Stan Musial
From BR Bullpen
Stanley Frank Musial (Stan the Man, The Donora Greyhound, Stash)
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
- Debut September 17, 1941
- Final Game September 29, 1963
- Born November 21, 1920 in Donora, PA USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1969
Contents |
[edit] Introduction and early years
"I've had a pretty good success facing Stan by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third base." - Carl Erskine on how to pitch to Stan the Man
"How good was Stan Musial? He was good enough to take your breath away." - Vin Scully
Stan Musial had 3,630 hits, a National League record until 1981 when it was broken by Pete Rose.
Musial began his career as a pitcher. He was exclusively a pitcher for Williamson of the Mountain State League in 1938 and 1939. After hitting .352 in 1939, the organization experimented with splitting Musial between the outfield and the mound. He was a success, and thanks to a sore arm and professional mentoring from manager Dickie Kerr, he moved to the outfield full time.
He led the Western Association with 26 home runs in just 87 games in 1941. He was later promoted to Rochester then on to St. Louis. He played full time for the Cards beginning in 1942.
[edit] Major leagues
Musial blossomed against the weakened war-time competition in 1943. He led the Senior Circuit in hits, doubles, triples, and batting average at age 22, which allowed him to win league MVP Award. In 1944, he led the league in doubles once again before entering the Navy in January 1945 and missing the entire season before being discharged in March 1946.
He returned in 1946 without missing a beat. He led the NL in games, at bats, hits, doubles, triples, and average. He won his second NL MVP. Musial slipped slightly in 1947 but he won the MVP in 1948.
He was especially dominant in 1948, when he led the league in all of the following categories: batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, total bases, RBI, Adjusted OPS+, Runs Created, Extra Base Hits, and Times On Base. Statistics were not kept at that time for Intentional Walks, but he might have led the league in that category as well. He was second in the league in home runs with 39, his career high - only one homer behind Ralph Kiner and Johnny Mize, who led the league with 40.
Between 1946 and 1952, Musial was a machine, winning the batting crown five times. He was especially known for his rough treatment of the Brooklyn Dodgers, whose fans tagged him with the nickname "Stan the Man".
[edit] As a pitcher
Musial's only pitching appearance took place on September 28, 1952. Safely in first place in the batting race, Musial was called in to pitch for a single batter in the sixth inning. The opposing batter was Frank Baumholtz of the 1952 Cubs the runner-up in the batting race, who batted from the righthand side of the plate. Starter Harvey Haddix moved to right field and Hal Rice covered center while Musial pitched. After Baumholtz reached base, Haddix returned to the mound, Rice to left, and Musial to center for the remainder of the game. Later in life, Baumholtz recalled that the play was a hot smash to third that should have been counted as a hit.
[edit] Later career
"Musial also helped - - mainly by working as hard as he did on his own perfect swing. If this immortal felt the need for frequent extra practice, how could I hope to prosper on less effort?" - Curt Flood
"The Man" slowed a bit after 1953. Still an above average hitter, he was no longer the best in the league. Musial set a league record (later tied by Nate Colbert) with five home runs in a doubleheader against the Giants on May 2, 1954. After a move to first base in 1955, Musial won the batting title again in 1957, his seventh.
Upon his retirement in 1963, Musial had spent 25 years with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He was also the General Manager of the team in 1967 when they won the World Series.
[edit] Career analysis and remembrance
Musial's overall ledger includes 3630 hits, 725 doubles, 475 home runs, and 1951 RBI. He was the first player to appear in 3000 National League games and the first player overall to hit 400 home runs and have 3000 hits. He holds the All-Star Game record with six home runs. When he retired, Musial was the National League hit king, and was behind only Ty Cobb on the Major League list.
Musial is a beloved figure in St. Louis and is well regarded even by young fans. He is known for playing the harmonica at major events especially induction ceremonies at the Hall of Fame.
Stan Musial Stadium in Kutno, Poland was dedicated in 2000.
