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Ozzie Smith was born in Los Angeles, California, and his family moved to Mobile, Alabama, when he was six years old.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama, and his family moved to the Watts section of Los Angeles, California, when he was six years old.
During his childhood, Ozzie Smith's father worked as a sandblaster and later as a delivery truck driver, while his mother was a nursing home aide.
Answer: True
Ozzie Smith's father worked as a sandblaster and later as a delivery truck driver, and his mother was an aide at a nursing home during his childhood.
Ozzie Smith developed his quick reflexes primarily through extensive formal baseball training from a young age.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith developed his quick reflexes through various athletic and leisure activities, such as bouncing a ball off concrete steps, rather than primarily through formal baseball training.
At age 10, Ozzie Smith and his family experienced the Watts Riots, forcing them to sleep on the floor due to the unrest.
Answer: True
At the age of 10, Ozzie Smith and his family endured the Watts Riots, during which they had to sleep on the floor due to the civil unrest.
Ozzie Smith was a high school teammate of future NBA player Marques Johnson and future Hall-of-Fame baseball player Cal Ripken Jr.
Answer: False
At Locke High School, Ozzie Smith was a teammate of future NBA player Marques Johnson and future Hall-of-Fame baseball player Eddie Murray, not Cal Ripken Jr.
Ozzie Smith attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on a full athletic scholarship for baseball.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on a partial academic scholarship and walked on to the baseball team.
Before graduating from Cal Poly, Ozzie Smith set school records for career at-bats and home runs.
Answer: False
Before graduating from Cal Poly, Ozzie Smith established school records for career at-bats and stolen bases, not home runs.
The Detroit Tigers drafted Ozzie Smith in 1976, but he did not sign with them because they offered a higher signing bonus than he requested.
Answer: False
The Detroit Tigers drafted Ozzie Smith in 1976, but he did not sign with them because they offered $8,500, which was less than his requested $10,000 signing bonus.
Where was Ozzie Smith born?
Answer: Mobile, Alabama
Ozzie Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama, before his family relocated to Los Angeles, California.
Which future Hall of Fame baseball player was Ozzie Smith's teammate at Locke High School?
Answer: Eddie Murray
At Locke High School, Ozzie Smith was a teammate of future Hall-of-Fame baseball player Eddie Murray.
What type of scholarship did Ozzie Smith receive to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo?
Answer: A partial academic scholarship
Ozzie Smith attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on a partial academic scholarship and subsequently walked on to the baseball team.
Which MLB team initially drafted Ozzie Smith in 1976 but failed to sign him due to a contract dispute?
Answer: Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers drafted Ozzie Smith in 1976 but failed to sign him due to a contract dispute over his requested signing bonus.
Ozzie Smith earned the nickname "The Wizard of Oz" primarily due to his exceptional offensive prowess at shortstop.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith earned the nickname 'The Wizard of Oz' due to his exceptional defensive skills, not primarily his offensive prowess.
Ozzie Smith played his entire Major League Baseball career exclusively for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith played for both the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals during his Major League Baseball career, not exclusively for the Cardinals.
Ozzie Smith made his Major League Baseball debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on April 7, 1978.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith made his Major League Baseball debut on April 7, 1978, for the San Diego Padres, not the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ozzie Smith's signature backflip tradition began spontaneously during a regular game after a particularly impressive defensive play.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith's signature backflip tradition began when a Padres promotion director asked him to perform it for Fan Appreciation Day, not spontaneously during a regular game.
In 1978, Ozzie Smith finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, behind Bob Horner.
Answer: True
Ozzie Smith finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1978, behind Bob Horner, with a .258 batting average and a .970 fielding percentage.
Ozzie Smith's agent, Ed Gottlieb, placed a help-wanted ad in a newspaper during a contract dispute with the Padres before the 1980 season.
Answer: True
During a contract dispute before the 1980 season, Ozzie Smith's agent, Ed Gottlieb, took out a help-wanted ad in the San Diego Union stating that a 'Padre baseball player wants part-time employment to supplement income.'
In 1980, Ozzie Smith set a single-season record for most assists by a shortstop with 621.
Answer: True
In 1980, Ozzie Smith set the single-season record for most assists by a shortstop with 621, a testament to his defensive prowess.
The trade that sent Ozzie Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals involved Garry Templeton, Sixto Lezcano, and Luis DeLeon going to the Padres.
