Stan Musial

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Stanley Frank Musial (Template:IPAc-en; born Stanislaw Franciszek Musial; November 21, 1920 – January 19, 2013), nicknamed "Stan the Man", was an American professional baseball player. Widely considered to be one of the greatest and most consistent hitters in baseball history, Musial spent 22 seasons as an outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB), playing for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1944 and from 1946 to 1963. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 in his first year of eligibility.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musial was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, where he played on the baseball team at Donora High School. Signed to a professional contract by the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher in 1938, Musial was converted into an outfielder and made his major league debut in 1941. Noted for his unique batting stance, he quickly established himself as a consistent and productive hitter. In his first full season, 1942, the Cardinals won the World Series. The following year, Musial led the NL in six different offensive categories and earned his first MVP award. He was also named to the NL All-Star squad for the first time; he appeared in every All-Star game in every subsequent season he played. Musial won his second World Series championship in 1944, then missed the 1945 season while serving in the Navy. After completing his military service, Musial returned to baseball in 1946 and resumed his consistent hitting. That year, he earned his second MVP award and his third World Series title. His third MVP award came in 1948, when he finished one home run short of winning baseball's Triple Crown.

Over the next decade, Musial won four more batting crowns, and variously led the NL multiple times in runs, doubles, slugging percentage, total bases, and games played, as well as posting seasonal leads in hits, triples, RBIs, and walks. He batted well over .300 every single year, and was fearsome enough at the plate to lead the NL in intentional walks in five of the 10 seasons through 1958. After struggling offensively in 1959, Musial used a personal trainer to help maintain his productivity until he retired in 1963.

Over the course of his career, Musial batted .331 and set National League (NL) records for career hits (3,630) (1,815 each at home and on the road), runs batted in (1,951), games played (3,026), at bats (10,972), runs scored (1,949) and doubles (725). His 475 career home runs then ranked second in NL history, behind only Mel Ott's total of 511. A seven-time batting champion, he was named the National League's (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times and was a member of three World Series championship teams. At the time of his retirement, he held or shared 17 major league records and 29 National League records. He also shares the major league record for the most All-Star Games played (24) with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In addition to overseeing personal businesses during and after his playing career, Musial served as the Cardinals' general manager in 1967. The team won the pennant and the 1967 World Series, and Musial then resigned his position. Musial was selected for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. In February 2011, President Barack Obama presented Musial with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award that can be bestowed on a person by the United States government.

Early life

Musial was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, as Stanislaw Franciszek Musial on November 21, 1920. He was the fifth of the six children (four girls and two boys) of Lukasz Musial (originally Musiał; Template:IPAc-en) and Mary Lancos.<ref name="Musial6">Musial and Broeg 1964: 6</ref> His mother was of Carpatho-Rusyn descent. His father was a Polish immigrant who always referred to his son by the Polish nickname Stasiu, pronounced "Stashu".<ref name="Musial6"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Young Stan frequently played baseball with his brother Ed and other friends during his childhood, and considered Lefty Grove his favorite ballplayer.<ref>Lansche 1994: 6</ref><ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: pp. 10–11</ref> Musial also learned about baseball from his neighbor Joe Barbao, a former minor league pitcher.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: p. 10</ref> When he enrolled in school, his name was formally changed to Stanley Frank Musial.<ref name="Musial6"/>

At age 15, Musial joined the Donora Zincs, a semi-professional team managed by Barbao. In his Zincs debut, he pitched six innings and struck out 13 batters, all of them adults.<ref name="Lansche7"> One of the outfielders on that team was Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Junior’s grandfather.Lansche 1994: 7</ref> He played one season on the newly revived Donora High School baseball team, where one of his teammates was Buddy Griffey, father of MLB player Ken Griffey Sr. and grandfather of Ken Griffey Jr.<ref>Giglio 2001: 23–24</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His exploits as a rising player in Pennsylvania earned him the nickname "The Donora Greyhound".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musial also played basketball and was offered an athletic scholarship to play it at the University of Pittsburgh.<ref name="Lansche7"/><ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: p. 14</ref> Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals had scouted Musial as a pitcher and offered him a professional contract after a 1937 workout with their Class D Penn State League affiliate.<ref>Lansche 1994: p. 8</ref> Musial's father initially resisted the idea of his son pursuing a baseball career, but he reluctantly gave consent after lobbying by his son and his wife.<ref name="Giglio2627">Giglio 2001: 26–27</ref> Musial also credited his school librarian Helen Kloz for pointing out that baseball was his dream and advising him to pursue it professionally.<ref name=Giglio2627/> In what was then a common practice, the Cardinals did not file the contract with the baseball commissioner's office until June 1938. This preserved Musial's amateur eligibility, and he was still able to participate in high school sports, leading Donora High School's basketball team to a playoff appearance.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 21</ref> He then reported to the Cardinals' Class D affiliate in West Virginia, the Williamson Red Birds.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 24–25</ref><ref>Giglio 2001: 27–29</ref>

