Wizard

When Whitey Herzog swung the deal to obtain a slick fielding-no hit shortstop from the San Diego Padres, by the name of Osborne Earl Smith; he had completed the final piece to what would become a World Championship team - The 1982 St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals were a team without a power hitter; they used speed and defense to win games, and nobody epitomized that quality better than Ozzie Smith - The Wizard. His autobiography, assisted by Rob Rains, is an interesting perspective from the game's all-time defensive shortstop; not to mention, one of baseball's best-dressed performers and acrobats. Ozzie could do it all; later in his career, he learned how to slap the ball to all fields, and became a pretty decent hitter; not much power, but good in the clutch, and good at putting the ball in play to take advantage of his terrific speed. Smith was a joy to watch; especially when he connected for his first home run as a left-handed batter - in the clutch - lifting the Cardinals to a dramatic postseason victory in 1985, over the stunned Los Angeles Dodgers. As the late Jack Buck exclaimed, "Go crazy folks!"