Stan Musial

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[19] while posting a 6–6 win–loss record and a 4.66 earned run average (ERA), to go along with a .258 batting average.[20] Off the field, he experienced feelings of homesickness while learning to live comfortably and independently on his $65-per-month salary (equivalent to $970 in 2019).[19] 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.[21][22]

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.[23] His pitching skills improved under the guidance of Kerr, who also recognized his hitting talent, playing him in the outfield between pitching starts.[24] On May 25, 1940, Musial married fellow Donora resident, Lillian "Lil" Labash, in Daytona Beach, and the couple's first child followed in August.[25] 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.[26] 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 (equivalent to $180,000 in 2019) home in Houston in 1958.[27] In 113 games in 1940 he hit .311, while compiling an 18–5 pitching record that included 176 strikeouts and 145 walks.[28][29]

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.[30] 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.[31] During 87 games with Springfield, Musial hit a league-leading .379 before being promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the International League.[32] He was noted for his unique batting stance, a crouch in which his back was seemingly square to the pitcher.[33] This stance was later described by pitcher Ted Lyons as "a kid peeking around the corner to see if the cops were coming".[34] 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."[35] 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.[36]

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.[37] 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.[38] Despite Musial's late contributions, the Cardinals finished two and one-half games behind the 100-game-winning Dodgers.[39]

Cardinals manager Billy Southworth used Musial as a left fielder to begin 1942, sometimes lifting him for a pinch-hitter against left-handed pitching.[40] Musial was hitting .315 by late June,[41] as the Cardinals resumed battling the Dodgers for first place in the National League (NL).[42] 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.[43] 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.[44][45]

The Cardinals played the American League champion New York Yankees in the 1942 World Series.[46] 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 .[47] 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.[48] 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.[49] Musial batted .222 for the Series, with two runs scored.[50]

Musial's 1943 season started with a brief contract holdout in spring training.[51] 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.[51] 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).[52] This performance earned him his first NL Most Valuable Player Award, ahead of teammate and catcher Walker Cooper (.318 batting average).[52] After romping to another NL pennant by 18 games, the Cardinals again faced the Yankees in the 1943 World Series.[53] Musial had a single in the Cardinals' Game 1 loss, and scored a run in a Game 2 win.[53] The Cardinals did not win another game in the Series, but the loser's bonus share paid to each Cardinals player ($4,321.99, equivalent to $63,900 in 2019) still amounted to nearly two-thirds of Musial's regular season salary.[54]

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.[55] He ultimately remained with the Cardinals for the entire season, posting a .347 batting average with 197 hits.[56][57] 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.[58] The Browns took a 2–1 lead, while Musial hit .250 with no RBI.[59] 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.[59] The Cardinals went on to defeat the Browns in six games, and Musial posted a .304 batting average for the Series.[60][61]

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 Naval Training Station in Bainbridge, Maryland.[62] 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.[63] 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.[63][64]

In 2007, Musial received the Navy Memorial's Lone Sailor Award, which honors Navy veterans who have excelled in civilian life.[65]

Rejoining the Cardinals under new manager Eddie Dyer, Musial posted a .388 batting average by the middle of May 1946.[67] He also became close friends with new teammate Red Schoendienst, who had joined the Cardinals during Musial's absence in 1945.[68] 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.[69] He declined the offer, and after manager Dyer spoke to club owner Sam Breadon, Musial was given a $5,000 raise later in 1946.[70]

It was also during the 1946 season that Musial acquired his nickname of Stan the Man.[66] 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.[66][71] Later that day over dinner, Broeg asked Cardinals traveling secretary Leo Ward if he had understood what the Dodger fans had been chanting.[66] Ward said, "Every time Stan came up they chanted, 'Here comes the man!'" "'That man,' you mean", Broeg said. "No, the man", replied Ward.[66] Broeg mentioned this story in his Post-Dispatch column, and Musial was thereafter known as Stan "The Man".[66]

