St. Louis. The perfect getaway... all within reach.
My St. Louis
Ozzie Smith
The Wizard of Oz……
Watching him play baseball was magical. Seeing his philanthropy in action is inspirational. Ozzie Smith is known as The Wizard because of the wonderful things he does.
Ozzie back-flipped his way into baseball fans’ hearts during 15 seasons as shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. His 2002, first-ballot election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame was the pinnacle of an award-filled career. He won 13-straight Gold Gloves, was a 15-time All Star and the MVP of the 1985 National League playoffs -- famous for his game-winning, “Go Crazy, Folks” home run. Matchless on the field while wearing the classic Birds-on-Bat, Ozzie’s #1 uniform number was retired by the Cardinals.
The Wizard wishes you a wonderful visit to his town and tosses out these ideas for visitors:
“You’ll flip for the kids performing at everyday circus in City Museum,” says the acrobatic athlete. “The circus troupe is only part of the unusual fun waiting for you at this entrancing attraction.”
The fashionable Mr. Smith also has an eye for St. Louis’ stylish architecture. “I’m constantly amazed by the magnificent buildings here. The Arch, Union Station and new Busch Stadium are spectacular,” says Ozzie. “And the Central Library downtown is special to me.” The Italian-Renaissance style library, designed by famed architect Cass Gilbert, is filled not only with books but with beautiful stained glass windows, hand-stenciled ceilings and glass floors. Central Library was where Ozzie, as education ambassador for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, helped kick off Step Up to the Plate @ your library, a national program of the American Library Association and the Baseball Hall of Fame to improve literacy skills.
“I've been very lucky to live out the American dream as a baseball player," says Smith, and lucky to live, work and play in St. Louis.”
