In your expert opinion. Who would you take Ozzie Smith or Omar Vizquel? And who's better?

Question

Ozzie Smith:
19 seasons
13 gold gloves
2,460 hits
793 rbi's
28 hr's
580 stolen bases
.262 lifetime batting average

Omar Vizquel:
18 seasons
11 gold gloves
2,472 hits
818 rbi's
73 hr's
366 stolen bases
.276 lifetime batting average

Answer 1

Both great players but I would have to give the nod to Ozzie for a few reasons.

1. 2/3 of his career was during an era in the Majors before the really gaudy offensive numbers began while vizquels entire career has been IN that era.

2. Those great back flips. lol

3. He was a big contributor on a championship team and had a memorable clutch home run in the playoffs another year.

4. He was the pioneer. He revolutionized the position.

Interestingly enough, while both players are statistically comparable and you can even say that Vizquel's offensive numbers are better, Vizquel will have a very tough time getting into the Hall of Fame, while The Wizard was a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Vizquel, next to Andres Galaraga and Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio is probably one of the best Venezuelan players in Major League history.

Having Vizquel as my starting shortstop would be fine, I just think Ozzie is a more meaningful figure in baseball history.

Answer 2

Ozzie, but I gotta put in a word for Davey Concepcion.

19 Seasons
5 Gold Gloves
2326 Hits
950 RBI
101 HR
321 SB
.267 lifetime batting average

Davey played in an era when SS's were chosen for their defensive skills instead of their bat. He was a VERY good defensive SS, and his offensive stats were better than nearly every other SS of his day. They compare very well to Ozzie, yet Ozzie was a HoF shoo-in and Davey is not close.

I think Davey should be in the HoF as well. The problem is that he was overshadowed by other offensive giants on his own team (Rose, Bench, Perez, Morgan) and he played at the same time Ozzie did so his glove work was overshadowed. His lifetime defensive average was .972 and Ozzie's was .978. That ain't too shabby when you compare it to one of the game's best gloves ever.

Answer 3

Well I know most people will diagree with me but I would take Omar Vizquel.He has a better fielding% and is a btter hitter.Ozzie Smith won 13 gold gloves,2 more then Vizquel but the fielding% is more important.Ozzie was slightly faster then Vizquel but overall Vizquel is better and should be a hall of famer.

Answer 4

I would definitely take Ozzie Smith. He was great defensively and more than adequate offensively for a shortstop of that era, but more importantly he was well-liked by his teammates as well as everybody else. Omar Vizquel on the other hand is a selfish prick and whiner. I wish Arthur Rhodes would have knocked him unconscious a few years ago after Vizquel (probably in the middle of a 'roid rage) complained about Rhodes's diamond earring.

Answer 5

Ozzie Smith. Vizquel's no slouch either and has marginally better offensive stats than The Wizard, but Ozzie's the best fielding shortstop that I've seen, in my opinion.

Answer 6

I like Vizquel. He is still getting better and he may win another gold glove or two. And the reason that he hasn't had any clutch hit in his career is because he hasn't played on the best ball clubs. Indians were good in the mid-90's but other than those couple of years he hasn't been on a real contender

Answer 7

omar vizquels offensive numbers may be better but ozzie smith was the most amazing player i ever saw man he made plays other player could have never gotten close to ozzie was on a team for his glove anyhting you got form him batting was a bonus

Answer 8

In a lot respects they are comparable players, but Ozzie had flair and the National league wasnt deep in great shortstops at the time, while Omar had to play in the shadow of Cal, Arod, Nomar and Tejada. I am a Tribe fan and love Omar, but I cant put him ahead of Ozzie. When it comes to HOF time Im afraid that Omar will be passed up, because of a lack of guawdy offensive numbers, but he will be remembered as one of the best shortstops of his time

Answer 9

I'd pick ozzie smith, he was by far best fielder ever, even better than Willie Mays was in the field, and he won a WS and hit a walk off HR in the NLCS the year they won the WS, and Vizquel never won a WS, and never had 1 clutch hit in his career

Answer 10

I would take Ozzie Smith. He is more athletic than Vizquel. They don't call him the wizard for nothing.