Cal Poly Baseball Alum, Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith Receives National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award

Memphis, Tenn. — Earlier this week, Cal Poly Baseball alum Ozzie Smith was given a Sport Legacy Award from the National Civil Rights Museum. Smith was one of four 2024 recipients who was recognized during the start of the Memphis Grizzlies game on Martin Luther King Day. The Hall of Fame shortstop is just the second baseball legend to receive this honor after Willie Mays. Smith attended Cal Poly in 1974 through 1977 on a partial academic scholarship and was a walk on to the baseball team which was then in the Division II CCAA. When Cal Poly's starting shortstop broke his leg midway through the 1974 season, Smith took over the starting role and soon made a name for himself as an All-American athlete with 754 career at bats and a still standing school record for a career stolen bases at 110. After finishing his collegiate career, Smith was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 1977 MLB Draft. Over the course of his 19-year career with the Padres and Saint Louis Cardinals, Smith was a 15-time All Star, 1982 World Series Champion, NLCS MVP, 12-time Gold Glove Award recipient, Silver Slugger Award winner, and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Though his playing days are now over, he continues to make an impact in other ways within the world of athletics. As the current President of the PGA REACH Gateway Foundation, Smith's goal is to offer opportunities to youth and veterans through the game of golf. Smith has a statue at the entrance of Baggett Stadium that was first built in 2003. He is also a member of the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame.

Calendar

Cal Poly Baseball Alum, Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith Receives National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award

Footer

Upcoming Events

Cal Poly Baseball Alum, Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith Receives National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award

Related News

Related Videos

Footer