Ozzie Smith: The Man Who electrified Major League Baseball | Undeniable with Joe Buck

[@GregsGameRoom]

Class act. I love Ozzie! Greatest defensive shortshop EVER!

[@CrossSavedCollectibles]

Ozzie was the reason i starting watching baseball

[@RPW597]

I had the opportunity to meet and play golf with Mr Smith at a charity event. Mr Smith is an excellent golfer - I suspect he is good at everything he does as he is still a super athlete. What struck me that day was how decent and kind he was to everyone attending. Some amazing stories shared and a ton of laughs. This interview is exactly how he is in private. Great interview, hell of a ball player, Hall of Fame human being.

[@ymcairedellbball]

I got to do the same and have the same view of Ozzie. Great player and great human being. He even signed a 1982 card for my wife on the 10th tee.

[@bri-guy1778]

While I’m not surprised, this is still great to hear, thanks for sharing. His story is the most inspiring for me, and watching Ozzie play was a real treat and are my fondest of baseball memories.

[@MegaGator39]

@@ymcairedellbballyou brought a random baseball card and a sharpie to a golf outing? Interesting.

[@ymcairedellbball]

@@MegaGator39 HA! No, I knew he'd be there.

[@observer3232]

One of my daughters was in the same middle school class as one of Ozzie's kids. He made the commencement speech at the 8th grade graduation, a lot of what he spoke about in this he told the kids. Classy guy.

[@bri-guy1778]

For me the most inspiring baseball player ever. I was a lifelong Yankee fan who moved to the St. Louis viewing area in 1981. I’ll never forget hearing a sports writer saying “St. Louis fans, you are going to fall in love with Ozzie Smith.” Truer words were never spoken, he also won me over, the team won me over and I’ve been a fan ever since.

[@joshuaburba1048]

I LOVED watching Ozzie play as I grew up. He was amazing. But to watch this interview was beyond fascinating to me. I love how humble and unassuming he is. What a gentle soul, wow!

[@Krazede]

Ozzie… Your personality and demeanor is like a warm blanket on a cold afternoon on the couch! Much respect!

[@passitto86]

I grew up a Pirates fan. Next to Wille stargell, Ozzie was always my favorite player . I couldn't wait for this week in baseball to see what the wizard of Oz did next. He was truly a highlight reel.

[@mmontgomery7069]

As a Cardinals fan, it was awesome to be able to watch Ozzie in his prime. Hands down, the greatest shortstop in the history of major league baseball. Watching this, I hold a deeper respect for Ozzie even more so than before. Long live the Wizard!

[@socraticgadfly]

Ozzie was great, but as a Cards fan, he was not the greatest SS ever. Honus Wagner was, and if you don't want to go back to the pre-integration era, or the dead ball era, Cal Ripken in Ozzie's own time was better. He was the greatest defensive SS ever, of course, but that's a different thing.

[@ericerickson7544]

Ozzie Smith always had everyone on the edge of their seats waiting for him to make spectacular plays.. Congratulations Ozzie.

[@georgelewis1664]

What an outstanding , fine athlete , Ozzie is obviously equally fine ( and articulate ) as a person . What an honor and excitement it was to have seen him play .

[@moparedtn]

The older I get, the more I'm appreciating growing up when I did - because as a typical baseball-playing kid, we got to witness some of the greatest to ever play the game *the right way* - which Mr. Smith was the epitome of. He played the game the way we all were taught and wished we could - and with pure class. If only it were that way today.... but there's plenty of us still around who remember and respect. - Ed on the Ridge

[@dacryptkeeper6836]

One of my all-time favorites!!!!

[@ThomasPhelan-kx8ss]

As a hockey fan, I watch Ozzie Smith's humble demeanour and I can't help but think he's the Major League Baseball version of Wayne Gretzky ... a man who is larger than life and a true ambassador for the game and the human race.

