Ozzie Smith
, or "The Wizard of Oz," as he was called, played shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals for the majority of his career. He started out with the San Diego Padres, however. He was known and respected for his amazing defensive play, and of course his signature backflip.He won the gold glove at shortstop from 1979 through 1992. He made the All-Star team 15 times, and wound up with more than 500 stolen bases and more than 2,400 hits. Elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Did you know that.....his given name is Osborne Earl Smith? (photo by AP)
My vote goes to Jackie Robinson's good buddy, Pee Wee Reese, with Bobby Richardson a close 2nd.
ReplyDeleteooooz doesn't get it. Anyway I'd give #1 to Oscar Robertson. Averaged a triple double. Disgustingly nice in Milwaukee.
ReplyDeleteLev Yashin
ReplyDeleteThe world must know whether Number 0 goes to Eric Montross or Walter McCarty.
ReplyDeleteJohnny Bower
ReplyDeleteIf #0 goes to Eric then double zero goes to the chief!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Terry Sawchuck? Not only was he rookie of the year and a winner of 4 Stanley Cups he finished his hockey career with 447 wins, a record that stood for thirty years, and his career record of 103 shutouts remains unsurpassed among NHL goaltenders.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteYou're on the right track with Terry Sawchuk, but Terry wore #30 for quite a few years after Detroit traded him in the 1950's.
I'd vote for Glenn Hall who wore #1 for Chicago and St. Louis for more years. I'm from St. Louis, and the choice between Hall and Ozzie Smith is really tough.
The Big O, Oscar Robertson, as a previous poster mentioned is another worthy choice.
Warren moon
ReplyDeleteBernard Marcel Parent, goaltender extraordinnaire and Conn Smythe winner for TWO straight Stanley Cup winning Philadelphia Flyer teams must be in the conversation.
ReplyDeleteBernie Parent --Hall of Fame goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers. Parent's 1973-1974 season may be the greatest season an NHL goalie ever had -- Parent played more minutes than any goalie had in a year, had an NHL record 47 wins, and a 1.89 GAA in helping the Flyers upset the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Parent won consecutive Vezina and Conn Smythe trophies too. (By the way, Brodeur's 48 wins in 2006-07 came in an era when the NHL used overtime and shootouts to decide games.)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Ozzie won a championship. How many did Warren Moon win?
ReplyDeleteThe answer is Jim Thorpe. Period. No if's, and, or buts.
ReplyDeleteWarren Moon. Internationally prolific.
ReplyDeleteI have Ozzie in 3rd behind Oscar Robertson and Warren Moon and I think Luongo pushes him pretty hard for 3rd.
ReplyDeleteYou really should add 0 or 00, in which case I would vote for Robert Parish.
ReplyDelete