The roster of award winners at the annual Chicago Pitch & Hit Club banquet often includes a Joliet-area connection.

Never, though, has there been one with a story to tell quite like his.

Sean Smith, who was selected out of high school at Joliet Township by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round of the 2000 draft, has played professionally for 15 seasons. Most recently, he has been in the independent Atlantic League. His “Hop Seen ’Round the World,” which has drawn nearly 2 million hits on YouTube, merited his selection for Pitch & Hit’s Ron Santo Inspiration Award at Sunday’s banquet.

Late last September, Smith’s team – the York Revolution – was trailing, 2-1, in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 3 in the semifinal playoff series against Lancaster. Smith belted a game-tying home run to left field. York won that game to take a 2-1 lead in the five-game series, although Lancaster would win in five.

No matter. The aftermath of Smith’s home run trot – make that, home run hop – captivated the sports world. After knocking the ball out of the park, Smith tore the patella in his right knee when he had about 270 feet remaining as he rounded the bases.

HOPPING THE BASES

“I was making the turn and slipped and fell on first base,” he said. “I fell out of nowhere, super hard. When I went to stand up, my knee stayed down and my foot stayed in the dirt. I went from the ultimate high of hitting the home run in a playoff game to that.”

Smith has had knee injuries, but never like that, he said. “I felt the pain. I could feel the skin behind my knee, but otherwise, it felt like an empty space,” he said. “But all the stars lined up. If that was the last time I ever swung a bat, it would be awesome. I knew right there everything was OK.

“I thought about crawling around the base, but I said, ‘That’s not happening.’ Literally, step by step, my whole life flashed before my eyes. It was like an out-of-body experience, but I was very aware. There was some spiritual stuff happening. It was awesome.”

Smith eyed second base as he struggled to balance on his left leg, then began his one-footed hop. He heard the umpire offer assistance but heard nothing else. He declined a pinch-runner, which by league rule was legal in his situation. His right leg dangling, he was hoping the opposing second baseman and shortstop would not offer assistance. If they did, he would say no.

He got past second base, looked at third and started hopping toward it.

“All of a sudden it got so loud,” he said. “I was like, ‘This is awesome.’ I started hitting my chest. I was in my own world. Then I noticed something move and I jumped back into a state of consciousness. I was hopping along pretty good. The third base coach didn’t know what to do when I got there. It was like he saw a ghost.

“Then your boys at the plate [his teammates] are there to support you. I was so proud to be part of that. I said, ‘Guys, just don’t start jumping on me.’ It was so loud it sounded like 40,000 or 50,000 people, which I experienced when I went to a White Sox World Series game against the Astros in 2005.”

‘YOU’RE MY HERO’

Smith says he swung the bat and hit the home run, all right, but of the Hollywood-like aftermath: “Somehow, it was just supposed to happen like that. Gary Gaetti was my manager, and he and some guys on the other team said they never saw anything like that. The catcher on the other team texted me after the game, when we had just beaten them in a playoff game, and said, ‘You’re my hero.’ That brought a tear to my eye.

“I’ve played on five championship teams along the way. I’ve had cool moments, but this is the coolest moment of my career.”

I’ve known Smith since he played for Joliet Township. When he says he did the seemingly impossible for his team, his community and his family, believe him.

“I didn’t do it for the limelight,” he said. “I did it because that’s how I play ball, day in and day out. Good or bad, I give it everything I’ve got and play to win every night. I have the same mentality in my personal life, when people aren’t watching.”

As difficult as the rehab has been, it is nothing Smith cannot handle. He moved to Arizona just this week because it is more conducive to working on baseball, and rehabbing injuries, year-round. At 32 years old, he says he is in the best shape of his life and plans to continue playing for as long as someone will have him.

Meanwhile, he has more to do, with the help of his home run hop.

“This was my most fortunate situation in life,” he said. “I’ve been on Good Morning America and Yahoo Sports. I opened up SportsCenter on ESPN. Marketing people are communicating with me. They put me on major networks. Baseball America is doing a story, and I just did an interview with CBS.” He also earned a “Best Person In Sports” nod from Fox Sports Live.

And, he had the opportunity at the Pitch & Hit banquet to speak of the inspirations that Ron Santo, Ernie Banks and Jackie Robinson were.

Smith said he has formed a partnership with Enroll America.

“I’m helping spread the word about the Feb. 15 deadline for the Affordable Care Act,” he said. “The ACA brings awareness. Nobody like me with a torn patella can be denied coverage. At the end of the day, you need health coverage.

“Coming from this community, I want to help as many people as I can. I wouldn’t change anything, even before this happened.”

That’s what Sean Smith is all about. Good things are happening to a good guy.

• Dick Goss can be reached at dgoss@shawmedia.com.