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Independence, MO —
There they were, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Smooth.” The two infielders who redefined their respective positions for the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals.
Shortstop Ozzie Smith, the owner of 13 Gold Gloves, and second baseman Frank White, who was nicknamed “Smooth” by former teammate Darrell Porter and won eight Gold Gloves of his own, shared the stage at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Field of Legends, where they announced the winners of the Negro Leagues Gold Glove Awards (see Friday’s Examiner or log onto www.examiner.net).
Smith, a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, and White, a member of the Royals Hall of Fame, were the secretaries of defense.
And they each revealed a special dream that became a reality in 1986.
“I always wanted to play on the same team with Ozzie,” White said. “And it happened in 1986 when we were on a team that toured Japan.”
Smith nodded in agreement.
“I felt the same way,” Smith said. “I often wondered what it would be like to have Frank as my team’s second baseman. Frank was the best, and it’s a shame he’s not in the Hall of Fame. That’s something that needs to happen, and it needs to happen soon.”
Buck O’Neil, the former Negro Leagues standout and longtime Kansas City icon who was deemed baseball’s ambassador until his death in 2006 at the age of 94, once told me, “As long as I’m around, Frank will have someone supporting him. I saw them all – in the Negro Leagues and big leagues, and Frank was the best. He should be in the Hall of Fame.”
Smith and White will be involved in a variety of events leading up to the July 10 All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium, and Thursday’s event at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum gave a hint of things to come.
“I want people to know what a special place Kansas City is,” said White, a hometown hero who grew up in Kansas City and attended Lincoln High School. “Most people think that Kansas City is in Kansas. I love the people in Kansas City, Kan., but my Kansas City is Kansas City, Mo., and people who come for the All-Star Game are going to find friendly people, great barbecue and steaks and a jewel that most people don’t even know about.”
There they were, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Smooth.” The two infielders who redefined their respective positions for the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals.
Shortstop Ozzie Smith, the owner of 13 Gold Gloves, and second baseman Frank White, who was nicknamed “Smooth” by former teammate Darrell Porter and won eight Gold Gloves of his own, shared the stage at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Field of Legends, where they announced the winners of the Negro Leagues Gold Glove Awards (see Friday’s Examiner or log onto www.examiner.net).
Smith, a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, and White, a member of the Royals Hall of Fame, were the secretaries of defense.
And they each revealed a special dream that became a reality in 1986.
“I always wanted to play on the same team with Ozzie,” White said. “And it happened in 1986 when we were on a team that toured Japan.”
Smith nodded in agreement.
“I felt the same way,” Smith said. “I often wondered what it would be like to have Frank as my team’s second baseman. Frank was the best, and it’s a shame he’s not in the Hall of Fame. That’s something that needs to happen, and it needs to happen soon.”
Buck O’Neil, the former Negro Leagues standout and longtime Kansas City icon who was deemed baseball’s ambassador until his death in 2006 at the age of 94, once told me, “As long as I’m around, Frank will have someone supporting him. I saw them all – in the Negro Leagues and big leagues, and Frank was the best. He should be in the Hall of Fame.”
Smith and White will be involved in a variety of events leading up to the July 10 All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium, and Thursday’s event at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum gave a hint of things to come.
“I want people to know what a special place Kansas City is,” said White, a hometown hero who grew up in Kansas City and attended Lincoln High School. “Most people think that Kansas City is in Kansas. I love the people in Kansas City, Kan., but my Kansas City is Kansas City, Mo., and people who come for the All-Star Game are going to find friendly people, great barbecue and steaks and a jewel that most people don’t even know about.”
Glancing over at Smith, White added, “I think a lot of people think Kansas City is in Kansas because of the ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Not you Ozzie – the movie.”
The comment brought applause and laughter from the standing-room-only crowd that filled the Field of Legends.
Although he starred for the Cardinals, and was on the 1985 St. Louis team that lost the World Series to White’s Royals, Smith also praised Kansas City.
“There is a wonderful culture in Kansas City,” Smith said. “People in Kansas City share a common goal, and that is making all visitors feel at home.”
This dynamic duo made everyone feel at home Thursday as they posed for photos, signed autographs and proved that they were all-star human beings, and not just all-star players.
