After the first game of the 1984 National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field, the San Diego Padres physically removed Smith, then working for the "Hartford Courant", from the visitors' clubhouse despite a National League rule requiring equal access to all properly accredited journalists during the playoffs. San Diego first baseman Steve Garvey left the clubhouse, told her she still had a job to do, and proceeded with an interview. Newly appointed Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth declared a new rule the next day requiring equal access for all major league locker rooms.