Very well spoken and intelligent. his fundamentals are on point. I don't understand why he does not manage. He could at the very least be a part of the defensive coaching staff on any team in the bigs.
Matt X he's too busy playing golf. If you had his money would you put in the grind of managing a major league team? Let alone the years on buses he'd have to put in to get there.
Growing up a Met fan, I use to HATE Ozzie Smith! Balls hit, that should had been base hits, but know, Ozzie shut that down! But when he retired, I shed a tear for him and his greatness! My hatred for the man, was the biggest respect i can give him!
Ozzie Smith is the greatest baseball player of all time he is the last of the greats. Whenever I think of Ozzie Smith I remember the fact that you could tell he always enjoyed playing the game. Enjoying the game makes it a fun sport to watch Ozzie Smith was always a class act and a hero for young children growing up. I got to see Ozzie Smith three different times once at Ray winterfield in Little Rock the other time was it Busch stadium in St Louis Missouri and the third time was it Busch stadium.
When Ozzie says “This is the fundamental position, these are the fundamental drills” - end of story. You don’t ever lecture Hendrix on how to string his guitar.
Easily the greatest defensive shortstop of all time, and probably the best defensive player of all time. But Ozzie doesn't get enough credit as an offensive threat. He wasn't a home-run hitter and didn't have a great batting average or on-base percentage, but every pitcher in the league would agree that he was a very tough out. He had almost twice as many bases-on-balls as strikeouts. And, when he got on base, watch out.
Not really. .666 career OPS. His stolen base numbers are decent. But, if you add any sabermetric offensive stats into the conversation he becomes a really bad offensive player.
@@alwillk I disagree. He was a decent slap hitter, who knew how to draw a walk. A career OPS of .666 yes, but a career OPS+ of 87. And a lot more of that was from his ability to get onbase, which is way more important than slugging. For his time, Ozzie's offensive skills were actually quite good for a short stop.
For now in 2021, if someone ask Ozzie who is the best shortstop this year, Oz will say” this is me” If so, no doubt about that. Thank God I saw him playing many times.
I would definitely agree with you about the offensive part.....up until '84 that is. After that, starting in '85, Ozzie really started hitting the weights and if you check his numbers you'll see that he progressed from being a light hitting, low average hitter, into a very respectable contact hitter. He was a rare strikeout victim towards the end of his career. Obviously he was no homerun hitter, but a solid hitter, base stealer...his defense alone was more than worth it.
No. Not at all. His stolen base numbers are prett good, and his OPS is .666 for career BA is .262. Which are both ok. But, if you add an sabermetric stats he is really below average. But, yeah he was in there for his glove.
As much as I want to say Vizquel is better (because I'm an Indians fan) I really can't. He had a better fielding percentage, but Ozzie Smith was just so acrobatic and could do almost anything really.
Ozzie had slightly better range than Omar but Omar made more plays barely using his glove. They both are great in their own way. I've had a few people online tell me that Omar isn't a first ballot HOFer. I said most people say that because they didn't see him play enough. They think he was all about defense but he also was a very skillful #2 hitter too.
i was a shortstop and i was the best shortstop but ozzie smith is great. and on a game i have ozzie smith on the super stars. he was fast but his power was one star but his glove is legendary also his arm.
1st Gwynn 2nd Jeter SS Ozzie 3rd Rodriguez Bonds Griffey Aaron Pudge Rodriguez. This would be my starting Roster! I know. I know some are not in their positions. I believe in time, and with their skill set, they would manage, and actually flourish!
It's been pointed out here a few times already but Bill Ripken's opening comment about Ozzie being "arguably one of the best shortstops to ever play this game" is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to the misuse of language, and it immediately kicks this clip off on a stupid note. Ozzie Smith is the greatest defensive shortstop of all-time in my opinion (and the opinion of most people who've followed baseball closely over the years) but if you want to bring up other great shortstops, fine, there are a few others you can make an argument for who are worthy of consideration. What you can't argue (i.e. what is inarguable) is that he is "ONE of the best shortstops of all-time", even if you're including hitting and defence, because it's not up for argument given his resume. ANY shortstop who ends up in Cooperstown is without doubt "one of the best shortstops of all-time", let alone a guy with 13 gold gloves! It's like saying Michael Jordan is arguably "one of" the best basketball players in NBA history. The only way to phrase it accurately would be "arguably the best player ever" or "inarguably one of the best players ever". On a related note, I watch a lot of MLB TV and Bill Ripken is arguably the worst person they employ on the network.
