Ozzie Smith Biography

Fast Facts

• The St․ Louis Cardinals retired his number in 1996, the same year that he retired from the team
• Set major league records for his position in most assists, most double plays, most total chances accepted, most years with 500 or more assists and most years leading the league in assists and chances accepted
• Played baseball alongside future Hall of Famer Eddie Murray at Locke High School
• The San Diego Padres selected him in the fourth round of the 1977 draft
• As a child, in addition to playing baseball, he enjoyed doing flips into piles of sawdust at a local lumberyard
• Quote: "I didn't want to be one of many, which you certainly are if you're in the norm․ But the guys that make it to the Hall of Fame are one of a few․"
• Quote: "I think of myself as an artist on the field․ Every game I look for a chance to do something that the fans have never seen before․"
• Quote: "When you're playing you want to be considered the best at what you do․ I went about doing that, setting myself apart from the rest of the crowd․"
• Best known as a shortstop for the St․ Louis Cardinals
• Started his MLB career playing for the San Diego Padres