Professional career

Minor leagues

Musial's rookie year with Williamson in 1938 was a period of adjustment both on and off the field. He began gaining more in-depth knowledge about baseball strategy<ref name="Musial2728">Musial and Broeg 1964: 27–28</ref> while posting a 6–6 win–loss record and a 4.66 earned run average (ERA), to go along with a .258 batting average.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 28</ref> Off the field, he experienced feelings of homesickness while learning to live comfortably and independently on his $65-per-month salary (Template:Inflation).<ref name=Musial2728/> Musial finished his high school education before returning to Williamson in spring 1939. That season his numbers improved to a 9–2 record, a 4.30 ERA, and a .352 batting average.<ref>Lansche 1994: 12</ref><ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 31</ref> Musial spent the 1940 season with the Cardinals' other Class D team, the Daytona Beach Islanders, where he developed a lifelong friendship with manager Dickie Kerr.<ref>Giglio 2001: 35–38</ref> His pitching skills improved under the guidance of Kerr, who also recognized his hitting talent, playing him in the outfield between pitching starts.<ref>Vecsey 2011: 72–74</ref> On May 25, 1940, Musial married fellow Donora resident, Lillian "Lil" Labash, in Daytona Beach, and the couple's first child followed in August.<ref>Giglio 2001: 36–37</ref> During late August, Musial suffered a shoulder injury while playing in the outfield, and later made an early exit as the starting pitcher in a 12–5 playoff game loss.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 33–35</ref> For a while Musial considered leaving baseball entirely, complaining that he could not afford to support himself and his wife on the $16 a week pay. Kerr talked him out of it, and even took the Musials into his own home to relieve the financial burden. To repay the debt, Musial bought Kerr a $20,000 (Template:Inflation) home in Houston in 1958.<ref>Newsweek, June 2, 1958</ref> In 113 games in 1940 he hit .311, while compiling an 18–5 pitching record that included 176 strikeouts and 145 walks.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 32</ref><ref>Lansche 1994: 15</ref>

Musial was assigned to the Class AA Columbus Red Birds to begin 1941, though manager Burt Shotton and Musial himself quickly realized that the previous year's injury had considerably weakened his arm.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 37–38</ref> He was reassigned to the Class C Springfield Cardinals as a full-time outfielder, and he later credited manager Ollie Vanek for displaying confidence in his hitting ability.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 40</ref> During 87 games with Springfield, Musial hit a league-leading .379 before being promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the International League.<ref>Lansche 1994: 16–17</ref> He was noted for his unique batting stance, a crouch in which his back was seemingly square to the pitcher. This stance was later described by pitcher Ted Lyons as "a kid peeking around the corner to see if the cops were coming".<ref name=espnclassic/> According to a 1950 description by author Tom Meany, "The bent knees and the crouch give him the appearance of a coiled spring, although most pitchers think of him as a coiled rattlesnake."<ref>Meany, Tom, "Baseball's Greatest Hitters: Stan Musial", Baseball Digest, June 1950, p. 64.</ref> Musial continued to play well in Rochester—in one three-game stretch, he had 11 hits. He was called up to the Cardinals for the last two weeks of the 1941 season.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 43–44</ref>

St. Louis Cardinals (1941–1944)

A bronze statue of baseball great Stan Musial

Musial's statue outside of Busch Stadium captures his signature batting stance.

Musial made his major league debut during the second game of a doubleheader at Sportsman's Park on September 17, 1941.<ref>Lansche 1994: 24–25</ref> The Cardinals were in the midst of a pennant race with the Brooklyn Dodgers; in 12 games, Musial collected 20 hits for a .426 batting average.<ref>Lansche 1994: 19, 27</ref> Despite Musial's late contributions, the Cardinals finished two and one-half games behind the 100-game-winning Dodgers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cardinals manager Billy Southworth used Musial as a left fielder to begin 1942, sometimes lifting him for a pinch-hitter against left-handed pitching.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 54–55</ref> Musial was hitting .315 by late June,<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 56</ref> as the Cardinals resumed battling the Dodgers for first place in the National League (NL).<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 56–57</ref> The Cardinals took sole possession of first place on September 13, and when Musial caught a fly ball to end the first game of a doubleheader on September 27 they clinched the pennant with their 105th win.<ref>Lansche 1994: 38</ref> He finished the season with a .315 batting average and 72 runs batted in (RBI) in 140 games. Musial received national publicity when he was named by St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports editor J. Roy Stockton as his choice for Rookie of the Year in a Saturday Evening Post article.<ref name=stats1/><ref>Lansche 1994: 40</ref>

The Cardinals played the American League champion New York Yankees in the 1942 World Series.<ref>Schoor 1990: 187</ref> Representing the winning run at home plate in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 1 at Sportsman's Park, Musial grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game.<ref>Schoor 1990: 188</ref> Musial's first hit of the Series was an RBI single that provided the margin of victory in Game 2, allowing the Cardinals to tie the Series.<ref>Lansche 1994: 41</ref> Over the next three games at Yankee Stadium, Musial had three more hits as the Cardinals defeated the Yankees in the Series four games to one.<ref>Schoor 1990: 190</ref> Musial batted .222 for the Series, with two runs scored.<ref>Schoor 1990: 403</ref>

Musial's 1943 season started with a brief contract holdout in spring training.<ref name="ReferenceA">Musial and Broeg 1964: 74–76</ref> He made the National League All-Star team for the first time as a starting left fielder and got a double in the All-Star Game on July 13.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He finished the season leading the major leagues in hitting with a .357 batting average and led the NL in hits (220), doubles (48), triples (20), total bases (347), on-base percentage (.425), and slugging percentage (.562).<ref name="Giglio86">Giglio 2001: 86</ref> This performance earned him his first NL Most Valuable Player Award, ahead of teammate and catcher Walker Cooper (.318 batting average).<ref name=Giglio86/> After romping to another NL pennant by 18 games, the Cardinals again faced the Yankees in the 1943 World Series.<ref name="Giglio87">Giglio 2001: 87</ref> Musial had a single in the Cardinals' Game 1 loss, and scored a run in a Game 2 win.<ref name=Giglio87/> The Cardinals did not win another game in the Series, but the loser's bonus share paid to each Cardinals player ($4,321.99, Template:Inflation) still amounted to nearly two-thirds of Musial's regular season salary.<ref>Giglio 2001: 88</ref>

