Philly Crowd Creates Magic For Wizard

In his final All-Star appearance, Ozzie Smith didn’t have to do backflips.

All he had to do was soak up the applause.

The sellout crowd at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, which was relatively quiet when Smith came in to play shortstop in the sixth inning Tuesday, stood and cheered for nearly a minute when Smith came to the plate in the seventh.

As the fans chanted “Ozzie! Ozzie!” Smith tipped his batting helmet to the crowd and bowed. American League catcher Sandy Alomar offered his hand, and Smith shook it. The rest of the American Leaguers stood in the dugout and applauded, paying homage to the “Wizard of Oz,” who is retiring at the end of the season.

Even after Smith grounded out to second, the fans gave him another ovation as he trotted back to the N.L. dugout.

“There were a lot of butterflies,” a tearful Smith said in the dugout during the bottom of the eighth inning. “Baseball has been my life for a very long time. To reach this point, you know that it’s coming to at some point in time, and for me it’s the time.”

No noise from Belle

Albert Belle didn’t erupt during the game - on or off the field.

The controversial Cleveland outfielder, in and out of trouble during a variety of incidents, struck out his first three times up, then lined out to center.

Belle became the first player to strike out three times in a game since Mickey Mantle in 1956.

Belle is 1 for 10 in four All-Star appearances.

The partial N.L. fans greeted Belle with boos.

Top Met at the Vet

If most valuable player Mike Piazza was the star, Lance Johnson was the spark.

The New York Mets center fielder, playing in his first All-Star Game, went 3 for 4, stole two bases and made a nice running catch on the line drive by Belle.

“I really had a ball tonight,” said Johnson, who replaced the injured Tony Gwynn in the starting lineup. “That was great.”

Maybe they’ll cheer Belle

Jacobs Field will stage next year’s All-Star game. In fact, Cleveland will pull off a rare double by also playing host to the NBA’s All-Star weekend.

Griffey watches from afar

A doctor’s visit prevented Ken Griffey Jr., the top vote getter for this year’s game, from attending the game.

Griffey, sidelined with a broken hand, flew to Seattle Monday night to see his surgeon. Griffey was also unable to play in last year’s game in Texas but did get to take a bow during player introductions.

Chills for Phils

Hall of Famers Richie Ashburn, Jim Bunning, Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts and Mike Schmidt - representing 40 years of Philadelphia baseball - threw out the ceremonial first pitches for the game.

Bunning is the Phillies’ most recent Hall of Famer. He will be inducted in Cooperstown Aug. 4.