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5. Ozzie Smith

5. Ozzie Smith
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: December 26, 1954 in Mobile, AL USA
  • Weight: 150 lbs.
  • Height: 5'11"
  • Bats: B
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 07, 1978
  • Final Game: September 29, 1996
  • Gold Glove - 1980
  • Gold Glove - 1981
  • Gold Glove - 1982
  • TSN All-Star - 1982
  • Gold Glove - 1983
  • Gold Glove - 1984
  • TSN All-Star - 1984
  • Gold Glove - 1985
  • NLCS MVP - 1985
  • TSN All-Star - 1985
  • Gold Glove - 1986
  • TSN All-Star - 1986
  • Gold Glove - 1987
  • Silver Slugger - 1987
  • TSN All-Star - 1987
  • Gold Glove - 1988
  • Gold Glove - 1989
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial Award - 1989
  • Gold Glove - 1990
  • Gold Glove - 1991
  • Gold Glove - 1992
  • Branch Rickey Award - 1994
  • Roberto Clemente Award - 1995
  • MVP - 1982
  • MVP - 1983
  • MVP - 1985
  • MVP - 1987
  • MVP - 1991
  • MVP - 1992
  • Rookie of the Year - 1978
 
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We bet the San Diego Padres would like to have this one back.

At the time of being traded from San Diego, Ozzie Smith was regarded as only a defensive gem that was never going to give you much in terms of offense.  While he was never going to be confused with a Cal Ripken with his bat, he did raise his Batting Average and OBP as a St. Louis Cardinal and he would slap 1,944 of his 2,460 Hits with the Redbirds.  Smith was not known for extra base hits, but once aboard the base paths he was solid with 13 straight 20 Stolen Base Seasons, with 433 in total for the team.  Smith became a good enough hitter that in 1987 he was awarded the Silver Slugger.  It is also worth noting that he didn’t Strikeout much as he would twice finish atop the National League leader board in AB per SO, was the runner up three times and finished in the top five another seven times as a Cardinal.

In terms of his defense, the legend of Ozzie Smith is more than accurate!

“The Wizard of Oz” would win 13 of his 15 Gold Gloves with the Cardinals and he was a literal human highlight reel with his defensive skills.  With St. Louis, Smith was an eight time leader at Shortstop in Total Zone Runs and is first all-time at that position.  He is also a seven time leader in Fielding Percentage and overall he was a five time National League leader (as a Cardinal) in Defensive bWAR and is first all-time, which for many makes him the greatest defensive baseball player ever.

Smith would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 on his first year of eligibility, and was also named to the inaugural Cardinals Hall of Fame Class in 2014.  Smith's #1 was retired in 1996 after his retirement.  

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Short Stop
  • Acquired: Traded from the San Diego Padres with Steve Mura and a Player to be Named Later (which would be Al Omsted) for Garry Templeton, Sixto Lezcano and a Player to be Named Later (which would be Luis DeLeon) 12/10/81.
  • Departed: Retired after the 1996 Season.
  • Games Played: 1990
  • Notable Statistics: 991 Runs Scored
    1,994 Hits
    338 Doubles
    50 Triples
    27 Home Runs
    664 Runs Batted In
    443 Stolen Bases
    .272/.350/.344 Slash Line
    66.0 bWAR

    42 Playoff Games
    14 Runs Scored
    34 Hits
    1 Double
    2 Triples
    1 Home Run
    10 Runs Batted In
    6 Stolen Bases
    .236/.325/.292 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1982)
    All-Star (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 & 1996)
    Gold Glove (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 & 1992)
    Silver Slugger (1987)
    Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (1989)
    Branch Rickey Award (1994)
    Roberto Clemente Award (1995)
    NLCS MVP (1994)
    Highest Defensive bWAR (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 & 1989)
    Most Assists (1982, 1985 & 1987)
    Most Total Zone Runs (1982)
    Most Putouts by a Shortstop (1983)
    Most Assists by a Shortstop (1982, 1987, 1988 & 1989)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Shortstop (1984, 1986, 1987 & 1991)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Shortstop (1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 & 1992)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Shortstop (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988 & 1993)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Shortstop (1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991 & 1994)

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