Ozzie Smith was one of the finest shortstops of his era.
Drafted in the fourth round in 1977 by the San Diego Padres, Smith made his MLB debut a year later.
However, he spent the vast majority of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, who acquired him ahead of the 1982 season.
Smith played a key role in the team’s run to their ninth World Series title and helped guide them back to the Fall Classic in 1985 and 1987.
On Twitter, MLB posted a highlight reel of Smith’s greatest moments, honoring the legendary shortstop and Hall-of-Famer as Black History Month rolls on.
The 13-time Gold Glover.
The defensive mastermind.
The Wizard of Oz.#BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/IAiCcvsOB6—MLB (@MLB) February 13, 2023
Smith was a 15-time All-Star, a 13-time Gold Glover, a Silver Slugger, a World Series champion, and an NLCS MVP.
Though best known for his defense, his offense came in handy as well.
After the Cardinals lost Vince Coleman in the ’85 NLCS, Smith stepped up and hit a walk-off home run in Game 5 to put St. Louis ahead in the series 3-2, prompting one of the most famous calls from legendary broadcaster Jack Buck, who shouted “Go crazy folks!”
Smith retired after the 1996 season, but his iconic No. 1 is retired by the Cardinals and the legendary shortstop is also a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame.
For his career, Smith posted a 76.9 WAR, hit for a lifetime average of .262, and stole 580 bases.
Interestingly enough, the 15-time All-Star only hit 28 home runs in his career.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002 and is considered one of the greatest players in Cardinals history.
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Cardinals Extend A Longtime Executive
