Dwight Smith was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1998. While he had a relatively short career, Smith made his mark as a speedy player with some pop in his bat. He was also part of some memorable moments in baseball history. As a result of his MLB tenure, Dwight Smith has become the subject of a variety of baseball cards that collectors still seek out today.
Smith was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 4th round of the 1984 amateur draft out of Florida State University. He made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 1986 at just 21 years old. One of Smith’s first baseball cards came in 1987 Topps, where he is pictured as a young Cub with a full head of curly hair in his rookie season. This is one of the more common Dwight Smith cards that can be acquired for just a few dollars. It remains an important piece of any Cubs or Smith collection as one of his earliest issue cards.
In 1988, Smith began to emerge as an everyday player for the Cubs. He batted .280 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI in his first full season in the majors. This breakout year led to Smith being featured more prominently in 1988 card sets. He appears in both Donruss and Fleer sets from that year. The Donruss card shows Smith in a mid-swing pose in his Cubs road gray uniform. Condition is key for these 1980s Smith cards, as higher grade examples can be worth $10-15 for avid collectors.
Smith would go on to have his best offensive season in 1989 as a Cub, slashing .305/.355/.461 with 15 home runs and 65 RBI over 148 games. He also stole a career-high 31 bases. This breakout campaign made Smith one of the more prominent young players in the game and increased interest in his baseball cards. Highlights cards from 1989 sets like Score, Stadium Club, and Upper Deck highlight Smith’s speed and power potential. In particularly well-centered and sharp condition, these late 1980s Smith rookies can approach $25-30.
After the 1989 season, Smith was involved in a memorable trade. The Cubs dealt him and outfielder David Martinez to the Baltimore Orioles for All-Star outfielder Mike Boddicker. This trade worked out very well for the Orioles, as Smith continued his development in Baltimore over the next few seasons. Cards from 1990 and 1991 show Smith making key contributions for the O’s. A standout is his 1990 Leaf card, which features vibrant photography of Smith taking a lead off first base in an Orioles uniform. Mint condition examples of this popular Smith issue can sell for over $50.
In 1992, Smith had arguably the biggest moment of his career. With the score tied in the bottom of the 9th inning of a late September game against the Blue Jays, Smith hit a walk-off home run to clinch the AL East title for the Orioles, ending a long playoff drought for the franchise. This dramatic “The Shot Heard Around Maryland” home run became legendary in Orioles history. Smith’s 1992-1993 cards gained value as a result, as they memorialized this pivotal moment. His ultra-short printed 1992 Stadium Club Gold Border parallel card changed hands for over $100 in top grades due to the association with this home run.
Smith remained a useful player for Baltimore over the next few seasons before signing as a free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays prior to the 1995 season. Cards from his years in Toronto depict Smith near the end of his career but still contributing. Of note is his 1995 Studio card, which captured him batting from the left side with the skyline of Toronto visible in the background. Higher grade copies can sell for around $30-40 due to the rarity of Smith cards from his lone season with the Jays.
Smith bounced around to a few other teams late in his career like the Phillies, Red Sox, and Cardinals before retiring after the 1998 season. He remained best known for his heroics with the Orioles. As a result, Baltimore-issued cards featuring Smith in an Orioles uniform remain the most iconic and valuable in the hobby. But cards from every step of Smith’s MLB journey hold significance as artifacts from the career of this speedy outfielder who had some huge moments during his decade in the big leagues. For dedicated Cubs, Orioles, or baseball card collectors, tracking down cards of Dwight Smith makes for an enjoyable aspect of the hobby.
