Ozzie Smith reinforces sentiment to honor game's defensive stars. (Warm Up Tosses).(Brief Article)

WHEN OZZIE SMITH WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME LAST JULY, his admission bolstered the sentiments of many observers that baseball should do a little more to honor the defensive stars of the game.

The former gifted shortstop never hit more than six home runs in a season, so his plaque does not adorn the walls of the Cooperstown shrine because of what he did with his bat.

The plaque is there because of what he did with his glove.

"The guys who get into the Hall of Fame are the guys who hit the ball out of the park," Smith said after his election was announced earlier this year. "I think my going in reinforces the defensive aspect of the game."

Elected to the Hall in his first year of eligibility, Smith didn't have to wait as long to be enshrined as second baseman Bill Mazeroski, another premier defensive player who received the needed votes in 2001 from the Veterans Committee 29 years after he retired from the game.

Perhaps their elections will make it easier for other defensive standouts to gain similar recognition in future balloting.

In his 19 years in the National League (1978-1996), Smith won seven fielding titles, one with the Padres and six with the Cardinals.