Ozzie Smith's exploits on the baseball diamond are well known over his 19-year Major League career. Smith, who retired from baseball in 1996, also has made significant contributions to golf through his foundation, and as such has been named the recipient of the GCSAA's 2025 Old Tom Morris Award.
Smith spent most of his professional baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals and became well known for his exploits with a glove as well as his trademark backflips on the field. He will be presented with the award Feb. 6 during the 2025 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego.
Named for the four-time British Open winner and the legendary greenkeeper at St. Andrews in Scotland, the Old Tom Morris Award is presented annually to someone who, "through a continuing lifetime commitment to the game of golf, has helped to mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris."
I'm just a baseball player that has gotten the opportunity to do all these things. I just give back where I can, to these kids, kids that may not get to experience anything like this in golf.
Not merely an avid golfer, Smith works to remove barriers to the game for youths and young adults as well as affected veterans through his Ozzie Smith Charitable Foundation.
That philanthropic work has led him to a relationship with the PGA, where he serves as president of the PGA Reach Foundation. His work has resulted in introducing the game to youths and young adults who might not otherwise have access to the game, giving them a chance to understand the game and see all of the opportunities for potential turfgrass management careers.
"I'm just a baseball player that has gotten the opportunity to do all these things," Smith said. "I just give back where I can, to these kids, kids that may not get to experience anything like this in golf."
Smith also donates a portion of the proceeds from his Back Flip brand of pre-made cocktails to the PGA Hope Foundation that introduces and teaches golf to veterans and active-duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
"After a stellar Major League Baseball career, Ozzie embodies the same passion and dedication to the game of golf," said GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. "His ongoing efforts to grow the game, including for underserved youths, have buoyed communities and exemplify what the Old Tom Morris Award represents. In the process, he has formed friendships and developed a deep respect and appreciation for the numerous golf course superintendents he continues to interact with along the way. He's a true ambassador for the game."
Smith credits former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog for introducing him to golf when his former boss invited him to hit the opening shot in his charity golf tournament.
"I went out that day and the first ball I hit was right down the middle," Smith said. "I was hooked for life."
Along the way, Smith has developed a deep appreciation for golf course superintendents and their teams. He has seen the essential role they play in making golf enjoyable and makes sure to promote their work when introducing new players to the game.
"Golfers just come out and enjoy the beauty of it," Smith said. "It's the golf course superintendents and their teams that give us these beautiful playing surfaces. Their drive, determination and teamwork to make each round the very best it can be is amazing. I've been involved in teams all my life."
For the past 15 years, Smith has hosted the annual Ozzie and Friends Gala and Pro Am, PGA Gateway's largest fundraiser.
Golfers just come out and enjoy the beauty of it. It's the golf course superintendents and their teams that give us these beautiful playing surfaces.
A Los Angeles native, Smith made his Major League debut in 1978 with the San Diego Padres. He was traded to St. Louis in 1982 for then-Cardinals shortstop Garry Templeton and helped them to a World Series win that same year. Throughout his career, he won 13 Gold Glove Awards for his defensive proficiency and appeared in the All-Star Game 15 times. He retired in 1996 and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2002.
He said being recognized by the GCSAA as the Old Tom Award recipient is a true honor.
"When GCSAA shared the list of past recipients, I was overwhelmed," he said, "it is an incredible list and I am humbled to now be part of this illustrious group."