Ozzie Smith
Ozzie Smith is a retired Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz", he is widely cited as one of the greatest defensive players of all time, having won 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards during his career.
Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama, but his family moved to the infamous Watts section of Los Angeles when he was six. Despite some adverse surroundings, Smith was encouraged by his mother to stick to academics as much as his penchant for athletics, eventually earning a partial academic scholarship to Cal-Poly.
After being drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1977, Smith made his Major League debut the following year. While quickly earning his reputation as a "Wizard" with the glove, he also became known for performing backflips on special occasions while running out to his position on the field. When turmoil with Padres ownership developed, it prompted his trade to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982. Smith helped lead the Cardinals to a World Series victory in 1982, then continued racking up accolades until his retirement in 1996.