⚾
NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 30 · SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #030 · FREE AGENT
Ozzie Smith — The Wizard Of
Oz And The 1985 Walk-Off
That Shocked Everyone
On October 14, 1985, Ozzie Smith hit a walk-off HR left-handed — having never done so before — and Jack
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL Buck yelled 'Go crazy, folks!'
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
THE GREATEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER WHO EVER LIVED HAD ONE MOMENT OF UNEXPECTED OFFENSE THAT BROKE THE
INTERNET BEFORE THE INTERNET EXISTED.
13 Gold Gloves. Hit A Walk-Off HR In The 1985 NLCS.
Had Never Hit One Left-Handed Before.
OZZIE SMITH GOLD GLOVES CAREER FIELDING PERCENTAGE CAREER HR LEFT-HANDED
.262 580 5
CAREER BA CAREER STOLEN BASES DEREK JETER GOLD GLOVES
Smith won 13 consecutive Gold Gloves at shortstop from 1980-92 — the most in history at any infield
position. He was known as a near-zero offensive threat who batted leadoff for his defense. Then in Game
5 of the 1985 NLCS, against Tom Niedenfuer, he hit a walk-off home run left-handed — having never hit a
home run from the left side in his career.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Los Angeles Dodgers OCTOBER 14, 1985
5
9th Tom Niedenfuer 0 W 3-2
NLCS GAME INNING PITCHER CAREER LH HR (PRIOR) RESULT
Go Crazy, Folks
FIRST LEFT-HANDED HR OF HIS CAREER — IN THE NLCS 9TH INNING
Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS, bottom of the 9th, Cardinals trailing 2-1. Tom Niedenfuer threw a fastball. Ozzie
Smith hit it over the right field wall. He had never hit a home run batting left-handed in his major league
career. Broadcaster Jack Buck famously yelled: 'Go crazy, folks! Go crazy!' The Cardinals took the series
lead. Smith stood at home plate in a moment that defined his career beyond the acrobatic plays — proving
that the Wizard could produce when it mattered most.
ERA VS ERA 03
Greatest Defensive Player In Baseball History?
OZZIE SMITH — SHORTSTOP BROOKS ROBINSON — 3B
GOLD GLOVES GOLD GLOVES
13 consecutive 16 consecutive
CAREER FIELDING % VS 1970 WS
.978 Superhuman
DEFENSIVE WAR LEGACY
44.3 Position's gold standard
Robinson won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves at third base. Smith won 13 consecutive at short. Both are the
unambiguous all-time defensive standard at their position. The honest answer: this is the greatest defensive
player debate in baseball history and there is no wrong answer.
Greatest defensive player in baseball history?
OZZIE SMITH (SS) BROOKS ROBINSON (3B) WILLIE MAYS (CF) IVAN RODRIGUEZ (C)
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
THE CARTWHEEL AND THE ACROBATICS
He Used To Do Backflips During The National
Anthem. At Age 30. In Game.
Ozzie Smith was famous for performing a front flip as he ran onto the field during pregame
introductions and the national anthem. He started doing it in 1978 and continued until age 38. On
defense, his acrobatic dives and backhand plays were not just successful — they were works of
art that crowds came specifically to see. He turned defensive play into performance.
Defense is just as important as offense. You can score all the runs in the world and
still lose if you can't get people out.
— OZZIE SMITH
THE STAT VAULT 05
CONSECUTIVE GOLD GLOVES LH CAREER HR BEFORE 1985 NLCS
1980 to 1992. Most consecutive Gold He had never hit a home run left-handed
Gloves at any infield position. in his career. Then he hit the walk-off.
CAREER STOLEN BASES CAREER FIELDING PERCENTAGE
13th most in baseball history. Defense One of the highest marks in history for a
AND speed. shortstop.
44.3 DEFENSIVE WAR
One of the highest defensive WAR totals in baseball history.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Lenny Dykstra
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES · 1985-1996
.285 CAREER BA · 2X ALL-STAR · 1993 PENNANT LEADER
Two-Time All-Star Leadoff Hitter. 1993 Pennant Catalyst. Completely Fallen
From The Record Books.
Lenny Dykstra made 2 All-Star teams, hit .285, and led the 1993 Phillies to the World Series with a
.305/.420/.482 line. His off-field issues — PED use, bankruptcy, prison — erased his baseball legacy from
most conversations. His 1993 season was one of the best leadoff campaigns in NL history.
THE CONNECTION:
Dykstra and Smith were both undersized leadoff hitters who won games through hustle, defense, and
on-base skills. Dykstra's career got erased by conduct. Smith's gets remembered as one of the
greatest ever. Baseball celebrates one and erases the other.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Dwight Gooden posted a 1.53 ERA at age 20. The greatest single pitching season at that age —
then the drugs.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.