Ozzie Smith: podcast appearances and interviews

Osborne Earl Smith, born on December 26, 1954, is an American former professional baseball player known for his outstanding defensive skills. Nicknamed the Wizard of Oz, he played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. Renowned for his acrobatic athletic ability, Smith is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players of all time. He won the National League Gold Glove Award at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons and was a 15-time All-Star. Throughout his career, he accumulated 2,460 hits and 580 stolen bases and earned the Silver Slugger Award for best hitting at shortstop in 1987. Smith's early life included a move from Mobile, Alabama, to Watts, Los Angeles, at age six. He played baseball at Locke High School and later at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Drafted by the Padres, he debuted in Major League Baseball in 1978. Known for his exceptional fielding, he became famous for performing backflips at the start of games. Smith’s career highlights include helping the Cardinals win the 1982 World Series and hitting a game-winning home run in the 1985 National League Championship Series. Despite injuries and tensions later in his career, he continued earning accolades until his retirement in 1996. His number 1 jersey was retired by the Cardinals, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. He also was part of the inaugural class of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.