Answer: True
On December 10, 1981, Ozzie Smith, Steve Mura, and Al Olmsted were traded to the Cardinals for Garry Templeton, Sixto Lezcano, and Luis DeLeon.
What was Ozzie Smith's notable nickname during his professional baseball career?
Answer: The Wizard of Oz
Ozzie Smith was widely known by his notable nickname 'The Wizard of Oz' during his professional baseball career.
For which two Major League Baseball teams did Ozzie Smith play during his career?
Answer: San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals
Ozzie Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals during his Major League Baseball career.
When did Ozzie Smith make his Major League Baseball debut?
Answer: April 7, 1978
Ozzie Smith made his Major League Baseball debut on April 7, 1978, playing for the San Diego Padres.
How did Ozzie Smith's signature backflip tradition begin?
Answer: A Padres promotion director asked him to perform it for Fan Appreciation Day.
Ozzie Smith's signature backflip tradition began when a Padres promotion director, Andy Strasberg, asked him to perform it for fans on Fan Appreciation Day in 1978.
What was Ozzie Smith's ranking in the 1978 National League Rookie of the Year voting?
Answer: Second place
Ozzie Smith finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1978, behind Bob Horner.
What unusual action did Ozzie Smith's agent, Ed Gottlieb, take during a contract dispute with the Padres before the 1980 season?
Answer: He took out a help-wanted ad for Smith in a newspaper.
During a contract dispute before the 1980 season, Ozzie Smith's agent, Ed Gottlieb, placed a help-wanted ad in the San Diego Union seeking part-time employment for Smith.
What single-season record did Ozzie Smith set in 1980 for a shortstop?
Answer: Most assists
In 1980, Ozzie Smith set a single-season record for shortstops with 621 assists, demonstrating his exceptional defensive range.
Ozzie Smith won the National League Gold Glove Award for defensive play at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons.
Answer: True
Ozzie Smith holds the record for winning the National League Gold Glove Award for defensive play at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons.
Whitey Herzog's motivational wager with Ozzie Smith was designed to encourage Smith to hit more home runs.
Answer: False
Whitey Herzog's motivational wager with Ozzie Smith was designed to encourage Smith to hit more ground balls, not home runs, by penalizing fly balls.
Ozzie Smith's son, Nikko, was born during the 1982 season.
Answer: True
Ozzie Smith became a father during the 1982 season with the birth of his son, O.J., who is now known as Nikko.
In January 1983, Ozzie Smith signed a contract with the Cardinals worth $500,000 per year.
Answer: False
In January 1983, Ozzie Smith signed a new contract with the Cardinals worth $1 million per year.
Ozzie Smith's wrist was broken by a pitch in July 1984, which significantly hampered the Cardinals' postseason chances that year.
Answer: True
In July 1984, Ozzie Smith's wrist was broken by a pitch, and although he returned, his injury significantly hampered the Cardinals' postseason chances that year.
Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS was his first career home run from the right side of the plate.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS was his first career home run from the left side of the plate, a remarkable feat given his previous 2,967 left-handed at-bats without one.
Broadcaster Jack Buck's famous call after Smith's 1985 NLCS home run included the phrase, "It's a home run, and the Cardinals have won the game!"
Answer: True
After Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in the 1985 NLCS, broadcaster Jack Buck famously exclaimed, 'Go crazy, folks, go crazy! It's a home run, and the Cardinals have won the game, by the score of 3 to 2, on a home run by the Wizard! Go crazy!'
Ozzie Smith underwent surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder during the 1985 offseason.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith opted to forgo surgery for his torn rotator cuff injury and instead built up his arm strength through weightlifting, playing through the pain.
In 1986, Ozzie Smith's son, Nikko, performed the traditional Opening Day backflip because Ozzie was recovering from a rotator cuff injury.
Answer: True
In 1986, Ozzie Smith's then four-year-old son, Nikko, performed his traditional Opening Day backflip because Smith was recovering from a rotator cuff injury.
Ozzie Smith won the Silver Slugger Award at shortstop in 1987, a year he achieved career highs in batting average, stolen bases, and RBIs.
Answer: True
In 1987, Ozzie Smith achieved career highs in batting average (.303), stolen bases (43), and RBIs (75), earning him the Silver Slugger Award at shortstop.