United States involvement in World War II began to impinge on Musial's baseball career in 1944, as he underwent a physical examination in prelude to possible service in the armed forces.<ref>Giglio 2001: 89</ref> He ultimately remained with the Cardinals for the entire season, posting a .347 batting average with 197 hits.<ref>Lansche 1994: 60</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Cardinals claimed the NL pennant for the third consecutive season, and faced St. Louis's other major league team, the Browns, in the 1944 World Series.<ref>Lansche 1994: 63–64</ref> The Browns took a 2–1 lead, while Musial hit .250 with no RBI.<ref name="Giglio93">Giglio 2001: 93</ref> He broke out in Game 4 with a two-run home run, single, double, and a walk as part of a 5–1 Cardinals win.<ref name=Giglio93/> The Cardinals went on to defeat the Browns in six games, and Musial posted a .304 batting average for the Series.<ref>Giglio 2001: 93–94</ref><ref>Schoor 1990: 404</ref>

U.S. Navy (1945–46)

Musial enlisted in the United States Navy on January 23, 1945, during World War II. He was initially assigned to non-combat duty at the United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge, at Port Deposit, Maryland.<ref>Lansche 1994: 66</ref> In June 1945, he was assigned to Special Services in Hawaii, and was assigned to a ferry launch unit to bring back damaged ship crews entering Pearl Harbor, where he was able to play baseball every afternoon in the naval base's eight-team league.<ref name="Lansch67">Lansche 1994: 67</ref> After being granted emergency leave to see his ailing father in January 1946, he was briefly assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard before his honorable discharge from the Navy as a Seaman Second Class in March 1946.<ref name=Lansch67/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

St. Louis Cardinals (1946–1963)

1946–1949

Template:Quote box Rejoining the Cardinals under new manager Eddie Dyer, Musial posted a .388 batting average by the middle of May 1946.<ref>Lansche 1994: 69, 72</ref> He also became close friends with Red Schoendienst, a second-baseman who had joined the Cardinals during Musial's absence in 1945.<ref>Giglio 2001: 123</ref> In June 1946, Dyer began to use Musial as a first baseman.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 91–92</ref>

During the season, Musial (who was under contract to the Cardinals for $13,500 in 1946) was offered a five-year, $125,000 contract, plus a $50,000 bonus, to join the Mexican League.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 90</ref> He declined the offer, and after manager Dyer spoke to club owner Sam Breadon, Musial was given a $5,000 raise later in 1946.<ref>Lansche 1994: 73</ref>

It was also during the 1946 season that Musial acquired his nickname of Stan the Man.<ref name="Lansche75">Lansche 1994: 75</ref> During the June 23 game against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriter Bob Broeg heard Dodger fans chanting whenever Musial came to bat, but could not understand the words.<ref name=Lansche75/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that day over dinner, Broeg asked Cardinals traveling secretary Leo Ward if he had understood what the Dodger fans had been chanting.<ref name=Lansche75/> Ward said, "Every time Stan came up they chanted, 'Here comes the man!'" "'That man,' you mean", Broeg said. "No, the man", replied Ward.<ref name=Lansche75/> Broeg mentioned this story in his Post-Dispatch column, and Musial was thereafter known as Stan "The Man".<ref name=Lansche75/>

Musial batted .365 for the season and won his second NL MVP Award, receiving 22 out of a possible 24 first-place votes, finishing 22-0 ahead of Brooklyn's Dixie Walker (.319 batting average).<ref>Lansche 1994: 84</ref>.

The Cardinals finished the 1946 regular season tied with the Dodgers,<ref>Lansche 1994: 77</ref> prompting a three-game playoff for the pennant. Musial's Game 1 triple and Game 2 double contributed to the Cardinals' two-games-to-none series victory.<ref>Lansche 1994: 78–79</ref> He had six hits and four RBI <ref>Schoor 1990: 207, 405</ref> in the Cardinals seven game win over the Boston Red Sox in the 1946 World Series.<ref>Schoor 1990: 204</ref>

Musial began the 1947 season by hitting .146 in April.<ref>Lansche 1994: 90</ref> On May 9, team doctor Dr. Robert Hyland confirmed a previous diagnosis of appendicitis, while discovering that Musial was concurrently suffering from tonsillitis.<ref>Lansche 1994: 89</ref> He received treatment, but did not have either his appendix or tonsils removed until after the season ended.<ref>Lansche 1994: 89, 93</ref> Despite his health woes, he finished the year with a batting average of .312.<ref>Broeg 1981: 116</ref>

Fully recovered from his ailments, Musial recorded his 1,000th career hit on April 25, 1948.<ref>Lansche 1994: 93–94</ref> After a May 7 St. Louis Globe-Democrat article criticized baseball players for appearing in cigarette advertisements, he made a personal decision to never again do so.<ref>Lansche 1994: 94</ref> By June 24, his batting average was .408, prompting Brooklyn pitcher Preacher Roe to joke about the best way to retire Musial: "Walk him on four pitches and pick him off first."<ref>Lansche 1994: 95–96</ref> Given a mid-season pay raise by new Cardinals owner Robert E. Hannegan for his outstanding performance, Musial hit a home run in the All-Star Game.<ref>Lansche 1994: 96</ref> On September 22, he registered five hits in a game for the fourth time in the season, tying a mark set by Ty Cobb in 1922.<ref>Lansche 1994: 97</ref>

