Smith, Sax: We're always asked about 'The Simpsons'

Few shortstops have enjoyed more decorated careers than Ozzie Smith, a first-ballot Hall of Famer who backflipped his way to 15 All-Star appearances and 13 Gold Glove awards throughout his 19-year career, most of which he spent with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Still, when the 61-year-old is out in public, most people just want to hear him talk about his guest appearance on "Homer at the Bat," the iconic episode of "The Simpsons" that celebrated its 24th anniversary on Saturday.

"Let me start by saying the episode we had on 'The Simpsons' is the second-most asked question when I'm out and about," Smith told MLB Network Radio on Saturday. "The first one, of course, is: 'Can you still do the flip?' And the next one is the Simpsons episode."

Related: 'The Simpsons' softball team with current MLB stars

When the episode first aired in 1992, Smith - one of nine MLB stars cajoled into playing for Mr. Burns' company softball team - never could've anticipated the legacy it would inspire. Almost a quarter-century later, Smith said the episode is "a part of Americana."

Smith's sentiment was echoed by Steve Sax, the five-time All-Star whose character was relentlessly dogged by the Springfield Police Department and eventually jailed in the episode.

"Nobody expected that this would take on like it has," Sax said. "It wasn't exactly the iconic show - it was only three years running when we did it - so it was just great to do it, to be cast among those great guys. Some of the guys are Hall of Famers; I was excited just to be on the show with them. And then it turns out to be this longstanding, huge, iconic show now."

So iconic, in fact, Sax can hardly run a errand without being asked about the episode, which generated more viewers than that night's broadcast of the Winter Olympics and "The Cosby Show."

Sax added, "I can be at the grocery store - somebody's going to ask me about 'The Simpsons.' I go to get my cheques at the post office where I go get my mail and the guys behind the desk actually know, 'Hey, did you get a Simpsons cheque today?' Because it's kind of a standing joke."