Ozzie Smith

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Smith brought a unique flair to the game, most famously performing backflips on special occasions before taking his position. This signature move began during the 1978 season after Padres promotion director Andy Strasberg encouraged him to flip during Fan Appreciation Day on October 1, following a discussion with veteran Gene Tenace. His nickname "the Wizard of Oz" originated from a March 1981 feature in the Yuma Daily Sun, an allusion to the 1939 film, though he was also known simply as "the Wizard." Off the field, Smith navigated significant contract disputes with Padres ownership before manager Whitey Herzog flew to San Diego in 1982 to persuade him to waive his no-trade clause. This move brought him to St. Louis for shortstop Garry Templeton, where he became a core component of the team.

In Their Own Story

The 1978 season marked Smith's major league debut on April 7, just days after spring training in Yuma, Arizona. Only 10 games into his rookie year, he made a play often cited as his greatest fielding moment against the Atlanta Braves. With two out in the fourth inning, Jeff Burroughs hit a ground ball up the middle that took a bad hop behind Smith. The shortstop dove behind second base, caught the ball with his bare hand while airborne, bounced back up, and threw Burroughs out at first. By 1985, during Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, Smith delivered a game-winning home run that elicited Jack Buck's famous "Go crazy, folks!" call. Despite suffering a rotator cuff injury earlier that season, he posted career highs in multiple offensive categories in 1987, winning the Silver Slugger Award.

Reader's Guide

Smith joined the Cardinals in 1982 and immediately helped the team win the World Series that same year. He maintained an incredible streak of Gold Glove Awards and All-Star appearances annually until 1993. His tenure ended after a difficult 1996 season marked by shoulder surgery in 1995, which kept him out for nearly three months, and developing tension with manager Tony La Russa. Upon his retirement at the end of 1996, the Cardinals retired his uniform number (No. 1). His legacy was cemented when he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2002 and later to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. Between playing seasons, Smith hosted the television show "This Week in Baseball" from 1997 to 1998.

Did You Know?

• Smith developed his quick reflexes as a child by bouncing balls off concrete steps and moving closer with each throw to reduce reaction time.
• Before doing backflips for fans, Smith only performed them during practice; he agreed to do one on October 1, 1978, after consulting teammate Gene Tenace.
• During a contract dispute in the late 1970s, Smith's agent placed a help-wanted ad stating the player wanted part-time employment, while owner Ray Kroc himself offered him a job as an assistant gardener.
• Smith was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1976 but could not agree on a contract; he was selected again by the San Diego Padres in 1977.
• In 1985, despite suffering a rotator cuff injury during the season, Smith achieved career highs in multiple offensive categories and won the Silver Slugger Award.

The Wizard's Defensive Mastery

Smith is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players of all time, winning the National League Gold Glove Award for 13 consecutive seasons. He made his major league debut in 1978 and quickly established himself as an outstanding fielder. Known for performing backflips on special occasions while taking his position at the beginning of a game, Smith won his first Gold Glove in 1980. His nickname "the Wizard of Oz" was used by the Yuma Daily Sun in March 1981, though he also became known simply as "the Wizard." In 1978, only 10 games into his rookie season, Smith made a notable play against the Atlanta Braves where he dove behind second base to catch a bad-hop ground ball and threw out Jeff Burroughs at first.

The Cardinals Era and Championship Glory

In 1982, after clashing with Padres owners, St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog flew to San Diego to persuade Smith to waive his no-trade clause. Smith was traded for shortstop Garry Templeton in 1982. Upon joining the Cardinals, he helped the team win the 1982 World Series. Three years later, during Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series, Smith hit a game-winning home run that prompted broadcaster Jack Buck's "Go crazy, folks!" call. Despite a rotator cuff injury in 1985, Smith posted career highs in multiple offensive categories in 1987 and won the Silver Slugger Award that year. He continued to earn Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances annually until 1993. After shoulder surgery in 1995 and tension with manager Tony La Russa in 1996, Smith retired at the season's end. The Cardinals subsequently retired his uniform number (No. 1).

Roots in Watts and Athletic Foundations

Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama, on December 26, 1954. When he was six years old, his family moved to Watts, Los Angeles. His father worked as a sandblaster at Brookley Air Force Base before becoming a delivery truck driver for Safeway, while his mother became an aide at a nursing home and stressed the importance of education. At age 10 in 1965, Smith endured the Watts Riots with his family. He developed quick reflexes by bouncing balls off concrete steps and doing flips into sawdust piles at a lumberyard. After attending Locke High School, where he played basketball with Marques Johnson and baseball with Eddie Murray, Smith attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, on a partial academic scholarship in 1974. There, he learned to switch-hit from coach Berdy Harr, took over the starting shortstop role after an injury to the starter, and set school records for career at-bats (754) and stolen bases (110) before graduating in 1977.

Hall of Fame Legacy and Post-Playing Life

Smith was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2002. He was also elected to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 2014. Following his retirement, Smith served as host of the television show This Week in Baseball from 1997 to 1998.