'The Wizard of Oz' at formal dedication of Ozzie Smith Plaza in 2003. Ozzie Smith will be on hand for the ceremony rededicating his statue and Ozzie Smith Plaza on Saturday afternoon.
Ozzie Smith Statue to be Rededicated Saturday Afternoon
3/22/2023 2:07:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Ozzie Smith Plaza, formerly dedicated in 2003, will be rededicated on Saturday, March 25, at a new location with the namesake on hand for the ceremony.At 2:30 p.m., the "Wizard of Oz" will help Cal Poly officials rededicate the three-quarter size statue of Ozzie Smith, which was moved as part of a project that included a new entry way for Baggett Stadium and Bob Janssen Field. The statue is now located behind the Hoffman Press Box.
The Cal Poly baseball team hosts UC Irvine for a Big West Conference game at 4 o'clock.
Over $1.3M was invested in improving the plaza, including a new press box, ticket booth, entry arches, fencing, landscaping, and a new home for the Ozzie Smith statue, sitting upon a baseball with appropriate uplighting, to present one of Cal Poly's most successful athlete alumni.
Construction was done by Maino Construction and all concrete and flat work was provided by Cal Poly alumni Michael Price and Jon Vasquez of Bay Area Concretes.
Smith played baseball at Cal Poly from 1974-77 before embarking on a 19-year playing career in the Major Leagues as a shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. He won the National League Gold Glove Award for defensive play at shortstop 13 consecutive seasons and was a 15-time All-Star.
Smith accumulated 2,460 hits and 580 stolen bases during his career, and won the National League Silver Slugger Award as the best hitter at shortstop in 1987. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2002. He was also elected to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 2014 and was a charter member of the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.
Smith still holds Cal Poly records for most career steals (110) and in a single season (44 twice, in 1976 and 1977) and is fifth in career games played (195), third in at-bats (754) and 10th in runs scored (134). For a single season, Smith is fifth in games played (61 in 1977), third in at-bats (254 in 1977) and ninth in triples (six in 1977).
After his junior year at Cal Poly, the Detroit Tigers selected Ozzie in the seventh round of the 1976 free-agent draft; he did not sign and returned for his senior year. The two-time All-California Collegiate Athletic Association first-team shortstop earned All-American honors following the 1977 season after leading Cal Poly to 41 victories, then a school record, and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Ozzie was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round in June 1977. After four years with the Padres, he spent 15 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Ozzie holds the National League record for the number of times he was the fielding percentage leader (7). In 1996 the Cardinals retired his No. 1 jersey.
The rededication is part of Cal Poly baseball's Alumni Weekend, which includes wine tasting on Friday and a barbecue Saturday afternoon prior to the rededication ceremony. Alumni chair Bruce Freeberg, alumnus Joe Rumsey and stadium namesake Robin Baggett organized the weekend festivities.
Cal Poly and UC Irvine play Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 o'clock.
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