PEORIA — St. Louis Cardinals great Ozzie Smith has joined a new team in the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.
Smith, a first-ballot inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Salvation Army’s 2025 “Hope as an Army” fundraiser this fall in Peoria.
The event is set for Sept. 25 at Venue Chisca, located at 1009 SW Washington St. in Downtown Peoria. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a silent auction, with dinner from Grace Catering at 6:15 p.m. and Smith speaking at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $125 per person or $1,250 for tables of 10. The funds assist people in the Peoria and Tazewell County areas who are struggling to feed their families or put a roof over their heads.
After Smith’s presentation, guests will be offered an opportunity to take part in a live auction and Fund-A-Need paddle raise.
To get tickets or learn more about how to support the event, go to the Salvation Army site and click on Women’s Auxiliary section at top of webpage.
Who is Ozzie Smith?
Smith, “The Wizard” during his 19-year MLB career, was a Cardinals icon who won the Gold Glove at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons, gained 15 MLB All-Star Games, and had 2,460 career hits and 580 stolen bases.
He was part of St. Louis’ 1982 World Series champions, and his game-winning home run for the Cardinals in Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS prompted broadcaster Jack Buck’s famous call, “Go crazy, folks.”
The beloved player and perhaps the greatest defensive shortstop in baseball history was also known for running out to his position and doing a back flip.