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Musial finished the 1948 season leading the major leagues in batting average (.376), hits (230), doubles (46), triples (18), total bases (429), and slugging percentage (.702).<ref name="Gig167">Giglio 2001: 167</ref> Winning the NL batting title by a 43-point margin, with an on-base percentage lead of 27 points and a 138-point slugging percentage margin—the latter being the largest gap since Rogers Hornsby's 1925 season—Musial became the first player to win three NL MVP awards.<ref name=Gig167/> Had a home run he hit during a rained out game been counted in his season totals, he would have won the rare Triple Crown by leading the NL in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in.<ref name=Gig167/><ref>Broeg 1981: 121</ref>

Anticipating life after his baseball career, Musial began the first of several business partnerships with Julius "Biggie" Garagnani in January 1949, opening "Stan Musial & Biggie's" restaurant.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Lansche 1994: 101</ref>

Musial approached the 1949 season with the intent to try to hit more home runs, stating he had hit 39 the previous season "without trying".<ref name="Gig174">Giglio 2001: 174</ref> His new focus on hitting for power backfired, as pitchers began using the outside part of the plate to induce him to ground out to the first or second baseman.<ref name=Gig174/> Musial soon stopped focusing on hitting home runs, and resumed his consistent offensive production by the end of May.<ref name=Gig174/> He received his sixth consecutive All-Star player selection and finished the season leading the NL in hits (207) while playing in every game.<ref>Giglio 2001: 180</ref> However, the 96-win Cardinals finished one game behind the Dodgers.<ref>Giglio 2001: 179</ref>

In the late 1940s, when baseball was slowly becoming integrated, Musial—along with his roommate Red Schoendienst—would be lauded by newcomers such as Dodgers' pitcher Don Newcombe for their tolerance. "They never...had the need to sit in the dugout and call a black guy a bunch of names", Newcombe said, "because he was trying to change the game and make it what it should have been in the first place, a game for all people."<ref name="TimesObit" />

1950–1954

Musial began the 1950s by posting a .350 batting average before participating in the 1950 All-Star Game, where in fan balloting he was the NL's number two choice.<ref name="Gig87">Giglio 2001: 187</ref> He had the longest hitting streak of his career during the 1950 season—a 30-game stretch that ended on July 27.<ref name=Gig87/> With the Cardinals falling 14 games out of first place by September, manager Dyer used him at first base and all three outfield positions.<ref name="Gig87"/><ref>Lansche 1994: 112–113</ref>

New Cardinals manager Marty Marion led the team to a third-place finish in 1951, while Musial led the National League with a .355 batting average, 355 total bases, 124 runs and 12 triples. He finished second in NL MVP voting for the third year in a row and was named The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year.<ref>Lansche 1994: 116</ref>

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National media attention inadvertently turned to Musial a month before the 1952 season began, after Ty Cobb wrote an article regarding modern baseball players that was published in Life magazine.<ref name="Lansche118">Lansche 1994: 118</ref> Cobb singled out Musial and Phil Rizzuto as the only players "who can be mentioned in the same breath with the oldtime greats".<ref name=Lansche118/> Cobb went on to refer to Musial as "a better player than Joe DiMaggio was in his prime."<ref name=Lansche118/> In response, Musial displayed his characteristic modesty, saying, "Cobb is baseball's greatest. I don't want to contradict him, but I can't say that I was ever as good as Joe DiMaggio."<ref name=Lansche118/>

The only major league pitching appearance of Musial's career occurred as a publicity stunt during the last Cardinals home game of the 1952 season.<ref name="Gig231">Giglio 2001: 231</ref><ref>Lansche 1994: 119</ref> Manager Eddie Stanky had a reluctant Musial pitch to Frank Baumholtz, the runner-up to Musial for the best batting average in the NL that season.<ref name=Gig231/> With Baumholtz batting right-handed for the first time in his career, Musial's first pitch was hit so hard it ricocheted off the shin of third baseman Solly Hemus and into the left field corner.<ref name=Gig231/> The play was ruled an error, and Musial was embarrassed enough by his complicity in the gimmick to avoid pitching again for the remainder of his career.<ref name=Gig231/>

The Cardinals franchise was up for sale in early 1953, and Musial and Schoendienst advised their friend and fellow duck-hunter Gussie Busch to consider buying the team.<ref name="Gig184">Giglio 2001: 184</ref> Busch used the resources of the Anheuser-Busch company to purchase the Cardinals, keeping Musial in St. Louis by averting the possibility of a move by the team to another city.<ref name=Gig184/><ref>Lansche 1994: 121</ref> The 1953 season marked Musial's 10th NL All-Star selection, and the 12th consecutive time he finished a major league season with a batting average above .300.<ref name=stats1/><ref>Giglio 2001: 194</ref>

An All-Star again in 1954, Musial had an off year, batting .331 and only leading the National League in runs, doubles, and intentional walks. He was second in times on base; third in hits, extra base hits, and walks; and fourth in batting average, triples, RBIs, slugging percentage, and total bases.

