Ozzie Smith

What do you think a hero is? Well I think heroes can be anybody. There are lots of heroes in the world, most of them are athletes or popular people. A hero is someone that is outstanding, and admired for there talents and there accomplishments. My hero is Ozzie Smith.

Ozzie Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama on December 16.1954.(Lincoln 523). He was the second of six childeren (Lincoln 523). I have some real life moments with Ozzie Smith . These is the one reason he is my hero. In the summer of 2000 I was in St . Louis at a baseball tournement at the Pond complex . I was in the middle of my first game and I was on deck then my step mom comes up to me and says "Ozzie Smith is here" and then I was so excited. I got up to bat and struck out. After the game I went over to him and sat right next to him and he looked at me holding a black and white umbrella and said "How are you" and I said fine and then I asked for his autograph and he gave it to me. The reason he is my hero is beacause he didn't have to give me the autograph but he was nice enough to.

Ozzie Smith was mostly known for his athletic ability. He was a switch hitter(Schick 126). Ozzie stole 300 bases in his career he was seldom caught stealing(Schick 126). In 1980 he set the major-league record for assists by a shortstop with 626(Schick 126). He spent four years in San Diego.(Schick 126). In 1982 he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals(Schick 126). In his first two apperances in the NL playoffs Ozzie batted .496(Schick 126). He was the MVP in the 1985 championship series(Schick 126).

In 1996 Ozzie retired from the game he loved(Geffner). The cardinals retired his number in 1996. He had lots of achievments, he had 19 golden gloves. He was also inducted in the Major league Hall of Fame in 2002. This is one of the great achievments of his career.

He was an impact on my life. He was a nice man when I met him and he has done so much for his community. He has just helped me live my life the way he did and I hope to be just like him when I grow up. I hope that I have an impact on peoples life like he did when I get older.