Ozzie Smith

Osborne Earl “Ozzie” Smith (December 26, 1954-) was a magician at the shortstop position for the San Diego Padres (1978-1981) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1982-1996) wowing fans and inspiring a generation of future shortstops. The Wizard of Oz’ amazing agility and acrobatic plays helped him win a record 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, leading the National League seven times in fielding percentage and also garnered him 15 All-Star selections. Smith’s eight errors in 1991 remains a National League record of fewest in a season. Ozzie helped guide the Cardinals to three NL pennants during the 1980s, capturing the 1982 World Series in his first season with the Redbirds. Quite possible the greatest shortstop in the history of the game defensively, Ozzie hit one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history in Game 5 of the NLCS in the ninth-inning to beat the Dodgers. In 1992, Smith collected both his 2000^th hit and 500^th stolen base. Ozzie Smith finished his career with a .262 batting average, 2,450 hits, 1,257 runs, 793 RBI and 580 stolen bases. Osborne Earl “Ozzie” Smith was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

• The Story of the 1979 Baseball Card Set