Synopsis
Dubbed "Wizard" for his on-field magic, the Saint Louis Cardinals' All-Star shortstop recounts his youth in riot-torn Watts and his climb to become baseball's highest paid player, and offers fresh and outspoken opinions on very aspect of baseball today
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Reviews
Smith, popularly known as "The Wizard of Oz," is noteworthy in baseball history because he was the first primarily defensive player to be given a million-dollar contract. The famed shortstop has consistently raised his batting average, but at one time he was the archetypal good-field, no-hit star. Here, with coauthor Rains, sportswriter for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, he covers his years with the San Diego Padres, a team mired in or near last place when he was with them, and as a player now with the St. Louis Cardinals. He has amusing stories to tell, such as the one about Padres owner Joan Kroc's offer to hire him part-time as her assistant gardner, and presents controversial viewpoints, like the charge that umpires may be guilty of ruling against superstars because of jealousy over their huge salaries. By and large, however, this is a conventional baseball autobiography. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Wizard
Seller: HPB-Emerald, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_461778260
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Wizard
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0809245949I3N00
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Wizard
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0809245949I4N00
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Wizard
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0809245949I3N10
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Wizard
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0809245949I5N00
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Wizard
Seller: Big River Books, Powder Springs, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: very_good. signed by author to person. Seller Inventory # BRV.0809245949.VG
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Wizard
Published by
Contemporary Books, Chicago, Illinois, 1988
ISBN 10: 0809245949
ISBN 13: 9780809245949
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Signed
Seller: Bookmarc's, La Porte, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. AN4 - A first edition (no additional printing) hardcover book SIGNED by Ozzie Smith and inscribed to previous owner on the title page and back free endpaper in very good condition in very good dust jacket that is mylar protected. Dust jacket has some scattered light vertical crease/fold, some wrinkling, chipping and crease on the edges and corners, light tanning and shelf wear. Book has some bumped corners, some wrinkling on the spine edges, significant tanning and light shelf wear. 8.75"x5.75", 187 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Ozzie Smith (Osborne Earl Smith) is an American former professional baseball player. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz", Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National League Gold Glove Award for defensive play at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons. 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. Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama; his family moved to Watts, Los Angeles, when he was six years old. While participating in childhood athletic activities, Smith possessed quick reflexes; he went on to play baseball at Locke High School in Los Angeles, then at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Drafted as an amateur player by the Padres, Smith made his major league debut in 1978. He quickly established himself as an outstanding fielder, and later became known for performing backflips on special occasions while taking his position at the beginning of a game. Smith won his first Gold Glove Award in 1980 and made his first All-Star Game appearance in 1981. When Smith clashed with the Padres' owners, Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog flew to San Diego to persuade the shortstop that he would be an appreciated and core component of the St. Louis team. Herzog's overture worked; Smith waived his contract's "no trade" clause and was traded to the Cardinals for shortstop Garry Templeton in 1982. Upon joining the Cardinals, Smith helped the team win the 1982 World Series. Three years later, his game-winning home run during Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series prompted broadcaster Jack Buck's "Go crazy, folks!" play-by-play call. Despite a rotator cuff injury during the 1985 season, Smith posted career highs in multiple offensive categories in 1987. Smith continued to earn Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances annually until 1993. During the 1995 season, Smith had shoulder surgery and was out nearly three months. After tension with his new manager Tony La Russa developed in 1996, Smith retired at season's end, and his uniform number (No. 1) was subsequently retired by the Cardinals. Smith served as host of the television show This Week in Baseball from 1997 to 1998. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # 2507ec995
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Wizard
Published by
Contemporary, Chicago, 1988
ISBN 10: 0809245949
ISBN 13: 9780809245949
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Archer's Used and Rare Books, Kent, OH, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Dust Jacket is in fine condition without tears or chips or other damage. Dust jacket in mylar guard. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Sports & Pastimes; Baseball; ISBN: 0809245949. ISBN/EAN: 9780809245949. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 7140. Seller Inventory # 7140
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WIZARD
Published by
Contemporary Books, 1988
ISBN 10: 0809245949
ISBN 13: 9780809245949
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Austin Book Shop LLC, Richmond Hill, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hard Cover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Illus. 187pp. Standard autobio by the president of the Joan Kroc fan club. (loc bb/1+1). Seller Inventory # 13456
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Wizard
Published by
Contemporary/Chicago, 1988
ISBN 10: 0809245949
ISBN 13: 9780809245949
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Enterprise Books, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. First Edition; First Printing. Book and DJ New. No defects. No names or ANY markings. DJ not clipped ($16.95) ; Photos; 187 pages. Seller Inventory # 7463