Ozzie Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ozzie Smith
Smith with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1983
Shortstop
Born: (1954-12-26) December 26, 1954 (age 70) Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
debut
April 7, 1978, for the San Diego Padres
Last appearance
September 29, 1996, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average	.262
Hits	2,460
Home runs	28
Runs batted in	793
Stolen bases	580
Teams
San Diego Padres (1978–1981) St. Louis Cardinals (1982–1996)
Career highlights and awards
15× All-Star (1981–1992, 1994–1996) World Series champion (1982) NLCS MVP (1985) 13× Gold Glove Award (1980–1992) Silver Slugger Award (1987) Roberto Clemente Award (1995) St. Louis Cardinals No. 1 retired St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2002
Vote	91.7% (first ballot)

Ozzie Smith (born December 26, 1954) is a famous former professional baseball player from America. He was known as "The Wizard of Oz" because of his amazing plays. Ozzie played as a shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball (MLB).

He won the National League Gold Glove Award for being the best defensive shortstop for 13 years in a row! Ozzie was also chosen for the All-Star Game 15 times. During his career, he had 2,460 hits and stole 580 stolen bases. In 1987, he won the Silver Slugger Award for being the best hitter at his position.

Ozzie Smith was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, the very first year he was eligible. He was also part of the first group of players inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

Ozzie was born in Mobile, Alabama. When he was six, his family moved to Watts, Los Angeles. He was very quick and had great reflexes as a child. He played baseball at Locke High School and then at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The Padres drafted him, and he started playing in MLB in 1978.

He quickly became known as an amazing fielder. He even started doing backflips on special days before games, which fans loved! Ozzie won his first Gold Glove Award in 1980 and played in his first All-Star Game in 1981.

Ozzie had some disagreements with the Padres' owners. So, the Cardinals' manager, Whitey Herzog, went to San Diego to convince Ozzie to join his team. Herzog made Ozzie feel wanted, and Ozzie agreed to be traded to the Cardinals in 1982.

With the Cardinals, Ozzie helped the team win the 1982 World Series in his first year. A few years later, in 1985, he hit a game-winning home run in the playoffs. This led to a famous radio call: "Go crazy, folks!" Even with a shoulder injury in 1985, Ozzie had some of his best hitting stats in 1987. He kept winning Gold Gloves and going to All-Star Games until 1993.

In 1995, Ozzie had shoulder surgery. He retired after the 1996 season due to some tension with his new manager, Tony La Russa. The Cardinals then retired his uniform number (No. 1) to honor him. After retiring, Ozzie hosted the TV show This Week in Baseball for a couple of years.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Ozzie Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama. He was one of six children. When he was six, his family moved to Watts, Los Angeles. His mom taught him how important education was and encouraged him to follow his dreams.

Ozzie played many sports when he was young, but baseball was his favorite. He practiced his quick reflexes by bouncing a ball off steps. He also used to do flips into sawdust piles at a lumberyard, which was like practice for his famous backflips!

When Ozzie was in junior high, his parents divorced. He loved baseball so much that he would ride the bus for almost an hour to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play. At Locke High School, Ozzie played on both the basketball and baseball teams. He played with future NBA player Marques Johnson and future Hall of Famer Eddie Murray.

After high school, Ozzie went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1974. He earned a scholarship and joined the baseball team. His coach taught him how to switch-hit, meaning he could hit from both sides of the plate. When the team's starting shortstop got hurt, Ozzie took over. He became an All-American player and set school records for at-bats and stolen bases before graduating in 1977.

Starting His Professional Career

Ozzie Smith was playing semi-pro baseball in Iowa when the Detroit Tigers drafted him in 1976. But they couldn't agree on a contract. Ozzie wanted a $10,000 signing bonus, but the Tigers offered less. So, Ozzie went back to college.

In 1977, the San Diego Padres drafted him. This time, he agreed to a contract that included a $5,000 signing bonus. Ozzie spent his first year of professional baseball in 1977 with a Class A team called the Walla Walla Padres.

Making His MLB Debut

In 1978, Ozzie was invited to the San Diego Padres' spring training. His manager, Alvin Dark, told reporters that the shortstop job was Ozzie's to lose. This gave Ozzie a lot of confidence. Even though Dark was fired during training, Ozzie made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 7, 1978.

It didn't take long for Ozzie to show off his amazing fielding skills. Just 10 games into his rookie season, he made a play that many consider his best. A batter hit a ground ball up the middle. Ozzie dove to his left, and the ball took a bad bounce. But he caught it with his bare hand while in the air! He then quickly got up and threw the runner out at first base.

Ozzie Smith playing for the San Diego Padres in 1978.

