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Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

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Stan Musial Dies

Stan Musial died Saturday at age 92.

stan musial

Stan Musial

“Stan the Man” — purportedly named by Dodgers fans at Ebbets Field who groaned “there’s that man again” whenever he stepped up to the plate — was one of the underrated legends of the game. He spent his entire 22-year career in St. Louis, and thus did not get the publicity that players in New York and other cities received.

But Musial was just as good as anybody — he retired in 1963 with 3630 career hits, 475 home runs, 1951 RBIs and a .331 batting average. And he missed a year because he served in World War 2. He win three MVP Awards and made 20 All-Star teams. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.

The Cardinals released a statement:

We have lost the most beloved member of the Cardinals family. Stan Musial was the greatest player in Cardinals history and one of the best players in the history of baseball.

The entire Cardinals organization extends its sincere condolences to Stan’s family, including his children Richard, Gerry, Janet and Jean, as well as his eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. We join fans everywhere in mourning the loss of our dear friend and reflect on how fortunate we all are to have known ‘Stan the Man’.

Stan Musial was said to be one of the really good guys of the game. He was also one of my all-time favorites, and I’m proud to say that his signed ball is part of my (mostly Mets) autographed baseball collection.

stan musial


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Date: January 19, 2013

  • Ken Grace

    in September, 1963, my father drove the family from our home in Connecticut to the Polo Grounds. My Dad and I were both born on October 20, the same day as Mickey Mantle. I was a Yankee fan. Why, I asked, are we going to the Polo Grounds? At 9, I was only somewhat aware of the fledgling Mets. My dad responded….”Today may be the last time to see Stan Musial play.” So, we went, and sat, and we stayed to watch the game even though Stan Musial was not in the lineup. In the top of the 8th, the crowd noise got more intense from my vantage in the upper deck. I craned my neck – what was going on? St. Louis was up, not the Mets. My Dad leaned over and said solemnly, “Stan The Man is on deck”. The crowd got more excited, and when the roar began, I knew that this guy Stan The Man was approaching the plate. He didnt homer; he didnt single; he walked. The crowd gave a long ovation as he was replaced by a pinch runner. My father announced that we could head home now. There was no internet in 1963. Connecticut papers didnt write many articles about midwestern teams. I got in a bubble gum pack a Stan Musial commemorative card in 1964, with his full 23 years of glossy statistics; I traded it straight up for a 1963 Yankees team card. I wished in later years I hadnt. But Im glad my dad was moved to drive to New York to maybe, possibly, let his 9 year old son see him at the bat, and ply his wizardry one more time.

  • BloggingMets

    That’s a really nice story, Ken. It reminds me of when my family went to a Mets-Braves game at Shea in 1972. I was excited to see my hero, Hank Aaron. He didn’t start, but he came up as a pinch-hitter late in the game. Tug McGraw intentionally walked him, which drew boos from the crowd. Even though it would have hurt the Mets, we all wanted to see an Aaron homer. Still though, I am proud to say that I saw Hank Aaron on the field, the same as you are proud to have seen Stan Musial.