Say what? with Ozzie Smith

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Known as "The Wizard of Oz," Ozzie Smith combined athletic ability with acrobatic skill to become one of baseball's greatest defensive shortstops. In 19 seasons with the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals, the 13-time Gold Glove Award winner set major league shortstop records for assists, double plays and total chances. He would develop into an offensive weapon later in his career, finishing with over 2,400 hits and 500 stolen bases. Champions Tour media official Phil Stambaugh caught up with him when he stopped by a Champions Tour event.

PGATOUR.COM: Who taught you the game of golf?

Smith: I really didn't start playing golf until 1996 after I retired from baseball. I was introduced to the game by a fellow named Mike Murphy, the former club professional at Sunset Country Club in St. Louis. I'm still a work in progress.

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Ozzie Smith has played in pro-ams on both the Champions Tour and the PGA TOUR.

PGATOUR.COM: Biggest difference between your body movement in golf and baseball?

Smith: The swings are somewhat similar except the shoulders work in a different way. In golf, you start the swing from a stagnated position. In baseball, the pitcher really gets things going and, as a hitter, you're constantly trying to adjust to his rhythm. When I played baseball, I wanted to use my shoulders to try and stay on top of the ball. In golf, my shoulders are on a totally different plane. My defense got me to the big leagues and I had to work extra hard on the offensive part of the game. That really kept me from starting my golf career any earlier than I did.

PGATOUR.COM: What's your favorite course?

Smith: I've had a chance to play some wonderful places and last year I played in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (on the PGA TOUR) with Jeff Overton. It's pretty hard to beat Pebble Beach for the golf, the views and the natural beauty.

PGATOUR.COM: Your current handicap?

Smith: I'm a 12.

PGATOUR.COM: Greatest golfing achievement to date?

Smith: I've had some pretty decent drives. I haven't had any holes-in-one yet and haven't really come close. I just need to keep working at it.

PGATOUR.COM: Who's in your dream foursome?

Smith: I'd like to play with Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan and Phil Mickelson. I'm reading Hogan's book "The Five Fundamentals of Golf" right now and, because he was about the same size as me, I'm able to relate to his instruction.

PGATOUR.COM: What have you been working on lately?

Smith: I'm the educational ambassador for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. We basically change the traditional classroom setting through the use of electronic media and I utilize this tool to reach quite a few kids in subjects like physics and history. Schools from around the country sign up for this and the idea behind it is to make learning fun.

PGATOUR.COM: Best advice you've ever received?

Smith: No matter what you get into, put your heart and soul into it.

PGATOUR.COM: What would you consider your greatest achievement?

Smith: Having played 19 years, people would think it would be my All-Star appearances or playing in the World Series several times. Actually, it was after I tore my right rotator cuff in 1985. I played from then until I retired in 1996 with a torn rotator cuff. Anybody that's had a rotator cuff injury knows how important that muscle is to everything that you do. It was the biggest challenge I had to deal with. After 1985, there were many times I sat on the bench in the dugout thinking this might be it.

PGATOUR.COM: Any funny moments in baseball?

Smith: Anytime you're noted for being a great defensive infielder and the ball goes between your legs, it's not funny at the time but I was able to laugh about it a short time later. This happened when I played in San Diego. It was Opening Day one year and this was back when we had The Chicken as a mascot. Sure enough, the ball went right between my legs during the game and between innings, he mimicked this happening to me one time in front of 50,000 people. His impersonation was pretty funny and I had to laugh.

PGATOUR.COM: What was your finest athletic moment?

Smith: It was probably in 1985 when I hit a home run in a National League playoff game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Up until that time, people had always looked at me as just a really good defensive player and after I did that, they started thinking of me from an offensive standpoint as well.

PGATOUR.COM: Biggest change you've seen in baseball since retirement?

Smith: My position has certainly changed. I think Cal Ripken was the impetus for allowing bigger guys to play shortstop. We're also now playing in an era with more offense. Ballparks are smaller and guys across the board have gotten bigger and stronger. We've got some players who are cheating with performance-enhancing drugs. I played 19 years at a time when players were smart enough to know that in the long run, it wasn't worth it from a health standpoint. I think it's a sign of times changing and the way people think. Guys are taking a chance on doing something to themselves now that we really know what effect it will have on their bodies later on.

PGATOUR.COM: Person you most admired growing up?

Smith: I grew up in south central Los Angles and used to catch the bus out to Dodger Stadium, especially when the Pittsburgh Pirates came into town. I always enjoyed watching Roberto Clemente play. He combined a free and easy style with some aggressiveness.

PGATOUR.COM: Biggest disappointment?

Smith: When you get into the World Series, everyone uses the cliché that it's just great being there. I can tell you, that's it's NOT just great being there. You want to finish the job and when you don't get the job finished, it's like a mission unaccomplished. I had several of those. In 1985, the Kansas City Royals beat us in seven games. In 1987, the Minnesota Twins beat us in seven games. We were fortunate to win it all in 1982. After you win it the first time, there's no feeling like it and you become hungrier to do it again.

PGATOUR.COM: What do you forsee for the St. Louis Cardinals for the second half of the year?

Smith:They're going through a tough period right now with the injuries they've had. It's tough when front-line people go down. I think they'll bounce back and win the Central Division. I don't think the Houston Astros adding Roger Clemens will have that big of an impact in the second half. Cincinnati has been a surprise. It should make for an interesting race and that's what baseball needs.