Cardinals History: Ozzie Smith corks one into right, and the folks go crazy

Few moments are as synonymous with Cardinal lore as the home run by The Wizard. 41 years ago, Ozzie Smith did something baseball will never forget, and the folks went crazy. 

It’s often said that how you start is how you finish, but in this October duel, the Cardinals had to pick up steam. 

Cardinals History: Ozzie Smith saves the day with one of the best moments in franchise history

Bob Forsch drew the start for the Redbirds against a daunting foe in blue. Fernando Valenzuela and his enigmatic left-hand opposed the Cards. 

Forsch lasted only 3.1 innings. He surrendered two earned runs to a formidable Dodgers offense, highlighted by good friend Pedro Guerrero and third baseman Bill Madlock. 

After Forsch departed, Ken Dayley saved the day. 

The southpaw out of Jerome, Idaho, locked things down for 2.2 innings, slowing the early LA onslaught. 

On the blue side, the Dodgers had their own southpaw on the mound, but not by bullpen. 

Valenzuela pitched for eight innings. He allowed two earned runs and struck out seven. Interestingly, the Cardinal offense walked eight times, but the kingpin Dodger always had an answer. 

After Valenzuela finally handed the ball to his bullpen, it was time for Tom Niedenfuer to toe the slab. 

Niedenfuer was still a tough customer for the Cardinal offense, but the mere sight of no Valenzuela seemed to light a torch of hope. 

Niedenfuer's dramatic sequence started innocently enough. 

The mustachioed-righty got his grip, adjusted his cap, and took a deep breath. In retrospect, it looks like he was bracing for impact, like the ball itself. 

After his tiny routine, Niedenfuer took the sign from catcher Mike Scioscia and nodded. It must’ve been an agreeable pitch. 

As Niedenfuer started his windup, he pushed his glove up and back over his head–a style that’s lost prominence over time. 

The kick and the pitch, and… (in my best Jack Buck impression)

“Smith, corks one into right down the line…It may go…GO CRAZY FOLKS! GO CRAZY! IT’S A HOME RUN! AND THE CARDINALS HAVE WON THE GAME…”

Buck would go on to credit “The Wizard,” as the Redbirds embraced their star shortstop at home plate. 

Honestly, one of the most underrated parts of the play was right fielder Mike Marshall, who watched the ball crack off the wall for a homer and decided to launch it back into the infield, just in case. 

But there was no case to be made. Judgment Day had come and gone–it favored the best shortstop in MLB history and his merry band of Birds. 

The Cardinals would win the next game en route to a World Series appearance against the Kansas City Royals. What happened in that series? It’s funny, nobody actually remembers! Not a single person (Cards should’ve won). 

Still, the Cardinals had a chance to go all the way, and it was only because Smith corked one into right. 

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