Ozzy in Cooperstown

[Guest redbaron51]

Jul 28) COOPERSTOWN, New York (Ticker) -- With a book of a fairy tale in hand, Ozzie Smith lived out a dream Sunday.

 

Smith, whose spectacular defense is the barometer by which all shortstops are judged, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in an emotional ceremony.

 

Known as the "Wizard of Oz" for his acrobatic style and effervescent personality, Smith was elected to baseball's shrine in his first year of eligibility. Named on all but 39 of the 472 ballots, Smith was just the 32nd player to make it on his initial try.

 

Holding the book "The Wizard of Oz," Smith often made references to the famous story, noting that he needed the brain of the scarecrow, the heart of the tin man and the courage of the lion to make it through his baseball odyssey.

 

Smith thanked many of his colleagues throughout his 30-minute speech, offering a special praise for the fans.

 

"It is almost impossible task to express a journey that took almost 20 years to complete," Smith said. "I'd like to express to all of those baseball fans who understand the true significance that this sport has on our American culture."

 

Before an estimated crowd of 19,000 that included 47 Hall of Famers, Smith showed a baseball cut in half to emphasize the simple core.

 

"This core weighs less than an ounce represents the core of my quest. All journeys begin with a dream of what one might do," Smith said. "That's what the scarecrow wanted most from the Wizard of Oz -- a mind to think and dream."

 

Smith was most emotional at the beginning of his speech after his son, Dustin, read the words on the plaque that will be displayed in the hallowed hall.

 

A switch-hitting 15-time All-Star who amassed 580 stolen bases for San Diego and St. Louis between 1978-96, Smith was best known for his incredible defense, which resulted in 13 Gold Glove Awards.

 

"My glove has given me much, the ability to give back," Smith said. "That is the greatest trophy on my mantle. That is where it will remain."

 

He also gained recognition for a game-winning home run in the 1985 National League Championship Series and his ability to do a backflip on his way onto the field.

 

Among shortstops, Smith ranks first all time with 8,375 assists and 1,590 double plays. He is second with 2,511 games played and a .978 fielding percentage.

 

"He made scores of plays I didn't see other shortstops reach," said Dave Winfield, a former teammate of Smith's.

 

Smith had 2,460 hits, scored 1,257 runs and served as one of the catalysts for the Cardinals during the 1980s and 1990s. He was acquired by St. Louis for shortstop Garry Templeton following the 1981 season.

 

With Smith at the middle of the infield, the Cardinals won four National League East Division titles, three pennants and the one World Series between 1982-96.

 

In the mid-1980s, Smith teamed with Vince Coleman to form one of the most exciting speed tandems in the game. But he also hit one of the more unlikely postseason home runs ever.

 

In Game Five of the 1985 NLCS, he lined a game-winning shot off Los Angeles' Tom Niedenfuer. His first career lefthanded home run helped him to MVP honors that series.

 

The Cardinals went on to lose a memorable seven-game World Series to the Kansas City Royals.

 

Smith began his career with the Padres but never hit higher than .258 in four years with San Diego. Following the 1981 season, Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog lobbied for the acquisition of the light-hitting shortstop, who went to St. Louis in the winter of 1981 to work on his batting.

 

In his early days with the Cardinals, Smith received $2 from Herzog for every ground ball he hit and had to pay him $1 for each fly ball, a wager that helped him in the long run.

 

In 1985, Smith hit a then-career-high .276. He dipped below the .270 mark just once again through 1993.

 

And when Smith reached base, he was extremely dangerous. He twice recorded 57 steals and had more than 30 in 11 different seasons.

 

While Smith was the only player being inducted, Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas received the Ford Frick Award and Detroit columnist Joe Falls will be given the J.G. Taylor Spink Award.

 

Kalas, who has called baseball for more than four decades, has been the voice of the Phillies since 1971. Blessed with a powerful but soothing voice that is known not only in Pennsylvania but nationwide, he has called more than 5,000 Phillies games and spent 27 years working with Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn.

 

"Thank you so much to the Philadelphia sports fans, the most passionate sports fans in America, for sharing in a day I will never forget," Kalas said.

 

Falls, 74, spent more than 50 years covering baseball. He arrived in Detroit in 1953 and spent time with the Detroit Times, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News.

 

 

give props to the Wizard of Oz to make it to the baseball hall of fame

[Guest Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye]

He is indeed one of the few things that is "right" in sports today.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

He is indeed one of the few things that is "right" in sports today.

Why exactly? For the most part you don't hear about alot of athletes being trouble makers. It's just that the media covers the one's that are.

[Guest bob_barron]

I always loved Ozzie.

 

His last game was against the Braves and I got goosebumps hearing the ovation he got in his last game

[Guest meanmaisch]

It's great to see the Wizard in the hall, but as a Phillies fan, it was even better to see Harry the K make it in. He's probably the one thing that remains excellent in the Phillies organization year after year. Nothing could beat watching a ballgame that he and Richie Ashburn called. They were the best announcing combo in the baseball.

[Guest alkeiper]

I'm happy to see both Ozzie and Kalas in. Both are class acts.

[Guest DrEvil]

It's good to see someone go to the hall for defensive excellence. Too many times it's strictly the power numbers that decide whether or not a player is hof material.

[Guest Some Guy]

Ozzie deserves it. the guy taught himself to field witha rubber ball and a paper bag for a glove. He would spend hours throwing the ball off a wall or in teh air and catching it. sometimes with his eyes closed or in twilight just to make it more difficult.

 

Hard work does pay off. I think this means that Omar Vizquel is going in too.

[Guest alkeiper]

Omar Vizquel? He's not half the fielder Ozzie was, and his hitting numbers aren't even as good as Ozzie's when you take era/ballpark into account. Ozzie Smith isn't in because he was a good fielder, he's in because he was the BEST. Ever.

[Guest meanmaisch]

I don't see Vizquel in the hall either. He's a great player, but his stats aren't good enough and he plays in a time in which the three best shortstops in the league are ahead of him by leaps and bounds in all major offensive skills.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but I think Pete Rose needs to eventually find his way into the Hall of Fame.

[Guest alkeiper]

I don't think that's gonna happen for a while. Even if he were removed from the ineligible list, there'd be a large number of sportswriters who are gonna say "I don't care, he bet on baseball," and vote against him.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Omar Vizquel? He's not half the fielder Ozzie was, and his hitting numbers aren't even as good as Ozzie's when you take era/ballpark into account. Ozzie Smith isn't in because he was a good fielder, he's in because he was the BEST. Ever.

You can't say Vizquel is a HOFer until is career is over. Right know if he plays 4 more years ,he's on pace to have a better average, more hits, more hr's,more RBI's, and more doubles than Ozzie Smith. Not to mention a better fielding %.

 

Vizquel would not make it if he retired after this year. But he's on pace to have better numbers than Smith career wise. Obviously that can chance but don't be so quick to shut the door on Vizquel until his career is over.