PHOENIX — Texas Rangers reliever Will Smith was about to light up a cigar for the third straight World Series.
Yes, the third straight World Series.
Smith is in a group of one in professional sports, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com. He is the first player in MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL history to appear in at least one game (regular or postseason) with three different championship winning teams in three consecutive seasons.
Smith claimed a World Series ring with the 2021 Atlanta Braves, 2022 Houston Astros and 2023 Rangers, who won their first World Series title on Wednesday night with a 5-0 Game 5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Even Smith can’t quite believe his good fortune.
“I don’t think my mind is quite wrapped around it yet,” Smith said in a beer-and-champagne-soaked clubhouse at Chase Field. “It’s pretty cool. I mean these are the things you want to have, the champagne showers. So, yeah, this is what you play for.”
Smith had three distinct campaigns that led him to his three rings.
The Atlanta Braves signed him in 2020 to a three-year, $39 million deal to be their closer. He was coming off a 23-save season and an All-Star Game appearance under current Rangers manager Bruce Bochy with San Francisco Giants.
He had 37 saves in 2021 and had an exceptional postseason, as he went 2-0 with six saves and didn’t give up a run. He was on the mound when the Braves beat the Houston Astros in Game 6.
Which made his migration to Houston in 2022 all the more ironic. The Braves traded Smith to Houston for Jake Odorizzi at the 2022 trade deadline. Smith didn’t save any regular-season games for the Astros, but he worked in a set-up role. He was on the World Series roster, but he didn’t pitch.
But, as the Astros won their title, he became the 10th player to win back-to-back World Series with different teams.
He ended up with the Rangers on a free-agent contract right as Spring Training started. Bochy said at the time that he couldn’t believe Smith was still on the market. Smith ended up with 22 saves in the regular season, but ultimately lost that role to Jose Leclerc.
He appeared in five postseason games for the Rangers.
As he lit that cigar, he thought about how his started — and how it ended.
“It felt like a normal day,” Smith said. “My son woke me up at 5 a.m. and I started my day as a dad and now I’m a World Series champion.”
For the third straight time.
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