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Who was nicknamed Skates?
Some are saying Lonnie Smith. Others are saying Willie McGee.
Which one is correct?
r/Esteemed Rat
Lonnie Smith. Sounds unbelievable. But he kept breaking his shoe string when trying to stop to catch the ball causing him to fall down like had lost one of his skates.
Lonnie Smith was without question the offensive catalyst that propelled the Cardinals to their 9th world championship. Smith received 218 pts. and placed second to Dale Murphy’s 283 pts. in the ’82 NL MVP voting. Along with Bruse Sutter, “Skates” was the key to the promised land despite coming to the Cardinals with a first rate oven mitt in LF…
Speaking of Willie McGee and nicknames, I remember Howard Cosell saying he reminded him of E.T. You know, the Extra-Terrestrial movie star. I think it was during one of the playoff or World Series games in 82.
I’m reasonably sure Cosell’s comparison came during ABC’s coverage during the 3 game sweep of the Joe Torre led Braves in the best of 5 NLCS. NBC covered that season’s WS. There was also a joke during that season’s baseball playoffs as a result of Willie holding up at 3B for a triple when he clearly could have easily scored an inside the park HR had he been watching the 3B coach who was fervently waving him home. The joke was, “What’s the difference between Willie McGee and E.T?…Willie McGee only made it to 3B…E.T. made it home”…Willie later scored easily on a sac-fly in that inning.
I have never heard the nickname “Skates” being applied to Willie McGee. Lonnie Smith was “Skates”, going back to his days in Philadelphia. When we got him I recall reading a Sporting News columnist who wrote (paraphrasing), “Cardinal fans will watch Lonnie Smith run, and fall down.”
Smith was certainly the biggest improvement to that 1982 championship team. A very talented player who had some personal issues. Still he got another ring in 1985 when the Royals upset our club, and had some good seasons in Atlanta later.
Smith’s APBA card had “Skates” as the nickname as well.
Yeah, there was no lack of first rate footwork with McGee. He was a 3 time GG winner at a time when the competition for that award included names such as Eric Davis, Andre Dawson and Dale Murphy. Willie could chase down the baseball and squeeze it for the out with the best of them.
Willie could chase down the baseball and squeeze it for the out with the best of them.
Gorman Thomas and the spirit of Kirby Puckett give this a worldly serious tip of the cap.
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