Musial accomplished another historical feat during 1954, in a on May 2 doubleheader in St. Louis against the New York Giants: he hit three home runs in the first contest, then added two more in the second to become the first major leaguer to hit five home runs in a doubleheader.<ref name="Gig195">Giglio 2001: 195</ref> In addition to his five home runs, he also hit a single in the first game, setting a new record of 21 total bases for a doubleheader.<ref name=Gig195/> The only player besides Musial to hit five home runs in a doubleheader is Nate Colbert, who achieved the feat in 1972. Oddly enough, as a young child, Colbert was in attendance as Musial set his record.<ref>Lansche 1994: 131</ref>

1955–1959

Musial made his 12th NL All-Star appearance in 1955 as a reserve player, when Cincinnati's Ted Kluszewski - coming off a monster 49/141/.326 season and on his way to another 47 home runs - outpolled him by 150,000 votes for the start at first base.<ref>Lansche 1994: 136</ref> Musial entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning and played left field, with the game going into extra innings.<ref name="Lansche137">Lansche 1994: 137</ref> Leading off the bottom of the 12th, he hit a walk-off home run to give the NL a 6–5 victory.<ref name=Lansche137/> He batted .319 for the season, tied with Willie Mays for second in the NL.

The 1956 season marked another milestone for Musial, when he broke Mel Ott's NL record for extra-base hits on August 12.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 180</ref> Earlier that season, Cardinals general manager "Trader Frank" Lane began negotiations to trade him for Philadelphia pitcher Robin Roberts.<ref>Lansche 1994: 141–143</ref> When Cardinals owner Gussie Busch learned of the possible move, he made it clear that Musial was not available for any deal.<ref>Lansche 1994: 143</ref> Instead, Lane dealt Musial's close friend Schoendienst, by then a nine time All-Star and Hall of Fame bound, to the New York Giants; an upset Musial made no immediate comment to the press.<ref>Lansche 1994: 143–144</ref>

On June 11, 1957, Musial tied the NL record for consecutive games played with his 822nd, a streak that began on the last day of the 1951 season.<ref>Lansche 1994: 147–148</ref> Despite ballot stuffing by Cincinnati Reds fans, he was selected and played in the All-Star Game held at Sportsman's Park.<ref>Lansche 1994: 149</ref> When he overextended his swing while batting during a game on August 23, Musial fractured a bone in his left shoulder socket and tore muscles over his collarbone.<ref name="Lansche151">Lansche 1994: 151</ref> He was unable to play again until September 8, ending his consecutive games-played streak at 895.<ref name=Lansche151/> He finished 1957 as Sports IllustratedTemplate:'s "Sportsman of the Year",<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> earning another batting title (.351) in a terrific overall season that saw him finish second in the NL MVP race in a tight finish of Hank Aaron (239 points), Musial (231), and Schoendienst (222).

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Musial signed one of the first $100,000 contracts in NL history on January 29, 1958. (According to Baseball Almanac, Hank Greenberg was the first with Pittsburgh in 1947.)<ref>Lansche 1994: 155</ref> He started fast, batting .374, with 4 HR, and 16 RBI in May. Although he had wished to reach the 3,000-hit milestone in St. Louis, it ended up being a pinch-hit, sixth inning RBI double at Chicago's Wrigley Field on May 13,<ref>Reidenbaugh 1993: 214</ref><ref>Lansche 1994: 157–158</ref> making him the eighth major league player to reach the mark. Roughly 1,000 fans met him at St. Louis Union Station that evening.<ref>Lansche 1994: 158–159</ref> Musial ended a solid 1958 season batting .337, third in the NL, but for the first time since his illness plagued “appendicitis“ season of 1955 he failed to lead the league in a significant offensive category (for only the second time in his career). His prime was finally behind him.

Finishing the season in sixth place, the Cardinals embarked on an exhibition tour of Japan, winning 14 of 16 games against top players from the Central and Pacific Japanese Leagues.<ref>Lansche 1994: 162–163</ref>

Taking a new approach to preparation for the 1959 season, the 38 year-old Musial was given permission to report late to spring training so that he might conserve his energy for the long season ahead.<ref>Lansche 1994: 165–166</ref> Musial, at Template:Convert tall, had maintained a weight of around Template:Convert throughout his career. He reported to spring training approximately Template:Convert overweight and in substandard physical condition.<ref>Giglio 2001: 213</ref><ref name="Lansche166">Lansche 1994: 166</ref> He began the season with one hit in 15 at-bats.<ref name=Lansche166/> Despite his early offensive struggles, he single-handedly spoiled potential no-hitters on April 16 and 19.<ref name=Lansche166/> A game-winning home run on May 7 made him the first major league player ever with 400 home runs and 3,000 hits,<ref name=Lansche166/> a significant achievement not merely reflecting the game’s 20th century transition from a “dead ball“ era of many hits and little power to a “live ball“ one of both, but of Musial’s exceptional combination of skills.

As he continued to hit at a relatively low pace, Musial’s playing time was limited by Cardinals manager Solly Hemus at various points during the season.<ref>Lansche 1994: 167</ref> Seeking more revenue for the players' pension fund, Major League Baseball held two All-Star games in a season from 1959 through 1962.<ref name="Lansche168">Lansche 1994: 168</ref> Musial made his 16th straight All-Star appearance,<ref name="sportsdatallc.com">Sportsdata. Midsummer Classics: Celebrating MLB's All-Star Game. "There were two games a year from 1959 to 1962" ... "all players who were named to the AL or NL roster were credited with one appearance per season". Retrieved April 10, 2015 [1] Template:Webarchive</ref> stretching back to his breakout 1943 MVP campaign his third year in the big leagues. He pinch-hit in both contests.<ref name=Lansche168/> Cooling off for the first time ever, he finished the season with 115 regular game appearances, a lowly .255 batting average, 37 runs, and an anemic slugging percentage of .428,<ref name=stats1/> far below his then career marks of .337 and .572.