During the 1978 season, Ozzie also started his famous backflip tradition. The Padres' promotions director asked him to do a backflip for fans on Fan Appreciation Day. Ozzie talked to a teammate, Gene Tenace, and decided to do it. The fans loved it! Ozzie finished his first season with a .258 batting average and great fielding. He came in second for the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award.

In 1979, Ozzie struggled with his hitting at first. He didn't get a hit in his first 32 tries. He finished the season with a low batting average of .211. Off the field, Ozzie and his agent had problems with the Padres' owners. There were contract disagreements, and at one point, Ozzie's agent even put a "help wanted" ad in the newspaper for Ozzie!

Despite these issues, Ozzie was becoming famous for his defense. In 1980, he set a record for most assists by a shortstop in a single season (621). He also won his first Gold Glove Award that year, starting a streak of 13 in a row. People started calling him "the Wizard of Oz" because of his magical plays. In 1981, Ozzie made his first All-Star Game appearance.

The Big Trade to St. Louis

While Ozzie was having problems with the Padres, the St. Louis Cardinals were also unhappy with their shortstop, Garry Templeton. Templeton had some issues with fans and his manager. The Cardinals' manager, Whitey Herzog, wanted to trade Templeton.

At a baseball meeting, Herzog talked to the Padres' General Manager, Jack McKeon. Even though McKeon had said Ozzie was not available for trade before, the Padres were now so upset with Ozzie's agent that they were willing to trade him. They agreed on a trade that would send Ozzie to the Cardinals and Templeton to the Padres.

Ozzie had a "no trade" clause in his contract, meaning he could refuse the trade. At first, he wanted to stay in San Diego. But Herzog flew to San Diego to meet with Ozzie. Ozzie later said, "Whitey told me that with me playing shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, we could win the pennant. He made me feel wanted." This convinced Ozzie that St. Louis was the right place for him.

Becoming a St. Louis Cardinals Star

On December 10, 1981, Ozzie Smith was officially traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Herzog believed Ozzie could improve his hitting by hitting more ground balls. He even made a fun bet with Ozzie: if Ozzie hit a fly ball, he owed Herzog a dollar; if he hit a ground ball, Herzog owed him a dollar. Ozzie won almost $300 from Herzog that season!

Winning the World Series in 1982

The 1982 season started great. Herzog's new team won 12 games in a row in April and finished first in their division. Herzog said Ozzie's defense was as valuable as a player who drove in two runs a game.

Ozzie became a father in 1982 when his son, Nikko, was born. He also became good friends with teammate Willie McGee. Ozzie played in the postseason for the first time when the Cardinals faced the Atlanta Braves. He helped the Cardinals sweep the series in three games.

Just as Herzog had predicted, Ozzie was the starting shortstop in the 1982 World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Ozzie scored three runs, had five hits, and didn't make any errors. In Game 7, with the Cardinals behind, Ozzie started a rally with a base hit. The Cardinals went on to win 6–3, becoming World Series champions!

In 1983, Ozzie signed a new contract for $1 million a year. He was also voted the starting shortstop for the All-Star Game for the first time. He won his fourth Gold Glove Award that year. In 1984, Ozzie broke his wrist after being hit by a pitch. He returned after a month, but the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs.

The "Go Crazy, Folks!" Home Run

In 1985, Ozzie had a .276 batting average and stole 31 bases. The Cardinals won 101 games and made the playoffs again. They faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. In Game 5, the score was tied in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ozzie, who had never hit a home run batting left-handed in his career, hit a walk-off home run! This ended the game with a 3–2 Cardinals victory.

Ozzie said he was just trying to get an extra-base hit. This home run led to the famous "Go crazy folks!" call from broadcaster Jack Buck. Cardinals fans later voted it the greatest moment in Busch Stadium history.

The Cardinals went on to the 1985 World Series against the Kansas City Royals. Ozzie's defense was still amazing, even though his hitting wasn't as strong in the Series. The Royals won the Series in seven games.

What many didn't know was that Ozzie had torn his rotator cuff (a shoulder injury) earlier in the 1985 season. He chose not to have surgery and instead built up his arm strength. He played through the pain so opponents wouldn't try to take advantage of his injury.

Because of his injury, Ozzie let his four-year-old son, Nikko, do his traditional Opening Day backflip in 1986. Later that season, Ozzie made another incredible play. He dove forward with his back to home plate, catching a fly ball while flying over his left fielder, avoiding a collision by inches!

Career Highs and Continued Success

In 1987, Ozzie started hitting second in the batting order full-time. He had a great year, with a .303 batting average, 43 stolen bases, 75 RBIs, and 104 runs scored. He won the Silver Slugger Award for shortstops. He also won his eighth straight Gold Glove Award. Ozzie was the top vote-getter for the 1987 All-Star Game.

