Smith elected to Hall, Carter falls just short

NEW YORK -- Ozzie Smith had it all the way.

The Wizard of Oz, who made a career out of turning difficult plays into dazzling ones, was easily elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday in his first year of eligibility.

Smith, regarded as the finest-fielding shortstop ever, was the lone player picked. Gary Carter fell just short of election.

"My defense made such an impact, it made people take notice," Smith said.

An acrobatic, 13-time Gold Glove winner while with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, Smith was chosen on 91.7 percent of the ballots.

"To be the only one going in I think speaks to the impact I had at my position," he said.

Smith took a sip of champagne at his home in St. Louis after getting the good news. He did not celebrate with one of his customary backflips, "but I probably could do one today."

Smith became the 37th player picked on his first try. He is the 22nd shortstop overall in the Hall.

"The guys who get into the Hall of Fame are the guys who hit the ball out of the ballpark," he said. "I think my going in is going to reinforce the defensive aspect of the game."

Smith's sure hands were put to use right away. On Tuesday night, he carried the Olympic torch as the relay made its way to St. Louis. Then he and St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner lit a cauldron celebrating the flame's short stay in the Gateway City.

Smith was selected on 433 of 472 ballots. To be elected, players had to be listed on at least 75 percent of the ballots of 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Carter got 343 votes (72.7 percent) and fell 11 shy of election. The former catcher's totals have dramatically improved over the years, going from 33.8 percent in 1999, to 49.7 percent in 2000, to 64.9 percent last year.

"When the anticipation is so high and it's being talked about so much, there's a letdown," Carter said. "Being this close, you want it to happen."

"I'm at the threshold. I'm waiting for them to open the door," he said. "I'm just excited for next year."

Jim Rice (55 percent) was third in the voting, followed by Bruce Sutter (50 percent), first-time candidate Andre Dawson (45 percent) and Goose Gossage (43 percent).

Luis Tiant (18 percent) fell off the ballot in his 15th and final year of eligibility. Ron Guidry, Dave Stewart and Frank Viola were among the players who failed to receive the required 5 percent to remain on the ballot.

Smith, 47, was a 15-time All-Star. He will become the 254th person enshrined in the Hall during ceremonies at Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 28.

Smith won Gold Gloves from 1980-92, and set shortstop records for most assists (8,375) and double plays (1,590). The Cardinals retired his No. 1.

While playing, Smith said he never had time to admire his prowess. But after watching himself in highlight reels since retiring, he playfully proclaimed: "You know what? I was good."

Smith was not known for his offense. He batted just .262 in his career with 2,460 hits, 28 homers and 793 RBIs. He also stole 580 bases.

By the time Smith's career ended, Cal Ripken had already ushered in the era of top-hitting shortstops. Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter now carry that mantle.

"When you're hitting 40 or 50 homers, you have to give up something. If it's a middle infielder, that usually means range," Smith said. "There will always be room for the prototypical shortstop."

Smith will go into the Hall a year after former Pittsburgh second baseman Bill Mazeroski made it.

Mazeroski, a career .260 hitter, was a stellar defensive player and his election "sent a clear message I had a good chance," Smith said.

Mazeroski was selected by the Veterans Committee, which has since been revamped drastically. The 15-man panel has been replaced by a 90-man group, two-thirds of them Hall of Famers, and can elect players only once every two years, beginning in 2003.

Smith broke into the majors with San Diego in 1978. He played four years with the Padres, then was traded for shortstop Garry Templeton in February 1982, and played 15 years in St. Louis.

Hardly any non-pitchers in the Hall have fewer homers than Smith. Johnny Evers and Ray Schalk are tied for the least with 12.

Smith, however, could deliver in the clutch. A switch-hitter, the first left-handed homer of his career came in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 1985 NL championship series, lifting the Cardinals over Los Angeles.

The Cardinals went on to win the series in six games, and Smith was voted MVP of the NLCS.

Smith and St. Louis won the World Series in 1982, and lost in seven games in 1985 and 1987.

"I didn't like the moniker of being a one-dimensional player," he said. "I became a much better rounded player than I was given credit for."

Carter, an 11-time All-Star, was on the ballot for the fifth time.

He hit 324 homers with 1,225 RBIs. His 298 homers as a catcher are the sixth-most.

"I thought, for sure, he'd probably get in this year," Smith said.

Rice, on the ballot for the eighth time, was fourth in last year's voting at 57.9 percent. The eight-time All-Star and 1978 AL MVP had a .298 career average with 382 homers and 1,451 RBIs.

Sutter and Gossage were bidding to join Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers as the only relievers in the Hall.

Alan Trammell got 16 percent in his first year of eligibility. He hit .285 with 185 homers and 1,003 RBIs as Detroit's shortstop from 1977-96, and won four Gold Gloves.

"I was hoping to get more and maybe gain some momentum for future years," Trammell said.