[edit] Thumbnail Bio
Stan Musial played baseball as an outfielder and first baseman for 25 years, four in the minors (1938-1941) and 22 with the St. Louis Cardinals (1941-1963), losing one year to the Navy in 1945.
He was born the first son and second youngest of six children to Lukasz Musial, a Polish immigrant and zinc mine worker and Mary Lancos who had Slovakian immigrant grandparents. He graduated from High School in his hometown of Donora, PA (also the hometown of Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey, Jr. - Musial and Griffey the younger also share birthdays) where he excelled in baseball and basketball. His brother, Ed Musial, was a minor league outfielder (1941-1950) and his son, Dick Musial, was a track star at Notre Dame.
He married Lillian Labash, also from Donora, on November 21, 1939 (his 19th birthday). They eventually had four children: son Richard and daughters Janet Musial Schwarze, Geraldine and Jean, 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
His father wanted his son to attend college and avoid working in the mines or in a steel mill. But the youngster, a C- student, was intent on becoming a baseball player. After his father rejected a minor-league contract, Stan wept. His mother interceded and convinced her husband to allow their son a chance to pursue his goal.
His best year, and one of the best years of anybody, was 1948. He lead the National League in every hitting category but home runs, which he missed by one. And he would have had that one, too, except that what would have been his 40th home run was wiped out by a rain-shortened game.
Upon retiring, he held the National League records for Games Played (3,026), Plate Appearances (12,172), At Bats (10,972), Hits (3,630), Total Bases (6,134), Runs (1,949), Doubles (725), Long Hits (1,377), Extra Bases on Long Hits (2,504), Runs Batted In (1,951) and Times on Base (5,282). Total Bases and Long Hits were also Major League Records.
The baseball he hit for his 3000th base hit is in the Smithsonian Institution. He was the first inductee into the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame, in 1973 and the Polish National Hall of Fame. In 1972, he achieved the unique distinction of becoming the first foreigner to receive the Polish government's Merited Champions Medal, their highest sports award. He was awarded Poland's highest civilian honor, the Cavalier's Cross Order of Merit. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the St. Louis Hall of Fame and finally the Missouri Hall of Fame, 12 September 2000.
His hobbies are golf & music (harmonica) - he released a recording of his playing. He also became the Owner/co-owner of Stan & Biggie's Restaurant. He is an honorary member of the board of the St. Louis Rams. He has acted as Director of the Professional Baseball Players of America. Civic endeavors have included chairing the President's Council on Physical Fitness under President Lyndon Johnson, and for 20 years, the Crippled Children's Society of St. Louis. He co-chaired the committee planning the papal visit to St. Louis and served on the Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Veterans. He has also served on boards of directors of the U.S.O., the Urological Research Foundation and Shelter the Children.
