MLB power rankings: Top 30 nicknames of all-time
By John Buhler
14. Ozzie Smith: The Wizard
Known for his defensive prowess, it was easy to understand why St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith was nicknamed The Wizard of Oz. Nobody had more fun playing in the infield than Smith. He was a 15-time All-Star and a 13-time gold glove winner at first the San Diego Padres and most notably with the Cardinals.
Smith would literally do backflips on the Busch Stadium turf in between innings. His brilliance in the field was never questioned, only horribly imitated by most. Smith played on three National League Championship teams, including the 1982 World Series winner in St. Louis.
He had some abilities at the plate. Outside of his amazing one-handed grab while with the Padres, Smith is best known for his walk-off homer in the 1985 NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Smith was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2002 in his first year of eligibility.
The Wizard could not have been a better nickname for a better defensive player. It only helped that his first name was Osborne. Before Harry Potter and John Wall started doing things in the nation’s capital, Smith was the only Wizard that mattered. Sorry, Gandalf.