Ozzie Smith Former American Professional Baseball

Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith (born December 26, 1954) is a former American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Nicknamed "The Wizard", Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball (MLB), winning the National League (NL) Gold Glove Award for play at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons. A 15-time All-Star, Smith accumulated 2,460 hits and 580 stolen bases during his career, and won the NL Silver Slugger Award as the best hitter at shortstop in 1987.

No one was better than Ozzie Smith when it came to playing shortstop.

Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama, but his family moved to the Watts (a neighborhood in southern Los Angeles), California, when he was six years old. While participating in childhood athletic activities, Smith developed quick reflexes; he went on to play baseball in high school and college. Drafted as an amateur player by the San Diego Padres, Smith made his Major League Baseball debut in 1978. Smith quickly established himself as an outstanding fielder, he later became known for performing backflips on special occasions, while running out to the shortstop position. In 1980, Smith won his first Gold Glove award and then in the 1981 MLB season, he made his first All-Star Game Appearance. When conflict with Padres' ownership developed, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for shortstop Garry Templeton in 1982.

Upon joining the Cardinals, Smith helped the team win the 1982 World Series. Three years later his game-winning home run during Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series prompted broadcaster Jack Buck's "Go crazy, folks!" play-by-play call. Despite a rotator cuff injury during the 1985 season, Smith posted career highs in multiple offensive categories in 1987. Smith continued to earn Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances on an annual basis until 1993. Later in the 1995 season, Smith had shoulder surgery and was out nearly three months. After tension between Smith and his new manager Tony La Russa developed in 1996, Smith retired at season's end, and his uniform number (# 1) was subsequently retired by the Cardinals. Smith served as host of the television show This Week in Baseball from 1997 to 1999, and continues to be an entrepreneur in a variety of business ventures.

courtesy of en.wiki