Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith looked at ease as he rolled into Busch Stadium during his introduction before Monday’s Opening Day washout against the Colorado Rockies.

Dressed in a red sports coat and full of enthusiasm, Smith flashed that great smile and waved at the fans as they shouted “Ozzie! Ozzie!”

At odds with manager Tony La Russa, Smith is not a permanent fixture at the stadium. But he loves his team and he loves his town.

Maybe he sees the light at the end of the La Russa regime tunnel. The skipper’s latest contract extension will most likely be his last.

Maybe he has mellowed on their feud, which many of us think was caused more by La Russa’s arrogance than Smith’s ego.

But maybe Ozzie misses Cardinal Nation a bit more than he can’t stand La Russa.

In the meantime, Smith has continued to help St. Louisans through his charitable work and now as Baseball Hall of Fame education ambassador.

“I get back to Cooperstown three of four times a year as a result of being education ambassador, including every year during induction ceremonies,” Smith said Monday as rain pelted the city.

“It’s a way of giving back to young people, and giving back to the game that gave so much to me.”

While many of us have said we’d pay a fortune to play infield with Ozzie, it actually only costs $1,000.

During induction weekend, Smith returns to the shortstop position at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown to support educational opportunities.

For a $1,000 donation to the Hall of Fame’s education program, “Play Ball with Ozzie” provides participants the opportunity to play second and first base with Smith at shortstop. Participants each receive an autographed baseball, a videotape of their play with the 13-time Gold Glove winner and a photo taken with the Hall of Famer.

Other Hall of Famers also suit up for the event, and past player participants include George Brett, Gary Carter and Ryne Sandberg.

“As the educational ambassador, I have had the opportunity [to go to] my daughter’s school and [participate in] telecommunications, which is something I never had the chance to do growing up, and it was great - it really makes a difference to these kids,” he says on the HOF website.

Participants have come from across America and from other nations including Japan. It’s a dream come true to “turn two” with The Wizard.

Smith has also made it possible for young St. Louis college students to be part of the magic.

The 2007 Ozzie Smith Diversity Scholars, a group that included three students from Harris-Stowe State University - Tiffany King, Glennton Sevier and Larry Young - and University of Hawaii at Manoa student Eric Leong, served as HOF interns last summer. One of their responsibilities was assisting Hall of Famers working with “Play Ball with Ozzie.”

The Diversity scholarships they received offset the cost of travel, room and board for the summer of work, education and recreation.

“I think it’s great that not only are (participants) donating money, but they’re doing it for a good cause, said Young, who once played on a team with Ozzie’s son, Justin.

“For Hall of Famers to take out their time to do this makes it even more special, and hopefully the next interns appreciate this as much as past ones have.”

Last year, the event featured 57 participants and raised more than $40,000, bringing the total to more than $150,000 in the event’s history.

Joining Brett, Carter and Sandberg in 2007 were former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver and Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson.

“We got a letter from Ozzie asking us to do it, and naturally, we do all that we possibly can for the Hall of Fame and for Ozzie, because they treat us so nice,” Weaver said.

While Ozzie has not received the respect he is entitled by some of the current Cardinals’ front office team, nationally, he remains a baseball hero.

He’s a man whose first glove was a paper bag. He’s a player that was called to small to make it in the Majors.

But that paper bag turned to gold, and he grew into one of baseball’s greatest shortstops.

I wonder if my wife would let me spend the tax rebate on “Play Ball with Ozzie?”

Well see.

For information on the 2008 PLAY Ball with Ozzie event, contact the Hall of Fame membership department at (607) 547-0397.