[@tomdulle1707]

@ThomasPhelan-kx8ss Ozzie is friends with Wayne Gretzky.

[@JDubya96]

Excellent interview with a great man! My family and I were fortunate enough to see Ozzie & The Cardinals play against L.A. and Fernando Valenzuela back in July 1984. (Old Busch Stadium) Thank you for the great memories!

[@lynnhauenstein4136]

Living in St Louis, in 80s. Whitey ball...as a 20 something...McGee and Ozzie were the best. IMO...I 😮 did get to see Ozzie backflip...when taking his position... great times...when i couldn't be at BUSCH...Jack Buck had the call on the Radio...Thanks Joe.

[@redondorocket2680]

What a gentleman. Ozzie Smith was my favorite shortstop growing up. My teammates would call me "Ozzie" for my play at shortstop during my high school years. Love this guy.

[@MAC717]

Thank you Joe, those were great years!

[@paleo704]

Next interview should be John Tudor

[@harveyhoffman5477]

I enjoyed watching him play the game. I did not know how amazing of a man he is, a true TEAM player.

[@abeeiland2996]

Ozzie has been and always will be a classic example of a man all children can follow.

[@MAB1907]

Thanks for the wonderful memories !!!

[@ACMusicland]

The Wizard Of Oz, what a wonderful human being. So nice to get to hear such fantastic personal stories. Way to go, Joe!

[@jgamez5023]

I remember growing up down here in South Texas in the late 70s early 80s and everyone fighting to play shortstop were always talking about the Wizard. "I'm Ozzie Smith today! No you're not I am!" lol back and forth. So many great players in MLB that we as kids tried to emulate.

[@LouisMendoza-s1g]

Cool,what part of South Texas?,beautiful country down there

[@dhornjr1]

That last thing that Joe said sums it all up. Ozzie Smith is one helluva man.

[@jamesdavison2927]

I have the privilege and great pleasure of being a lifelong Cardinals fan Ozzie will always be in my top , short list of my all time favorite Cardinals , all time favorite baseball players in general no matter the team Ozzie gave us SO SO MANY moments of amazement and enjoyment The Wizard of Oz will ALWAYS BE ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED FIGURES IN THIS TOWN THANK YOU OZZIE Thank you , Joe , for this great interview Ozzie Jack (Joe's dad) Joe ST LOUIS ROYALTY AND TREASURES

[@lynnerose7891]

My all time favorite athlete. 🎉🎉🎉

[@rustymaximus9179]

OMG....Love Ozzie, miss those old days of baseball!

[@rmantena5954]

grat 80's cardinal baseball, Ozzie, Vince, willie, Andy, Tommy, Terry, . Some of my favorite memories.

[@skaz777]

Just AWESOME! Probably, i got to see Ozzie more than any other visiting player here in Pittsburgh, with the teams originally in the NL East before the balanced schedule and then the NL Central together. So very much respect for Ozzie here, and the Cardinals actually. Mostly for the great show, but also for giving the Pirates Van Slyke.

[@100HOLYGHOST]

What a fabulous interview. What a true legend who really was very respectful. This is a lost artform nowadays. What I would give to see this back in ALL professional sports.

[@pebmets]

As a Mets fan, always enjoyed when Ozzie came to Shea. Even though he was on the hated Cardinals at the time, it was joy to watch his defense. A great ambassador to baseball.

[@nopenoperson9591]

Ozzie remembering the Corinthian Leather in his LeBaron. 😂 Every time I see that guy, I can’t help but think about how lucky I was to have him as a local St. Louis baseball hero. Unreal defense, small ball offense master, and he did the backflip at every home game. Played the game the right way. That just made him a superhero to kids like me. Ozzie was one of my first heroes.

[@jeffdavis135]

I had good times teaching with Ozzie, Trammel,Flannery ect. San Diego School of baseball. Roger, CLUCK, thanks

[@357egs]

Awesome -- Mr. Smith and Mr. Buck. Great show.

