Maybe Smith Isn’t Ready to Quit Yet

St. Louis Cardinal shortstop Ozzie Smith stepped onto the field Thursday night not knowing if this indeed would be the final time he wears a baseball uniform.

Smith, 42, announced during the season that he would retire. Now, he’s not so sure of his intentions.

“You never know, but I’m leaving my options open,” said Smith, who batted .282 in 82 games this season. “People ask me if I will come back to play. Now, I don’t know. But this is all working out the way the man upstairs wanted it.”

Smith went into the game as a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth inning and received a long standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 52,067. He tipped his cap and then fouled out. He received another standing ovation walking back to the dugout for what might be the final at-bat of his career.

Smith said if he retires, he has a personal services contract with the Cardinals and eventually would like to become a general manager.

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Smith said he wasn’t bitter about finishing his career as a backup to Royce Clayton. “I think a lot of people assumed a lot of things this year,” he said. “Those people never talked to me. I read this and I heard where I say this.

“The truth is that the only thing Ozzie Smith is unhappy about is the way it was handled. I think I was very professional about the way I approached the season.

“I didn’t come into 1996 expecting to play 150 games. I showed what I can do when I’m healthy. People say, ‘Gee, Ozzie, you sure are playing good.’ I always played good. I just wasn’t healthy the last two years, that’s why I didn’t play good. I always wanted to leave the game just as good as I did when I entered the game, and I think I have.

“My legacy is that I had a part in the way defense has been recognized as such a big part in this game. I’ve been able to play at such a high level for so long that I’ve set my own standard.”

Does Smith have any interest in managing?

“Nah, I’ve had enough stress and strain as a player to add any more to my life.”

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National League officials are angry that New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner has omitted them from the guest list at their pre-World Series party tonight.

It is the first time, a National League official said, that an owner has shunned officials from either league at an postseason reception.

“I can’t believe it,” the official said, “but then again you’re talking about George.”

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The Braves have tentatively decided to start John Smoltz in Game 1, Denny Neagle in Game 2, Greg Maddux in Game 3 and Tom Glavine in Game 4.