5 St. Louis Cardinals shortstops living in Ozzie Smith’s shadow

Since Ozzie Smith retired in 1996, all Cardinals shortstops have been compared to him and living in The Wizards shadow.

When Ozzie Smith turned in his glove after the 1996 season, he left a legacy at shortstop no one has since matched in St. Louis Cardinals history.  The 11 Gold Gloves, 14 time All Star, a Silver Slugger Award, the backflip, and Jack Buck’s famous “Go Crazy Folks” call in the 1985 NLCS against the Dodgers, all contributed to Ozzie’s legacy in St. Louis.

I don’t think anyone would argue that Ozzie Smith was the greatest shortstop in Cardinals history, and certainly, one of the greatest in baseball history. In 2002, he became a first ballot Baseball Hall of Famer with 91.7% of the votes cast. In 2014, he was inducted with 22 other players in the inaugural class of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Additionally, in 1999, he ranked No. 87 in The Sporting News list of 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and finished third in voting at shortstop for the Major League Baseball All Century Team.

Also, Ozzie Smith is probably the only player in Cardinals history to be identified as a baseball legend more at a defensive position. In other words, as opposed to being a legend with a bat, or a arm, such as Stan Musial or Bob Gibson.

Don’t get me wrong. There have been other outstanding Cardinals in the past who were defensive standouts and won multiple Gold Gloves.  Keith Hernandez, Bill White, Scott Rolen, Ken Boyer, Jim Edmonds, and Curt Flood to name a few. But none of them defined the position they played like Ozzie did.

What does all this add up to? In the 26 years Since Ozzie Smith’s retirement, every shortstop that’s been on the Cardinals roster has had to live in his shadow. Some were very good and were difference makers with the Cardinals. That being said, many have been forgettable.

Some of the names who have come and gone playing shortstop in St. Louis are Royce Clayton, Edgar Renteria, David Eckstein, Cesar Izturis, Khalil Greene, Brendon Ryan, Tyler Greene, Ryan, Theriot, Rafael Furcal, Pete Kozma, Jhonny Peralta, Aledmys Diaz, and Paul DeJong.