Ozzie Smith finished first in the 1987 MVP balloting, narrowly beating Andre Dawson.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith finished second in the 1987 MVP balloting to Andre Dawson, with Smith and his teammate Jack Clark splitting first-place votes.
Ozzie Smith appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1988 and in an episode of Seinfeld in 1992.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith appeared on the April 1988 cover of GQ magazine and in a 1992 episode of The Simpsons titled 'Homer at the Bat,' not Sports Illustrated or Seinfeld.
In 1992, Ozzie Smith recorded his 2,000th career hit with a single at an away game.
Answer: False
In 1992, Ozzie Smith recorded his 2,000th career hit with a triple in front of the home crowd, not a single at an away game.
How many consecutive seasons did Ozzie Smith win the National League Gold Glove Award for defensive play at shortstop?
Answer: 13
Ozzie Smith won the National League Gold Glove Award for defensive play at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons, a record that remains unmatched.
What was the primary goal of Whitey Herzog's motivational wager with Ozzie Smith regarding hitting ground balls versus fly balls?
Answer: To encourage Smith to hit more ground balls.
Whitey Herzog's wager with Ozzie Smith was designed to motivate him to hit more ground balls, thereby improving his offensive approach and on-base opportunities.
What significant personal event occurred for Ozzie Smith during the 1982 season?
Answer: His son, O.J. (Nikko), was born.
During the 1982 season, Ozzie Smith became a father with the birth of his son, O.J., who is now known as Nikko.
What was the value of Ozzie Smith's new contract with the Cardinals in January 1983?
Answer: $1 million per year
In January 1983, Ozzie Smith signed a new contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing to a salary of $1 million per year.
What injury did Ozzie Smith sustain in July 1984 that affected the Cardinals' season?
Answer: A broken wrist
In July 1984, Ozzie Smith sustained a broken wrist from a pitch, an injury that impacted the Cardinals' performance and postseason aspirations.
What was unique about Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series?
Answer: It was his first career home run from the left side of the plate.
Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS was notable as it was his first career home run from the left side of the plate after nearly 3,000 at-bats.
Who famously exclaimed, "Go crazy, folks, go crazy!" after Ozzie Smith's 1985 NLCS home run?
Answer: Jack Buck
Broadcaster Jack Buck famously delivered the iconic call, 'Go crazy, folks, go crazy!' after Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in the 1985 NLCS.
What injury did Ozzie Smith secretly play through during the 1985 season and playoffs?
Answer: A torn rotator cuff
Ozzie Smith secretly played through a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder during the 1985 regular season and playoffs, an injury sustained while diving back into first base.
Who performed Ozzie Smith's traditional Opening Day backflip in 1986?
Answer: His son, Nikko
In 1986, Ozzie Smith's then four-year-old son, Nikko, performed his traditional Opening Day backflip because Smith was recovering from a rotator cuff injury.
What award did Ozzie Smith receive in 1987 for being the best hitting shortstop?
Answer: Silver Slugger Award
In 1987, Ozzie Smith received the Silver Slugger Award at shortstop, recognizing his career-high offensive performance that season.
Which magazine featured Ozzie Smith on its cover in April 1988?
Answer: GQ magazine
Ozzie Smith was featured on the April 1988 cover of GQ magazine, highlighting his prominence in popular culture.
What significant career milestone did Ozzie Smith achieve on May 26, 1992?
Answer: His 2,000th hit
On May 26, 1992, Ozzie Smith achieved a significant career milestone by recording his 2,000th hit with a triple in front of the home crowd.
Ozzie Smith was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 during his second year of eligibility.
Answer: False
Ozzie Smith was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 during his first year of eligibility, a testament to his impactful career.
After retiring, Ozzie Smith immediately became a color commentator for national baseball broadcasts.
Answer: False
After retiring in 1997, Ozzie Smith's first role in television was as the host of 'This Week in Baseball,' not immediately as a color commentator for national broadcasts.
Ozzie Smith's Hall of Fame induction speech compared his baseball journey to characters from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
Answer: True
During his Hall of Fame induction speech, Ozzie Smith compared his baseball experiences with the characters from the novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,' reflecting on his nickname.
The statue of Ozzie Smith unveiled at Busch Memorial Stadium in 2002 depicts him in a batting stance.
