Home run heroics pull Smith out of the shadows

Quiet by nature, the Dodgers’ catcher finds new notoriety and feels love from fans.

- By Jack HarRIs

DODGERS CATCHER Will Smith found a new job Wednesday: serving chicken fingers to the customers.

(Photographs by CARLIN STIEHL For The Times)

A block away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday morning, a once-overlooked Dodgers star embraced his own newfound notoriety.

Four days after slugging the game-winning home run in Game 7 of the World Series, Will Smith was serenaded by hundreds of fans at a Raising Cane’s promotional event at the intersection of Sunset and Highland, taking a makeshift stage to chants of “We want Will!” from a crowd of Dodgers faithful forever indebted to his championship-clinching swing.

“To feel the love from all the fans, it’s just cool,” Smith said. “It’s fun celebrating with these people, to see what the Dodgers mean to them.”

For years, Smith has largely felt that love from the shadows of the Dodgers’ star-studded roster — a three-time All-Star, a generational talent at his position, but also an outshined member of the team’s big-name core.

That officially changed this week after he hit the first game-winning, extra-inning home run in the seventh game of a Fall Classic.

His name has now joined the realm of October legends. His place in Dodger history elevated to virtually immortal status.

“That’s crazy,” Smith said, when informed Wednesday of the history his 11th-inning swing made. “I never would have thought that [would happen]. But yeah, just glad I was able to get it done for the guys, and for the city. ... The passion that these fans have, that’s what motivates me most.”