Hands down, the greatest fielder at his position and possibly the best at any position. Could have batted zero and still played every day. I've played baseball competitively for over thirty five years (mostly at catcher and in the outfield) and am quite convinced that shortstop is the most important defensive position on the field. Hitters like Nomar, ARod, Jeter, Wagner, and Banks are an anomaly, fielders like Ozzie Smith are an inspiration. He could win games by elevating the play of his teammates. If you hit a grounder to the left side and The "Wiz" was playing short, you might as well run to the dugout and get your glove.

Ozzie's energy was infectious. I looked forward to every stretched out grab and every backflip. A guy that truely played for the love of the game.

Got better as a hitter as he went along, had speed, and that incredible glove goes without saying. He'd have been valuable even if he'd remained as the Mark Belanger type hitter he started as. Despite his remarkable defense, not at the level of a Wagner or A Rod for all around greatness, though certainly a worthy HOF'er.

Stats and awards aside, it was just downright fun to watch him play. You could sense the pure joy inside him everytime he ran out onto the field.

A brilliant, sometimes unearthly glove, probably the most spectacular defensive player at short I've ever seen. Not much with the wood in his hand, although far above the Mendoza line hitter some portray him as.

No doubt in my mind that the Wizard was the best defensive shortstop in MLB history.

A great player with a little extra showmanship. (backflips?)

Overrated showboat who could not hit his bodyweight and who purposefully made plays look harder than what they really were.

I'm shocked he's ranked so high. Yes, he was the best fielding shortstop of all time, but flashy moves don't make up for a weak bat.

No question, the best ever.

Unbelievable fielder, he gets a 5 even though he was not a wonderful hitter.

He couldnt hit,way over rated.

oz turned impossible catches into routine catches. A pleasure to watch

13 Gold Gloves definitely makes you one of the best all time. His offensive numbers aren't close to what the best SS's of today are producing, but he was definitely the best NL shortstop throughout most of his playing career.