Answer: False
The statue of Ozzie Smith unveiled at Busch Memorial Stadium in 2002 depicts him stretched horizontally to the ground while fielding a baseball, emphasizing his defensive skills.
Ozzie Smith's son, Nikko, was a top ten finalist on the television show "American Idol."
Answer: True
Ozzie Smith's son, Nikko, achieved notable recognition by cracking the top ten finalists of the 2005 edition of the television show 'American Idol.'
In 2012, Ozzie Smith sold his entire collection of Gold Gloves at auction for over $500,000.
Answer: True
In 2012, Ozzie Smith sold his entire collection of Gold Gloves at auction, fetching more than $500,000.
Ozzie Smith currently hosts a weekly news magazine television show about the St. Louis Cardinals called "Cardinals Insider."
Answer: True
Ozzie Smith currently hosts 'Cardinals Insider,' a weekly news magazine television show dedicated to the St. Louis Cardinals club.
Since 2016, Ozzie Smith has opened several traditional sports medicine clinics across Missouri.
Answer: False
Since 2016, Ozzie Smith has opened five regenerative medicine clinics around Missouri, not traditional sports medicine clinics.
In what year was Ozzie Smith elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility?
Answer: 2002
Ozzie Smith was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 during his first year of eligibility.
What community service award did Ozzie Smith receive in 1995?
Answer: Roberto Clemente Award
Ozzie Smith was recognized for his community service efforts with the prestigious 1995 Roberto Clemente Award.
What was Ozzie Smith's first role in television after retiring from playing baseball in 1997?
Answer: Host of 'This Week in Baseball'
Upon his retirement in 1997, Ozzie Smith's first television role was taking over as the host of the popular series 'This Week in Baseball' (TWIB).
What was the theme of Ozzie Smith's Hall of Fame induction speech?
Answer: A comparison of his career to 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'
Ozzie Smith's Hall of Fame induction speech famously drew parallels between his baseball journey and the characters and themes from 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,' a nod to his iconic nickname.
What does the statue of Ozzie Smith at Busch Memorial Stadium depict?
Answer: Smith stretched horizontally to the ground while fielding a baseball
The statue of Ozzie Smith unveiled at Busch Memorial Stadium in 2002 captures him in a dynamic pose, stretched horizontally to the ground while fielding a baseball, emblematic of his defensive mastery.
Which of the following business ventures has Ozzie Smith pursued since his retirement?
Answer: A youth sports academy
Since retiring, Ozzie Smith has pursued various entrepreneurial endeavors, including opening a youth sports academy in 1990, which remains in operation.
In which year was Ozzie Smith inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class?
Answer: 2014
Ozzie Smith was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014 as part of its inaugural class, further cementing his legacy with the team.
What notable achievement did Ozzie Smith's son, Nikko, accomplish in popular culture?
Answer: Cracked the top ten finalists of 'American Idol'
Ozzie Smith's son, Nikko, achieved popular culture recognition by becoming a top ten finalist on the 2005 edition of the television show 'American Idol.'
What significant personal item did Ozzie Smith sell at auction in 2012?
Answer: All of his Gold Gloves
In 2012, Ozzie Smith sold his entire collection of Gold Gloves at auction, a significant personal item that fetched over $500,000.
What is Ozzie Smith's current role in St. Louis television?
Answer: Host of 'Cardinals Insider'
Ozzie Smith currently serves as the host of 'Cardinals Insider,' a weekly news magazine television show dedicated to the St. Louis Cardinals.
What type of health-related business has Ozzie Smith opened since 2016?
Answer: Regenerative medicine clinics
Since 2016, Ozzie Smith has expanded his entrepreneurial activities by opening five regenerative medicine clinics across Missouri.
What award will Ozzie Smith receive in 2025 for his involvement in the golf community?
Answer: Old Tom Morris Award
In recognition of his significant involvement in the golf community, Ozzie Smith is slated to receive the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 2025.
Ozzie Smith holds the MLB record for the most at-bats without hitting a grand slam.
Answer: True
Ozzie Smith holds the Major League Baseball record for the most at-bats without hitting a grand slam, which is a home run hit with all three bases occupied.
What unique MLB record does Ozzie Smith hold regarding grand slams?
Answer: Most at-bats without hitting a grand slam
Ozzie Smith holds the Major League Baseball record for the most at-bats without hitting a grand slam, a unique statistical anomaly for a player of his caliber.