[@cszeller2614]

I played shortstop in 9:30 9:34 9:36 9:37 9:40 9:43 high school and college. Ozzie made plays that you would dream of making. I remember him being the first to slide to a stop in the ss/3b hole to stop momentum and make the throw to first base. I remember seeing that and thinking that makes so much sense. Now all shortstops make this play. BUT, what a wonderful, humble person. Work hard to get what you want. A lesson not being taught today.

[@dougsmith6175]

Whenever I'm debating best defensive shortstops, I'm always in the Ozzie Smith corner. (My brother is a big fan of Omar Vizquel.) I think one thing people often overlook is how difficult it was to play that position on astroturf. The speed that the ball got out there and how it skipped off the surface made the things Ozzie did that much more remarkable.

[@nicholaslacovara2381]

Remember in the 80’s always watching highlights on the sports news and it almost always included a great defensive play by Ozzy Smith. But I never knew what a nice man he was or what he went through.

[@observer3232]

I was sitting in the terrace boxes Section 350, just a row above the KMOX broadcast booth when Ozzie hit the HR off Niedenfuer to win game 5 of the 85 NLCS. Maybe my favorite all time baseball moment. Nobody wanted to leave Busch Stadium.

[@donwhite3237]

Watched him in college. Phenomenal

[@michaelgreen8844]

I wish I got a chance to see the wizard in his prime but got a chance the last few years and what a classy guy. He is one of the reasons why baseball to me remains a great game worldwide. The fans in st Louis have a tremendous treasure.

[@rodolforodriguez7058]

Great man, great athlete. He was great for the Cardinals, coming from a Cubs fan! Nothing but respect!

[@SOSchangedme]

I miss the baseball from his era and players like him so badly. He definitely made it the greatest game on Earth.

[@FrankluzilliamsWilliams]

I enjoyed his whole baseball career as a Fan. I remember watching Willie McGee and the whole crew win the World Series in 1982. I also remember that series with the Kansas city Royals. I enjoyed the career of Ozzy Smith.

[@cordellsenior9935]

I lived next door to Ozzie's girlfriend in college. I Interacted with him a bit (card games and dominoes) and played against him in a "knockout'" basketball game on the outdoor campus courts. He played pickup outdoors too. He had handles, and he could shoot. I think he was an All-City point guard from Locke High in L.A. He was a regular dude in college, and he was THIS exact dude. After college, when he was playing for the Padres, me and an ex-college mate went to see him play vs. The Dodgers. We called out to him at the end of the game, above the dugout. He told us to wait for him and we met him out at the parking lot when he was done with interviews, showered and changed. I'll never forget, he was in a white suit, and he had purchased a brand new "LaBaron" automobile. It was Burgundy. He was clean and smelled good. But he was humble and just regular old "Oz". He hung with us and talked for a good 20 - 30 minutes with us and it was the last time I'd see him in life. Next thing I know he was in The World Series after crushing The Dodgers with a rare home run in a BIG playoff moment and game. Next thing I know he's going into the Hall of Fame. Next thing I know, here he is. A living legend.

[@CJIdrA]

Put all the full episodes in the playlist please

[@garylobo348]

GO CRAZY FOLKS!! GO CRAZY!!! Well I grew up in STL, and can honestly say that I am crazy... for Ozzie, and Jack & Joe Buck too.

[@tcphoto]

I grew up in St.Louis, love the Cards and listened to Jack Buck on the radio while watching the television broadcast with the sound down. Ozzie is a class act, his Gold Gloves and Silver Slugger speak for themselves. La Russa may have brought a new era of success to the Cards but he tainted his reputation with how he treated Ozzie.

[@Krazede]

I have a Friend, Tim Jones, he went to the Citadel and then was drafted to play SS for the St. Louis Cardinals…. Unfortunately Ozzie was the SS at the time for the Cards. He never got much play time and that doesn’t garner much trade interest for him. I always told him, “Hey! You made it to the Show”!

