NEW YORK, June 26 (UPI) -- Robin Yount and Ozzie Smith were named Wednesday as honorary captains for this year's All-Star game, to be played at Milwaukee's Miller Park on July 9.
Yount, the honorary captain for the American League, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. He broke into the major leagues as an 18-year-old and spent his entire 20-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Yount won Most Valuable Player awards in 1982 and 1989 and was named to the American League All-Star team three times. In 1982, he set career highs with a .331 average, 29 home runs and 114 RBI, helping lead the Brewers to their only World Series appearance.
Currently serving as first base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Yount finished his career with 3,142 hits. Shoulder surgery forced him to the outfield in 1985 and four years later he joined Stan Musial and Hank Greenberg as the only players to win MVP awards at different positions.
Smith, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres during his 19-year career, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next month.
Arguably the game's greatest fielding shortstop, Smith earned the nickname "Wizard of Oz" because of his defensive skills. He also had a flair for the dramatic, doing backflips when he took the field before every game.
Smith was elected to 12 straight All-Star games beginning in 1981 and played in 15. He won a World Series with the Cardinals in 1982 and played in two others in 1985 and 1987.
Smith won 13 straight Gold Glove Awards from 1980-92, a record for shortstops. He also holds major league marks at shortstop for most assists (8,375), most double plays (1,590) and most total chances (12,624).