"I could always hit. It's not something I ever had to think too much about. A lot of guys are very scientific about it. It just seemed to come naturally, even when I was growing up." - Stan Musial
| Preceded by Bob Howsam | St. Louis Cardinals General Manager 1967 | Succeeded by Bing Devine |
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 20-time NL All-Star (1943, 1944 & 1946-1963)
- 3-time NL MVP (1943, 1946 & 1948)
- 7-time NL Batting Average Leader (1943, 1946, 1948, 1950-1952 & 1957)
- 6-time NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1943, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1953 & 1957)
- 6-time NL Slugging Percentage Leader (1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1950 & 1952)
- 7-time NL OPS Leader (1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952 & 1957)
- NL At Bats Leader (1946)
- 5-time NL Runs Scored Leader (1946, 1948, 1951, 1952 & 1954)
- 6-time NL Hits Leader (1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1949 & 1952)
- 6-time NL Total Bases Leader (1943, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951 & 1952)
- NL Singles Leader (1946)
- 8-time NL Doubles Leader (1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1949 & 1952-1954)
- 5-time NL Triples Leader (1943, 1946, 1948, 1949 & 1951)
- 2-time NL RBI Leader (1948 & 1956)
- NL Bases on Balls Leader (1953)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 10 (1948-1957)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 6 (1948, 1949, 1951 & 1953-1955)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 10 (1946, 1948-1951 & 1953-1957)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 11 (1943, 1944 & 1946-1954)
- 200 Hits Seasons: 6 (1943, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951 & 1953)
- Won three World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals (1942, 1944 & 1946)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1969
| NL MVP | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 1943 | 1944 |
| Mort Cooper | Stan Musial | Marty Marion |
| 1945 | 1946 | 1947 |
| Phil Cavarretta | Stan Musial | Bob Elliott |
| 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
| Bob Elliott | Stan Musial | Jackie Robinson |
[edit] Records Held
- Total bases, left handed batter, career, 6134
- Home runs, All Star Game, career, 6
- Home runs, doubleheader, 5 (May 2, 1954)
- Most seasons leading the league in doubles, 8 (tied)
[edit] Major League Career Records
- Only player to rank in the top 25 of all 10 major hitting categories OBP-SLG-BA-HITS-2B-3B-HRS-RBIS-TB-BB
- All time Season League Leader in Different Offensive Categories - (16)
- Most straight seasons (16) with .300+ batting average - Minimum 500 Plate Appearance
- Most seasons (13) with 300 or more Total Bases - Tied with Lou Gehrig and Willie Mays
- Most straight seasons (16) with 30 or more doubles each year.
- Most straight seasons (16) to strike out 40 or fewer times - Minimum 500 PA
- First player to attain 300 HR / 3000 Hits
- Only player to hit 300 HR and over 170 3B
- Only player to hit 400 HR and strike out fewer that 700 times
- Only player to hit 400 HR and more than 700 2B
- Highest career OPS (.976)of all 3000 hit players
- First player to attain 300 HR / 3000 Hits / .300 BA
- First player to accumulate 6000 TB
- Most seasons (14) to record a .300 BA /.400 OBP /.500 SLG in the same season - Minimum 500 PA
- Most walk-off home runs (12) - tied with 4 other players
- First player to play over 30% of games at two different postions.
- Highest career fielding percentage (.989) - over 2500 games.
[edit] Other Accomplishments
- Only player in the last 60 years to record more that 170 career triples
- Only player in the last 70 years to hit 50 or more doubles in 3 different seasons
- Only player in the last 80 years to have 5 hits in 4 games in the same season
- Only player in the last 80 years to bat .300 or better for more than 16 seasons - Min. 500 PA
- Only player in the last 80 years to record over 425 TB in one season.
[edit] Further reading
- Marty Friedrich: The Iron Men of Baseball; McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2006
- James N. Giglio: Musial: From Stash to Stan the Man (Missouri Biographies); Hardcover: 345 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.33 x 9.50 x 6.50; Publisher: University of Missouri Press; (May 1, 2001); ISBN: 0826213367
- John Grabowski: Stan Musial (Baseball Legends); Library Binding: 64 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.35 x 9.58 x 7.53; Publisher: Chelsea House Publications; (May 1, 1993); ASIN: 0791011844;
- Jerry Lansche: Stan the Man Musial: Born to Be a Ballplayer; Hardcover: 212 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 9.00 x 0.50 x 6.00; Publisher: Natl Book Network; (March 1, 1994); ASIN: 0878338462;
- Stan Musial as told to Bob Broeg: The Man, Stan: Musial, then and now; Paperback: 253 pages; Publisher: Bethany Press; (1977); ASIN: 0827223129;
- R. Robinson: Stan Musial: Baseball's Durable 'Man'; Library Binding; Publisher: Putnam Pub Group (L); (January 2000); ASIN: 039960605X;
- Gene Schoor: The Stan Musial Story; Hardcover; Publisher: Amereon Ltd; (December 1, 1955); ISBN: 0848815858;
- Rare Action Footage of Stan Musial The Southpaw
