in 1981 Smith joined the front office of
San Diego Mariners, a
WHA team recently purchased by Kroc. In
1979, he succeeded Kroc as team president. Ordered to control spending, Smith enabled the
1983 free agent signing of first baseman
Steve Garvey after persuading Ace Parking and
KFMB-AM radio to invest money in the Padres, convincing them that their revenues would increase if the team succeeded. In
1984, they signed relief pitcher
Goose Gossage using a long-term
annuity at the suggestion of Dick Freeman, the Padres’ chief financial officer, an innovative move to lessen the immediate financial obligations. Padres general manager
Jack McKeon also arranged to acquire third baseman
Graig Nettles in a trade with the
New York Yankees. However, with Yankees owner
George Steinbrenner wanting to talk to team owners, not McKeon, Smith finalized the deal on the account of being Kroc's son-in-law. That season, the Padres won their first
National League pennant. Fans blamed Smith in
1987 for failing to sign free agent
Tim Raines, who was offered a two-year contract for $1.1 million annually by San Diego after he made $1.5 million the previous year with
Montreal. Smith resigned from the Padres mid-season in
1987. ==Later years==