a free agent at seasons’ end and likely won’t be back given his up and down, injury-plagued season. It’s a well-deserving honor for one of the best relief pitchers in franchise history. Smith was named a two-time All-Star during his tenure with the Cubs and led the league in saves in 1983 (29).
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After the 1987 season, Smith spent three seasons in with the Boston Red Sox before going on to have 4 really good seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He led the league in both 1991 and 1992 with 47 and 43 saves, respectively and collected 160 total saves with the Cardinals. Smith was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Cubs organization back on July 21.