The Cardinals made the playoffs again and beat the San Francisco Giants in the 1987 National League Championship Series. They then faced the Minnesota Twins in the 1987 World Series. The home team won every game, and the Twins won the series. Ozzie finished second in the MVP voting that year. After the 1987 season, Ozzie signed the largest contract in the National League at $2.34 million.

Even though the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs for the rest of the 1980s, Ozzie continued to be an All-Star and win Gold Gloves. He was a national figure and even appeared on the cover of GQ magazine in 1988.

Later Career and Retirement

Joe Torre became Ozzie's new manager in 1990. The team didn't reach the playoffs during Torre's time. In 1992, Ozzie reached some big milestones. He stole his 500th career base and got his 2,000th hit. He even appeared in an episode of The Simpsons called "Homer at the Bat". Ozzie became a free agent in 1992 but re-signed with the Cardinals.

Ozzie won his last Gold Glove in 1992. His 13 consecutive Gold Gloves at shortstop in the National League is still a record! In 1993, he didn't make the All-Star team, which was rare for him. He missed almost three months of the 1995 season after shoulder surgery. Ozzie was also recognized for his community service, winning the Roberto Clemente Award in 1995.

As Ozzie entered the 1996 season, Tony La Russa became the new Cardinals manager. The team also got a new shortstop, Royce Clayton. La Russa wanted an open competition for the shortstop spot. Ozzie played very well in spring training, but La Russa decided to give Clayton most of the playing time. Ozzie was not happy about this.

Ozzie missed the first month of the season with a hamstring injury. He still felt upset with La Russa. They talked, and Ozzie decided to announce his retirement at the end of the season. He held a press conference at Busch Stadium on June 19, 1996.

Ozzie Smith's number 1 was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996.

As Ozzie played his final season, many teams honored him. He received a standing ovation at the 1996 All-Star Game. On September 28, 1996, the Cardinals held a special ceremony at Busch Stadium to retire his uniform number (No. 1). Ozzie performed his famous backflip one last time for the fans.

In the playoffs, the Cardinals first played the San Diego Padres. Ozzie started Game 2 and helped his team win. The Cardinals swept the series. Then they faced the Atlanta Braves in the 1996 National League Championship Series. Ozzie played in some games, but the Cardinals lost the series. On October 17, Ozzie flied out while pinch-hitting in Game 7, which was the very last play of his amazing career.

Ozzie finished his career with many honors. He received over 27.5 million votes in All-Star balloting during his career. He also holds the record for the most MLB at-bats without hitting a grand slam.

Life After Baseball

After retiring, Ozzie Smith became the host of the TV show This Week in Baseball from 1997 to 1998. He also worked as a color commentator for Cardinals games on local TV. Later, he worked for CNN-SI. After Tony La Russa retired as Cardinals manager in 2011, Ozzie became active with the team again, helping as a special instructor during spring training.

Ozzie Smith fielding a ground ball at Doubleday Field in 2002.

On January 8, 2002, Ozzie learned he had been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first try! He received 91.7% of the votes. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 28, 2002. During his speech, he compared his baseball journey to the characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. A few days later, a statue of Ozzie was unveiled at Busch Stadium. The sculptor, Harry Weber, showed Ozzie stretched out horizontally, fielding a baseball, because he spent "half of his career up in the air."

Ozzie has also been involved in many businesses. He opened a restaurant and sports bar, started a youth sports academy, and invested in a grocery store. His youth academy is still open today. He has appeared in many commercials and even wrote a children's book in 2006. He also launched his own brand of salad dressing in 2008.

Besides the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ozzie has received many other honors. In 1999, he was ranked number 87 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He was also inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was part of the first group of players inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum.

In March 2023, a statue of Ozzie was rededicated at his old college, Cal Poly, at the entrance to their baseball stadium. Ozzie has also been helping to grow the game of golf, especially for young people, as president of the Gateway PGA REACH Foundation in St. Louis since 2010.

Ozzie Smith's Career Stats

Hitting Statistics

Fielding Statistics

Personal Life

Ozzie Smith has three children with his former wife, Denise: sons Nikko and Dustin, and a daughter named Taryn. His son Nikko was one of the top ten finalists on American Idol in 2005. In 2012, Ozzie sold all of his Gold Glove Awards at an auction for over $500,000.

Ozzie still lives in St. Louis and is often seen around the city. He even played the role of the Wizard in a summer production of The Wizard of Oz at The Muny in 2001. He hosts "Cardinals Insider," a weekly TV show about the baseball team. Since 2016, he has opened several health clinics in Missouri.

See also

In Spanish: Ozzie Smith para niños

• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career games played leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
• List of St. Louis Cardinals team records