During the 1959 season, John F. Kennedy approached Musial about supporting Kennedy's campaign for President, citing their close ages. Musial campaigned for Kennedy later that year and became a supporter of the Democratic Party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On June 30, 1959, Musial was the batter in one of the oddest plays in baseball history. In a game between the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, he was at the plate with a count of 3–1. Pitcher Bob Anderson let fly, the ball evading catcher Sammy Taylor and rolling all the way to the backstop. Umpire Vic Delmore called ball four, even as Anderson and Taylor contended that Musial had foul tipped the ball for strike two. Because the ball was still in play and Delmore was embroiled in an argument with the catcher and pitcher, Musial kept running in attempt to make second base. Seeing that Musial was trying for second, third baseman Alvin Dark ran to the backstop to retrieve the ball. The ball had wound up in the hands of field announcer Pat Pieper, but Dark wrestled it back. Absentmindedly, Delmore pulled out a new ball and gave it to Anderson. Anderson finally noticed that Musial was trying for second, took the new ball, and threw it to second baseman Tony Taylor. Still wild, his throw flew over Taylor's head into the outfield. Dark, at the same time that Anderson threw the new ball, threw the original ball to shortstop Ernie Banks. Musial did not see Dark's throw and only noticed Anderson's ball fly over the second baseman's head, so he tried to go to third base. On his way there, he was tagged by Banks, and after a delay he was ruled out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1960–1963

Based on his 1959 performance, Musial accepted a pay cut in 1960 from his previous $100,000 salary to $80,000.<ref>Vecsey 2011: 230</ref> He was eager to prove that his mediocre performance was the result of improper physical conditioning, and he enlisted the help of Walter Eberhardt, Saint Louis University's director of physical education.<ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 211</ref> In June 1960, newspaper articles began speculating that Musial would soon retire, yet he finished the season with a .275 batting average.<ref name=stats1/><ref>Lansche 1994: 171</ref> He addressed the speculation in September, confirming that he would play again in 1961. His .288 batting average that season reaffirmed his decision.<ref name=stats1/><ref>Lansche 1994: 173</ref> In 1962, Musial posted a .330 batting average, good for third in the batting race, with 19 homers and 82 RBI. As a pinch-hitter, he had 14 base hits in 19 at-bats (.737).<ref>Broeg 1981: 167</ref> Along the way, he established new NL career marks for hits and RBI.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year on July 8, the 41-year-old Musial became the oldest player ever to hit three home runs in one game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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The Cardinals began 1963 by winning 10 of their first 15 games, as Musial posted a .237 batting average.<ref>Lansche 1994: 190</ref> He set a new major league record for career extra-base hits on May 8 and improved his batting average to .277 by the end of the month.<ref name="Lansche191">Lansche 1994: 191</ref> Making his 20th All-Star appearance<ref name="sportsdatallc.com"/> and playing in his 24th All-Star Game on July 9, 1963, he pinch-hit in the fifth inning.<ref name=Lansche191/> Asked by general manager Bing Devine on July 26 what his plans were, Musial said that he would retire at season's end.<ref>Lansche 1994: 191–192</ref> He waited until the Cardinals team picnic on August 12 to publicly announce his decision, hopeful he could retire on a winning note.<ref>Lansche 1994: 192</ref>

Musial became a grandfather for the first time in the early hours of September 10; later that day, he hit a home run in his first at-bat.<ref name="Lansche193">Lansche 1994: 193</ref> After sweeping a doubleheader on September 15, the Cardinals had won 19 of their last 20 games, and were one game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref name=Lansche193/> The Dodgers then swept the Cardinals in a three-game series in St. Louis and clinched the NL pennant on September 25.<ref name=autogenerated1>Lansche 1994: 193–194</ref> Musial's last game, on September 29, 1963, was preceded by an hour-long retirement ceremony.<ref name="Lansche196">Lansche 1994: 196</ref> Speakers at the event included baseball commissioner Ford Frick, Cardinals broadcaster Harry Caray, and Cardinals owner Gussie Busch, who announced that Musial's uniform number "6" would be retired by the team.<ref name=Lansche196/> During the game, Musial recorded a single in the fourth inning, then hit a single to right field that scored teammate Curt Flood in the sixth, matching the two hits he had gotten in his 1943 big league debut.<ref name=Lansche197/> Cardinals manager Johnny Keane brought in a pinch-runner for Musial, bringing his major league career to an end.<ref name=Lansche197/>

Musial finished with the all-time National League hits record<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and second to only Ty Cobb on the all-time Major League list. Musial's last career hit was out of reach of Cincinnati Reds second baseman Pete Rose, who would go on to break Cobb's record to become baseball's all-time hit king.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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At the time of his retirement, Musial held or shared 17 major league records, 29 NL records, and nine All-Star Game records.<ref>Eisenbath 1999: 251</ref> Among those records, he ranked as the major league career leader in extra-base hits (1,377) and total bases (6,134),<ref name="Lansche197">Lansche 1994: 197</ref> the equivalent of over 104.5 miles if laid end to end.<ref>There are 90 feet between major league bases. 90 x 6134 =552,060 / 5280 =104.557 </ref>

He also held NL career marks in categories such as hits (3,630), games played (3,026), doubles (725), and RBI (1,951).<ref name=Lansche197/> He finished his career with 475 home runs despite never having led the NL in the category.<ref name=Lansche197/> Jerry LanscheTemplate:Who speculates Musial would likely have become the second player, after Babe Ruth, with 2,000 RBI, and would have exceeded 500 career home runs had he not served in the military.<ref name="bullock2004">Template:Cite book</ref> His lowest full season RBI output before the war was 72 (in 1942) and as he needed only 49 RBI to reach 2,000 for his full career, he certainly would have exceeded 2,000 RBI by playing without injury in 1945. His home run production is a different story, as it is simply unknowable whether he would have reached 500 had he continued in the major leagues and not had his playing interrupted by military service. As it is, he did not hit more than 13 home runs in any season before he entered the navy and did not hit as many as the required 25 until 1948, three years after returning to baseball.

