You didn’t have to love baseball to love Ozzie Smith.
All you had to do was see him field a ground ball — and suddenly, you were hooked.
He wasn’t just a shortstop, he was a performer, an acrobat, a magician with a glove.
Every game felt like a highlight reel waiting to happen — and more often than not, Ozzie delivered.
13 Gold Gloves.
15 All-Star selections.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
What made him unforgettable was how he made defense look like an art form.
He’d dive to his left, barehand a bouncing ball, spin in the air mid-throw — and somehow nail the runner at first like it was no big deal.
He made plays no one else would even attempt… and made them look easy.
And then, of course, there was the backflip.
The most joyful entrance in sports — a flip, a smile, and a sold-out Busch Stadium already on its feet before the first pitch.
Ozzie played with flair, but it never felt flashy.
He earned that style through grit, work ethic, and consistency.
He wasn’t a power hitter — but when the moment came, he could still make magic with the bat.
Just ask Dodgers fans about Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS — the day Ozzie hit the first postseason home run of his career… from the left side… to win the game.
“Go crazy, folks!”
One of the most iconic calls — and moments — in Cardinals history.
But beyond the plays and the trophies, Ozzie represented something bigger in St. Louis.
Energy, positivity, and loyalty.
He brought life to the infield and leadership to the clubhouse.
He helped usher in the Whiteyball era — a brand of baseball built on speed, defense, and heart.
From 1982 to 1996, he was the face of the Cardinals.
A World Series champ, a fan favorite, and a player that even opposing teams couldn’t help but admire.
And when he finally hung up his cleats, he did so as the greatest defensive shortstop the game has ever seen.
He didn’t need 500 home runs or a .300 average to be a Hall of Famer.
He flipped his way into Cooperstown with glove, grit, and greatness.
Forever The Wizard.
Forever a Cardinal.
