Ozzie Smith

Ozzie Smith

Keynote Speaker: Hall of Fame Shortstop, Rawlings Gold Glove Winner, Baseball Education Ambassador

Ozzie Smith Biography

Ozzie Smith is known in baseball as "The Wizard" and the best defensive shortstop of all time. He was a first ballot inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Smith retired from baseball in 1996 after playing 19 years in the major leagues, the first four years with the San Diego Padres and the final fifteen with the St. Louis Cardinals. His nickname describes the way he played shortstop—he performed magic with his glove and performed in the infield with amazing acrobatic agility.

Smith broke countless records during his nineteen years in the majors:

  • All-time assist leader at shortstop with 8,375 assists

  • All-time leader at turning double plays, with 1,590

  • 13 consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, signifying the best at his position

  • Started at shortstop for 10 consecutive years in the All Star Game, and was the number one vote getter overall for the 1987 and 1988 All Star Games.

Other noteworthy baseball accomplishments include:

  • Earned his 2000th hit in 1992, finishing his career with 2,460 hits

  • Consistently one of the toughest hitters to strike out and in 1994 joined his friend Eddie Murray as the only two active players with seventeen straight 100 hit seasons.

  • Was named to the All Century 100 Best Baseball Players of the 20th Century by Major League Baseball.

  • Selected as the shortstop on the 50 year Anniversary Rawlings Gold Glove Team and inducted into the Rawlings Gold Glove Hall of Fame in 2011.

Off-the-Field Accomplishments:

  • 2001 recipient of the “Walter Payton Sweetness Award”, a Victor Award given to an athlete who has contributed to his community as well as being recognized in his particular sport.

  • 1995 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, the humanitarian award of Major League Baseball

  • 1994 recipient of the Branch Rickey Award, personifying “Service Above Self”

  • 1992 St. Louis Man of the Year, a prestigious civic award never before given to an athlete.

  • 1986 Father of the Year Honors Group Award

  • 1983 NAACP Image Award for Sportsmanship, Humanitarianism, and Community Involvement.

Currently, Smith serves as the Education Ambassador for the Baseball Hall of Fame. He also headlines a fundraiser, “Play Ball with Ozzie Smith” every year in Cooperstown during Induction weekend. Locally, he serves as President of PGA REACH Gateway, an organization that reaches out to inner city youth and our military via mentoring and golf programs.

Smith continues to engage with the community as the host of “Cardinals Insider”, a weekly news magazine television show airing in multiple markets throughout the Cardinal territory. Since retirement from baseball Smith succeeded Mel Allen as host of "This Week in Baseball", was the color analyst for Cardinal broadcasts in 1997-1999, and served as the baseball analyst for CNNSI, a joint venture between CNN and Sports Illustrated from 1999 to 2002.

In May 2017, the Ozzie Smith IMAC Regeneration Center opened in Chesterfield, Missouri. This Center establishes personalized protocols for patients using physical therapy, chiropractics, platelet rich plasma, spine decompression, and stem cell rejuvenation in pain management and treatment. Smith is a partner in this business and has always believed in alternative methods of healing.

In 1998, 1999, and 2001 Smith was cast in three theatrical productions at The Municipal Theatre in St. Louis. He had a cameo role in "Damn Yankees" in 1998. In 1999 he sang and tap danced in "The Muny Goes British" a musical revue based on songs from various Broadway musicals, and in 2001 he starred as The Wizard in The Muny’s production of "The Wizard of Oz".

Smith has three children and one granddaughter and makes St. Louis his home because he feels a deep responsibility to give back to the community that has so enriched his life.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Ozzie Smith and other top speakers and celebrities.

Ozzie Smith Videos

One on One with Jane Mitchell featuring the Legends - Ozzie Smith ...
Ozzie Smith delivers Hall of Fame induction speech
Ozzie Smith talks about his career, his tardemark backflip, and his ...

How do I book Ozzie Smith to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ozzie Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ozzie Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ozzie Smith or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Ozzie Smith for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Ozzie Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ozzie Smith are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ozzie Smith, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Ozzie Smith speak about?

Ozzie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Christian Athletes, Hall of Fame, Baseball, Athlete, Sports Journalism & Broadcasting, Inspirational, Social Activism, Non-Profit, Sports, Health and Fitness.

Where does Ozzie Smith travel from?

Ozzie Smith generally travels from St. Louis, MO, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Ozzie Smith?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Ozzie Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ozzie Smith for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ozzie Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Ozzie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Christian Athletes, Hall of Fame and Baseball. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ozzie Smith for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Ozzie Smith generally travels from St. Louis, MO, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Inky Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and John Smoltz. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ozzie Smith for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/11/2024.

Ozzie Smith Videos

One on One with Jane Mitchell featuring the Legends - Ozzie Smith ...
Ozzie Smith delivers Hall of Fame induction speech
Ozzie Smith talks about his career, his tardemark backflip, and his ...
Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith demonstrates defensive tactics ...

Ozzie Smith News

  • How do I book Ozzie Smith to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ozzie Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ozzie Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ozzie Smith or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Ozzie Smith for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Ozzie Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ozzie Smith are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ozzie Smith, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Ozzie Smith speak about?

    Ozzie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Christian Athletes, Hall of Fame, Baseball, Athlete, Sports Journalism & Broadcasting, Inspirational, Social Activism, Non-Profit, Sports, Health and Fitness.
  • Where does Ozzie Smith travel from?

    Ozzie Smith generally travels from St. Louis, MO, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Ozzie Smith?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Ozzie Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ozzie Smith for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ozzie Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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