[@CrashPK77]

Even as a lifelong Cubs fan, I have worlds of respect for this man. Some people transcend the uniform, and the sport itself.

[@ArizonaGunsDave]

Hell I am a die hard Met's fan and we faced the Cards back then quite a bit and they seem to always have our number but he was a great player and great for the game of baseball.

[@andrewmiller4573]

I've seen that famous play a thousand times in my life and I never knew, until today, that he caught it with his bare hand! I don't know why, but all this time I thought that he got his glove to the ball?! Makes it all the more better!!!!

[@stevenchung4029]

Why is Mike Shannon broadcasting a 1978 Padres-Braves game at 18:15? I feel like that call was from a different play when Ozzie was with the Cardinals.

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

Ozzie👍👍👍👍

[@tomdulle1707]

Wow. South Los Angeles had great high school baseball talent. Ozzie and Eddie Murray on one high school team and just p the road in El Segundo was George Brett and Scott MacGregor.

[@danacoleman4007]

That was nice. Three cheers for the wizard! Hear hear hear!!!!

[@joeyoliver579]

Ozzie and his Mom sound the same as my Dad. Great conversation.

[@michaelkettler3889]

Exceptional baseball player, equally exceptional human.

[@TwilightxKnight13]

Regardless of the sport, Ozzie is my favorite all time athlete. He truly is/was the wizard. In my opinion, not just the greatest short stop to ever play, but the greatest infielder. Beyond sports, he is also a great man! He was robbed of the MVP in '87. Yes, Dawson had great offensive numbers, but Ozzie scored more runs with a higher average and only 36 Ks, but he was also the best at his position defensively which IMO was over-looked.

[@lynngatlin4469]

When you hear a hall of famer say that playing the game was the most important thing than playing the opponent. Play the game he's a class act an I'm is number one fan.

[@NorthwestMoOutdoors]

I am having dinner with him tonight. He is a great guy, very down to earth.

[@haydenwayne3710]

Talk about a class act!!!!!

[@kincamell2]

Gratitude

[@robertdouglas3174]

The call truthed the game, now strikes and balls are a problem! Ozzie still the greatest.

[@Crow-jg4sj]

My favorite Cardinal 🎉

[@RS-np2bk]

Truth be told Mark Belanger was probably the greatest shortstop but Ozzie was and is amazing.

[@evagadison2868]

Can't judge a book by its cover. 😄These are stories worth tellint.

[@danvitco771]

A class athlete.

[@stevenguevara2184]

We’re happy The Wizard passed through here in San Diego

[@frankb.269]

Master of integrity

[@boogitybear2283]

I remember in 1992 when Ozzie was out of baseball for two weeks due to having the Chicken Pox! I can’t imagine how painful and miserable he was at age 37 having that!

[@michaelnelson1128]

THE WIZARD!!!!!!😊😊😊

[@CatholicBaseball8]

His k to bb is ridiculous, he definitely is one of the greatest SS of all time.

[@bigglilwayne7050]

Jesse Lee Peterson cherishes growing up in Jim Crow Alabama.... PS Salute Mr Smith👑🏆🥇

[@MegaGator39]

You can’t blame the call at 1st for why they lost in 1985. They had a 3 games to one lead. That was the leadoff runner in the 9th. Get a force out, a DP, a strikeout. Anything to overcome it. But they blew 2 other games themselves.

[@RickSanchezC1980]

Fun fact Ozzie Smith and Eddie Murray both went to Locke high school and both have never went back to that school to speak to those kids. Trust me there’s been plenty of years where they’ve told those ( high school ) kids that they were going to the school to speak to them and never showed up. Oh one more thing Muhammad Ali once went to Locke High School to speak to the high school kids and give out a free book around 1994-1998 …….that man was a class act and gave a funny, inspiring speech despite of his illness.