Arguably? Lmao! Nobody that knows baseball would argue. He’s by far the greatest defensive shortstop ever
No. Mark Belanger is arguably better.
@@treygray2817 yeah I would argue for Ozzie
@@eddiewilbanks1382 Yes, but it's arguable, which was my point of contention.
Um, you can’t leave out Omar Vizquel…
Been following baseball since early sixties. Defensively, he's the best I've seen, although several others have been great, too.
Ozzie Smith is such a classy individual and a true legend
Very well spoken and intelligent. his fundamentals are on point. I don't understand why he does not manage. He could at the very least be a part of the defensive coaching staff on any team in the bigs.
Matt X he's too busy playing golf. If you had his money would you put in the grind of managing a major league team? Let alone the years on buses he'd have to put in to get there.
Tony Phillips Probably not. Well said.
Young kids take notes. They don't call him the Wizard for nothing.
Growing up a Met fan, I use to HATE Ozzie Smith! Balls hit, that should had been base hits, but know, Ozzie shut that down! But when he retired, I shed a tear for him and his greatness! My hatred for the man, was the biggest respect i can give him!
34... I can attest to that. Ozzie was a shear nightmare for us Met fans. 😂
Ozzie's gonna live to be 100. He's still in great shape!
Ozzie Smith is the greatest baseball player of all time he is the last of the greats. Whenever I think of Ozzie Smith I remember the fact that you could tell he always enjoyed playing the game. Enjoying the game makes it a fun sport to watch Ozzie Smith was always a class act and a hero for young children growing up. I got to see Ozzie Smith three different times once at Ray winterfield in Little Rock the other time was it Busch stadium in St Louis Missouri and the third time was it Busch stadium.
The best
12-26-2011. Happy Birthday, "Ozman." You will always be one of the all-time greats.
When Ozzie says “This is the fundamental position, these are the fundamental drills” - end of story. You don’t ever lecture Hendrix on how to string his guitar.
💯💯💯💯
It's so cool seeing former ball players catching and throwing. It's like riding a bike to them.
"Arguably one of the best"?? That's not arguable. He's arguably THE greatest.
13 gold gloves… no argument
i watched baseball bunch every saturday before little league i remember the ozzie episode he kept saying do everything in one motion
When Ozzie Smith talks defense......you listen.
Easily the greatest defensive shortstop of all time, and probably the best defensive player of all time. But Ozzie doesn't get enough credit as an offensive threat. He wasn't a home-run hitter and didn't have a great batting average or on-base percentage, but every pitcher in the league would agree that he was a very tough out. He had almost twice as many bases-on-balls as strikeouts. And, when he got on base, watch out.
Not really. .666 career OPS. His stolen base numbers are decent. But, if you add any sabermetric offensive stats into the conversation he becomes a really bad offensive player.
Bogie6588 that's real baseball talk
al d Although, I recall him being regarded as the toughest guy in baseball to STRIKE out.
@@alwillk You have to take position into account. His offense was fine for a SS
@@alwillk
I disagree. He was a decent slap hitter, who knew how to draw a walk. A career OPS of .666 yes, but a career OPS+ of 87. And a lot more of that was from his ability to get onbase, which is way more important than slugging.
For his time, Ozzie's offensive skills were actually quite good for a short stop.
The Wizard Of OZ.... Best that ever did it.
For now in 2021, if someone ask Ozzie who is the best shortstop this year, Oz will say” this is me” If so, no doubt about that. Thank God I saw him playing many times.
Ozzie said it, it's gotta be a fact.
