Ozzie Smith
From SoSH
Ozzie Smith
| Born: | December 26, 1954 |
| Birthplace: | Mobile, Alabama |
| Height: | 5' 11" |
| Weight: | 150 lbs |
| Bats: | Switch |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | 1977: 4th Round by the San Diego Padres |
| College: | California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo |
| High School: | Locke High School (CA) |
| Teams: | San Diego Padres 1978-1981 St. Louis Cardinals 1982-1996 |
Contents |
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Overall Career
Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith (born December 26, 1954, in Mobile, AL), known as “The Wizard of Oz,” combined athletic ability with acrobatic skill to become one of the game’s great defensive shortstops. In 19 seasons with the Padres and Cardinals, the 13-time Gold Glove Award winner set major league shortstop records for assists, double plays and total chances. He would develop into an offensive weapon, finishing with over 2,400 hits and 500 stolen bases. His ninth-inning home run won the fifth game of the 1985 National League Championship Series.
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Awards
- Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers in 2002 (91.74%)
- 1978 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
- 1985 NLCS MVP
- 1987 National League Silver Slugger - SS
- 1989 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
- 1994 Branch Rickey Award
- 1995 Roberto Clemente Award
- 15-time National League All-Star (1981-1992, 1994-1996)
- 13-time National Gold Glove - SS (1979-1992)
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Achievements
- NL At-Bats Leader (1981)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1987)
- 50-Stolen Base Seasons: 2 (1980 & 1988)
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Trivia
- Ozzie Smith was a high school baseball teammate of longtime big league first baseman Eddie Murray.
- Won a World Series Ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982
- His son Nikko was a contestant on the reality show "American Idol" in 2005.
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Transactions
- June 8, 1976: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 7th round of the 1976 amateur draft, but did not sign.
- June 7, 1977: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 4th round of the 1977 amateur draft.
- December 10, 1981: Traded by the San Diego Padres with a player to be named later and Steve Mura to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later, Sixto Lezcano, and Garry Templeton. The San Diego Padres sent Al Olmsted (February 19, 1982) to the St. Louis Cardinals to complete the trade. The St. Louis Cardinals sent Luis DeLeon (February 19, 1982) to the San Diego Padres to complete the trade.
- November 2, 1992: Granted Free Agency.
- December 6, 1992: Signed as a Free Agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
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External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
- Ozzie Smith: Hall of Fame Page