[@rickdynes]

that is your story .. you have ONE like OZZIE SMITH INSPIRED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE... to do their BEST to be MAGICAL in LIFE maybe you are a little bit ungrateful maybe there are Still SOME Lessons in life that you haven't learned... MAYBE you were told something that wasn't true??

[@thehardtruth3027]

@RickSanchez Eddie Murphy was born in Brooklyn, raised in Long Island, NY and went to Roosevelt HS. What the hell are you talking about?? People just say anything online I swear.

[@RickSanchezC1980]

@@thehardtruth3027 whoops misspelled the name it was Eddie Murray not Eddie Murphy but I did get the facts right about him going to Locke high school and being teammates with Ozzie smith.

[@FourFriends-gk8lz]

Crazy thing... AFTER the trade, Ozzie out-HIT Templeton (by batting AVG) all but ONE YEAR. He doesn't get a lot of credit for his bat (of course) but the Cardinals actually got an OFFENSIVE upgrade with the trade as well.

[@ORagnar]

Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie! 2/3/24, 6:46 p.m.

[@rievans57]

Ozzie was a all-city basketball player in high school....

[@Aztecism]

I am thinking that San Diego GM quote came from Bob Fontaine and not Jack McKeon.

[@socraticgadfly]

With today's baseball game prices, a kid like Ozzie Smith couldn't go to Dodger Stadium.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Hard for those who weren’t around at the time of the trade to believe now, but most MLB experts thought the Padres got the better end of the deal.

[@michaellott210]

Ozzie was great, he put in that work ✌🏾. Barry Sanders of baseball.

[@yeti2-y32]

How about Rickey Henderson?

[@pastorjimshrimplin7312]

I love Ozzie, and Dane Orge was out, but it was best of 7 not a best of 6. The Cards did not show up for game 7.

[@PaulYandris]

Ozzi doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder….first class

[@bigglilwayne7050]

In a perfect World, Joe Torre's managerial career would've consisted of being with Montreal and San Diego type situations

[@gregvilla3837]

Ozzie is the wizard amazing only visquel comes close to

[@duanedorman6134]

I thought Jim Kaat won 16 straight Gold Gloves

[@christopherschuster8657]

Went to his HOF induction ceremony. Stood on the side of the stage with an obstructed view but, hey....I was there.

[@jasonsmith8300]

He'll be 70 December 26

[@jamesdavison2927]

OZZIE- respectED OZZIE- was respectABLE

[@DeqauriusWadsworth]

Being a great fielder doesn’t mean your allowed to not hit

[@stevengraham3138]

No way I hated old baseball when they made an obvouse error and would not change it

[@realmenstandup8944]

Joe you have to get back to calling games in the majors, it’s different without you are your dad calling games

[@turtle19dad]

Sounds like Ozzie and Tony Gwynn were cut from the same cloth.

[@RecoveringAddict101]

1983 Stirrups> 2023 Pajama uniform pants......

[@jonnyt16]

Not a big fan of Ozzie Smith to be honest. Yes I'm a Giants fan but the way he threw all those cheap shots at Will Clark was deplorable and cowardly.

[@theMimirReport]

I’m also not a fan. He Cold Cocked Will Clark

[@CorySmith-eh6ux]

Post what you’re referencing?

[@jonnyt16]

@@CorySmith-eh6ux 7/24/88 the entire infield of the St. Louis Cardinals decide to take on Will Clark and Ozzie Smith is there blindsiding Clark multiple times.

[@shanewoods1980]

2nd!!

[@cliffordyamasaki6169]

It's not mr smith,its sucker punch ozzie.not the best shortstop,period

[@richardziadie6129]

5??

[@patrickoconnor2271]

3rd!!!

[@antoniobiancofiore2396]

He seems pretty conceded and into it for the fame and glory…..I don’t hear any humility from this dude ….not my cup of tea