Amazingly, Musial‘s 22-year MLB career hit total was exactly evenly split between 1,815 at home and 1,815 on the road. He recorded 8 five-hit games and 59 four-hit games. He had two 3-home run games, on May 2, 1954 and July 8, 1962.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a pinch-hitter, he recorded a .276 batting average (going 37-for-134).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musial was the first major league player to appear in more than 1,000 games at two different positions, registering 1,896 games in the outfield and 1,016 at first base.<ref>Lansche 1994: 198</ref> Since Musial's retirement in 1963, Tony Gwynn has been the only player to finish his career with a higher lifetime batting average. Hank Aaron has been the only player to surpass his record of 6,134 total bases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Musial's 3,026 major league appearances he was never ejected from a game.<ref name="Lansche 1994: 14">Lansche 1994: 14</ref> Speaking about his quiet reputation within the sport's history, sportscaster Bob Costas said, "He didn't hit a homer in his last at-bat; he hit a single. He didn't hit in 56 straight games. He married his high school sweetheart and stayed married to her. ... All Musial represents is more than two decades of sustained excellence and complete decency as a human being."<ref name="espnclassic">Template:Cite web</ref>

Post-playing career

Musial was named a vice president of the St. Louis Cardinals in September 1963, and he remained in that position until after the 1966 season.<ref name="Lansche199">Lansche 1994: p. 199</ref> From February 1964 to January 1967, he also served as President Lyndon B. Johnson's physical fitness adviser, a part-time position created to promote better fitness among American citizens.<ref>Giglio 2001: pp. 275–78</ref> Before the 1967 season began, the Cardinals named Musial the team's general manager, and he oversaw the club's World Series championship that year.<ref name=Lansche199/> He won the allegiance of Cardinals players by making fair offers from the outset of player-contract negotiations and creating an in-stadium babysitting service so players' wives could attend games.<ref>Giglio 2001: p. 285</ref>

Personal life

Musial met Lillian Susan Labash, the daughter of a local grocer,<ref name="Timmermann 1-25-2013"/> in Donora when both were 15, and married her in St. Paul's Catholic Church in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 25, 1940. They had four children: son Richard, and daughters Gerry, Janet, and Jeanie.<ref name="Lansche 1994: 14"/><ref>Musial and Broeg 1964: 229</ref> Lillian Musial died at 91, on May 3, 2012; their marriage had lasted for almost 72 years.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Cite web</ref>

Musial was noted for his harmonica playing, which included his rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Throughout the 1990s, he frequently played the harmonica at public gatherings, such as the annual Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony and various charity events.<ref name="Gig299">Giglio 2001: pp. 298–99</ref> He appeared on the television show Hee Haw in 1985,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 1994 recorded 18 songs that were sold in tandem with a harmonica-playing instruction booklet.<ref name=Gig299/>

Even though Musial left Donora after high school, he retained close ties to the town throughout the rest of his life. He maintained membership in local social clubs, and regularly sent a local doctor boxes of autographed baseballs, with the town's mayor using some for United Way fundraising.<ref name="Timmermann 1-25-2013">Template:Cite news</ref> Musial also gave free meals at the restaurant he owned in St. Louis to any customers who presented valid ID proving they were Donora residents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During his playing years, Musial believed in racial equality and supported Jackie Robinson's right to play. After learning about the harmful effect of smoking in the 1950s, he refused to endorse tobacco products.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Death

On January 19, 2013, surrounded by his family, Musial died at age 92 of natural causes at his home in Ladue, Missouri, on the same day as fellow MLB Hall of Fame inductee Earl Weaver.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Hummel">Template:Cite news</ref> Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. released the following statement:

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Upon hearing the news of his death, fans gathered and began an impromptu memorial at his statue outside Busch Stadium; the Cardinals issued a release saying the memorial would be left in place for some time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a laudatory obituary, The New York Times quoted famed New York manager Leo Durocher: "There is only one way to pitch to Musial—under the plate."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon commented: "Stan Musial was a great American hero who—with the utmost humility—inspired us all to aim high and dream big. The world is emptier today without him, but far better to have known him. The legacy of 'baseball's perfect warrior' will endure and inspire generations to come."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay tweeted: "Sad as we are, we are fortunate to have had Stan in STL for so long, and are also glad that Stan and Lil are together again." He ordered flags at half-staff in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

