#295 Lonnie Smith
I got this card signed through the mail last week while I was on vacation in Maryland. A few weeks ago, I had sent out a batch TTMs, mainly focusing on '81 Donruss cards. This is the only one to come back so far. I sent the card out on the 31st of last month and got it back in about two and a half weeks.
Lonnie was fortunate enough to play in five World Series with four different teams while winning it three times. He won it with the Phils in 1980, the Cards in '82, and the Royals in '85. He lost with the Braves in '91 and '92. He was a .277 hitter in the Series with 18 runs and 14 RBI.
For some reason, when I first starting collecting cards, I was certain that Lonnie was Ozzie's brother. I have no idea why besides the obvious fact that they have the same last name. To this day, I assumed that they were related somehow, so I went to Wikipedia to check it out. They are not related.
But, while I was on Wikipedia, I did learn something that I didn't know about Lonnie. Apparently, after the 1987 season, Lonnie was having a hard time finding a new team. He blamed this on the Royals GM, John Schuerholz, whom he believed was blackballing him. So, while depressed and high on weed, he planned on killing Schuerholz and even bought a gun to do it with before coming to his senses. I had not heard that one before. That might be a good "Did you know?" for 30-Year Old Cardboard.
'81 Donruss Tracker: 31/100
4 comments:
Skates - one of my favorite players of the era. I think he does have his life somewhat turned around now. Can't recall the details - he may be helping folks that went through troubled times similar to his own.
Thats funny, I always made the same assumption about he and Ozzie. I was also way confused that people would refer to him as L.Smith. I never if they meant him or Lee. That is crazy that he was gonna kill the GM. I've thought of killing my bosses before, but it isn't written on Wikipedia! Nice card and good luck on the 81 quest! I will have a package for you sometime soon. If you want it, I have a double now of Jared Sandberg...We finally met face to face, I was not disappointed. I've also been watching the Royals lately. Butler is on fire! Why isn't Teahen playing though? Is he hurt?
I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who thought that.
Sure, I'll take a Sandberg. You never told me whether you needed Damion Rolls or not.
Billy is finally turning into a Major League hitter. It has been fun to watch. As for Teahen, he's been sitting because of some lower back pain.
Nice return! I'll have to shoot an '87 Topps to him soon.
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