I would definitely agree with you about the offensive part.....up until '84 that is. After that, starting in '85, Ozzie really started hitting the weights and if you check his numbers you'll see that he progressed from being a light hitting, low average hitter, into a very respectable contact hitter. He was a rare strikeout victim towards the end of his career. Obviously he was no homerun hitter, but a solid hitter, base stealer...his defense alone was more than worth it.
No. Not at all. His stolen base numbers are prett good, and his OPS is .666 for career BA is .262. Which are both ok. But, if you add an sabermetric stats he is really below average. But, yeah he was in there for his glove.
Ozzies still got it
As much as I want to say Vizquel is better (because I'm an Indians fan) I really can't. He had a better fielding percentage, but Ozzie Smith was just so acrobatic and could do almost anything really.
Ozzie had slightly better range than Omar but Omar made more plays barely using his glove. They both are great in their own way.
I've had a few people online tell me that Omar isn't a first ballot HOFer. I said most people say that because they didn't see him play enough. They think he was all about defense but he also was a very skillful #2 hitter too.
Omar Vizquel was a great shortstop. Ozzie Smith was much much better by a laughably huge margin.
cougar24 Omar had great counting stats, but his rate statstics are not even close to Ozzie’s.
I loved playing shortstop and Ozzy mentioned the man I idolized on how I played my game and that was Davey conception….
Whitey Herzog said he took away more RBIs than most people drove in in a season
The fact that he played all those years in the turf era makes it even more remarkable hard on the knees and the ball comes at you faster.
i was a shortstop and i was the best shortstop
but ozzie smith is great. and on a game i have ozzie smith on the super stars.
he was fast but his power was one star but his glove is legendary also his arm.
I love you OZZIE SMITH! YOU ARE the BEST.
Arguably one of the best, but defensively the greatest of all time. Not even close.
The best play I saw was when he dove over left fielder Curt Ford to catch a blooper in short left field. No one makes that play except the Wizard.
Are you high? Vizquel was good but he's no Ozzie Smith.
Vizquel was a better offensive player.
@@alwillk lol no he wasn't...
On another note for the individuals arguing about the better DEFENSIVE SS. Ozzie smith has 13 golden gloves, Omar Vizquel has 11.
Y Gilyadov absolutely correct
Soy venezolano y respeto a viquel Amor a David izmael Concepción Benites pero para mí el mejor campocorto Ozzie rsmit no hay otro como el
1st Gwynn 2nd Jeter SS Ozzie 3rd Rodriguez Bonds Griffey Aaron Pudge Rodriguez. This would be my starting Roster! I know. I know some are not in their positions. I believe in time, and with their skill set, they would manage, and actually flourish!
Best ever
It's been pointed out here a few times already but Bill Ripken's opening comment about Ozzie being "arguably one of the best shortstops to ever play this game" is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to the misuse of language, and it immediately kicks this clip off on a stupid note.
Ozzie Smith is the greatest defensive shortstop of all-time in my opinion (and the opinion of most people who've followed baseball closely over the years) but if you want to bring up other great shortstops, fine, there are a few others you can make an argument for who are worthy of consideration. What you can't argue (i.e. what is inarguable) is that he is "ONE of the best shortstops of all-time", even if you're including hitting and defence, because it's not up for argument given his resume. ANY shortstop who ends up in Cooperstown is without doubt "one of the best shortstops of all-time", let alone a guy with 13 gold gloves!
It's like saying Michael Jordan is arguably "one of" the best basketball players in NBA history. The only way to phrase it accurately would be "arguably the best player ever" or "inarguably one of the best players ever". On a related note, I watch a lot of MLB TV and Bill Ripken is arguably the worst person they employ on the network.
Would catching the ball on your left instep be opposite for lefty’s ??
Yes, but for lefties it won’t be on the infield so there really isn’t a point
Interesting comment. Can you back that statement up with reasons why? Personally I don't know how you make that conclusion.
Legend here
There is a reason why he is a Hall of Famer.
"arguably" the best ever?
looking good Ozzie
He's the Wiz
Best Wizard since Gandal the great
Why hasn't anyone commented on this video?
why even say that? have some respect i dont think omar would approve either sir
bwahahaha......not even close.....