"Major League Baseball has lost one of its true legends in Stan Musial, a Hall of Famer in every sense and a man who led a great American life", Commissioner Bud Selig said. "He was the heart and soul of the historic St. Louis Cardinals franchise for generations, and he served his country during World War II. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, Stan's life embodies baseball's unparalleled history and why this game is the national pastime."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Thousands of fans braved cold temperatures on January 24 for a public visitation at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, where Musial lay in state, dressed in his trademark cardinal-red blazer and with a harmonica in his lapel pocket, flanked by a Navy honor guard. A private funeral Mass was held on Saturday, January 26, 2013, at the New Cathedral in St. Louis, televised locally by KTVI and KPLR as well as Fox Sports Midwest on pay-television. New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who in his first episcopal post served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, was the principal celebrant, and Knoxville's Bishop Richard F. Stika, Musial's former parish priest, was the homilist.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> An emotional Bob Costas gave the principal eulogy, calling him "the genuine hero who as the years and decades passed, and disillusionment came from other directions, never once let us down", and quoting fellow Cooperstown honoree Mickey Mantle, who once said that Musial "was a better player than me because he was a better man than me".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career statistics

Hitting

Category	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	Template:Abbr
Total	3,026	10,972	3,630	725	177	475	1,949	1,951	1,599	696	.331	.417	.559	.976	159	6,134	<ref name="stats1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Fielding

Category	G	Ch	PO	A	E	DP	FP	Template:Abbr
OF	1,890	3924	3,730	130	64	27	.984	<ref name="stats1"/>
1B	1,016	9475	8,709	688	78	935	.992	<ref name="stats1"/>

Honors and recognition

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On August 4, 1968, a statue of Musial was erected outside of Busch Memorial Stadium on the northeast grounds of the St. Louis stadium,<ref name="Lansche200">Lansche 1994: pp. 199–200</ref> and relocated to the west side of Busch Stadium when it opened in 2006. Its inscribed quote is attributed to former baseball commissioner Ford Frick: "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect knight."<ref name=Lansche200 />

In 1968, Musial received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musial was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in Template:Bhofy, being named on 93.2% of the ballots.<ref>Lansche 1994: 200–201</ref> He was ranked tenth on The Sporting NewsTemplate:' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players published in 1998.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He was also one of the 30 players selected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, added by a special committee after he finished 11th in fan voting among outfielders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On June 14, 1973, Musial was the first inductee into the National Polish-American Hall of Fame, housed at St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake, Michigan. In 1989, he was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Five years later, a baseball field was named after him in his hometown of Donora.<ref>Giglio 2001: 306</ref> In 2000, he was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, and a bronze bust depicting him is on permanent display in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Nearly two decades after Musial retired, baseball statistician Bill James and the sabermetrics movement began providing new ways of comparing players across baseball history.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2001, James ranked Musial the tenth-greatest baseball player in history, and the second-best left fielder of all time.<ref>James 2001: 358,653</ref> According to Baseball-Reference.com, he ranks fifth all-time among hitters on the Black Ink Test, and third all-time on the Gray Ink Test—measures designed to compare players of different eras.<ref name=stats1 /><ref>James 1995: 65–67</ref> He ranks first on Baseball-Reference's Hall of Fame Monitor Test, and is tied for second in the Hall of Fame Career Standards Test.<ref name=stats1 /> Despite his statistical accomplishments, he is sometimes referred to as the most underrated or overlooked athlete in modern American sports history.<ref name="Stark07">Stark 2007: 150</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Said sportswriter Jayson Stark of his 2007 analysis of baseball's under- and overrated players, "I can't think of any all-time great in any sport who gets left out of more who's-the-greatest conversations than Stan Musial."<ref name=Stark07 />

Musial threw out the first pitch in the fifth game of the 2006 World Series. In 2007, he received the Navy Memorial's Lone Sailor Award, which honors Navy veterans who have excelled in civilian life.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009 Musial delivered the ceremonial first pitch ball to President Barack Obama at the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A "Stan the Man" day was held in his honor by the Cardinals on May 18, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, another one of the Cardinals' greatest sluggers, Albert Pujols said he didn't want to be called "The Man", even in Spanish ("El Hombre"), because "There is one man that gets that respect, and that is Stan Musial."<ref name="TimesObit">Template:Cite news</ref>

Also in 2010, the Cardinals began pushing for Musial to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his lifetime of achievement and service.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 15, 2011, Musial received the honor from President Obama,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who called him "an icon untarnished, a beloved pillar of the community, a gentleman you'd want your kids to emulate."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On October 18, 2012, Musial made his final appearance at Busch Stadium,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> riding in a golf cart around the field before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series between the San Francisco Giants and Cardinals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Cardinals would win Game 4 by a score of 8–3, but lost the pennant to the Giants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2014, the Cardinals announced Musial among 22 former players and personnel to be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum for the inaugural class of 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2022, as part of their SN Rushmore project, The Sporting News named Musial on their "St. Louis Mount Rushmore of Sports", along with fellow Cardinals Bob Gibson and Albert Pujols, and St. Louis Blues hockey player Brett Hull.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year, MLB.com writers voted Musial as being the greatest player in Cardinals franchise history:

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Legacy

Musial has had numerous awards, places, and civic structures named after him.

In May 2011, the Pennsylvania State Legislature changed the name of the bridge Donora-Monessen Bridge over the Monongahela River from to Stan Musial Bridge after the Donora native.<ref name=Solobay2011-05-24> Template:Cite web </ref> In October 2013, the St. Louis Fire Department started operating a fireboat named after Musial.<ref name=Cbs2012-05-24>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2013, the new Interstate 70 bridge over the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri at St. Louis received the official name of Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.<ref name="law">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award honored Musial as one of 37 Baseball Hall of Fame members for his service in the United States Navy during World War II.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Major League Baseball’s Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award was named in his honor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notes

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References

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Book sources

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External links

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Stan Musial

Contents

Early life