Musial on the cover of Baseball Digest, September 1948

In June 1946, Dyer began to use Musial as a first baseman.[72] The Cardinals finished the season tied with the Dodgers,[73] 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.[74] Facing the Boston Red Sox, the Cardinals won the 1946 World Series four games to three,[75] as Musial had six hits and four RBI.[76] He batted .365 for the season and won his second NL MVP Award, receiving 22 out of a possible 24 first-place votes, finishing ahead of Brooklyn's Dixie Walker (.319 batting average).[77]

Musial began the 1947 season by hitting .146 in April.[78] On May 9, team doctor Dr. Robert Hyland confirmed a previous diagnosis of appendicitis, while discovering that Musial was concurrently suffering from tonsillitis.[79] He received treatment, but did not have either his appendix or tonsils surgically removed until after the season ended.[80] Despite his health woes, he finished the year with a batting average of .312.[81]

Fully recovered from his ailments, Musial recorded his 1,000th career hit on April 25, 1948.[82] 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 appear in such ads.[83] By June 24, his batting average was .408, prompting Brooklyn pitcher Preacher Roe to comically announce his new method for retiring Musial: "Walk him on four pitches and pick him off first."[84] 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.[85] 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.[86]

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).[88] 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.[88] If a home run he hit during a rained out game had been counted in his season totals, he would have won the Triple Crown by leading the NL in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in.[88][89]

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.[90][91] He approached the 1949 season with the intent to try to hit more home runs, stating he had hit 39 the previous season "without trying".[92] 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.[92] Musial soon stopped focusing on hitting home runs and resumed his consistent offensive production by the end of May.[92] He received his sixth consecutive All-Star player selection and finished the season leading the NL in hits (207) while playing in every game.[93] However, the Cardinals, with 96 wins, finished one game behind the Dodgers.[94]

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."[95]

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.[96] He had the longest hitting streak of his career during the 1950 season—a 30-game stretch that ended on July 27.[96] With the Cardinals falling 14 games out of first place by September, manager Dyer used him at first base and all three outfield positions.[96][97] 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.[98]

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.[99] Cobb singled out Musial and Phil Rizzuto as the only players "who can be mentioned in the same breath with the oldtime greats".[99] Cobb went on to refer to Musial as "a better player than Joe DiMaggio was in his prime."[99] 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."[99]

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.[100][101] 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.[100] 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.[100] 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.[100]

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.[102] 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.[102][103] 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.[44][104]

Musial accomplished another historical feat on May 2, 1954, in a 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.[105] 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.[105] 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.[106]

Musial made his 12th NL All-Star appearance in 1955 as a reserve player, when Cincinnati's Ted Kluszewski outpolled him by 150,000 votes to get on the starting lineup at first base.[107] Musial entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning, and played left field as the game entered extra innings.[108] Leading off the bottom of the 12th, he hit a home run to give the NL a 6–5 victory.[108]

Musial in 1957

The 1956 season marked another milestone for Musial, when he broke Mel Ott's NL record for extra-base hits on August 12.[109] Earlier that season, Cardinals general manager "Trader Frank" Lane began negotiations to trade him for Philadelphia pitcher Robin Roberts.[110] When Cardinals owner Gussie Busch learned of the possible move, he made it clear that Musial was not available for any trade.[111] Instead, Lane dealt Musial's close friend Schoendienst to the New York Giants; an upset Musial made no immediate comment to the press.[112]

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.[113] Despite ballot stuffing by Cincinnati Reds fans, he was selected and played in the All-Star Game held at Sportsman's Park.[114] 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.[115] He was unable to play again until September 8, ending his consecutive games-played streak at 895.[115] He finished 1957 as Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year".[116]

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.)[118] He quickly demonstrated a return on the investment by sharing with Willie Mays the inaugural (and for the only time in Musial's career) NL Player of the Month in May (no such award was given in April until 1969) batting .374, with 4 HR, and 16 RBI. Also that month, as he was approaching the 3,000-hit milestone in his major league career, he expressed a desire to record the hit in St. Louis.[119] He ultimately reached the mark with a pinch-hit, sixth inning RBI double at Chicago's Wrigley Field on May 13.[120][121] The eighth major league player to reach 3,000 hits, and the first to reach the milestone with an extra-base hit, Musial was greeted at St. Louis Union Station that evening by roughly 1,000 fans.[122] 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.[123]

Taking a new approach to preparation for the 1959 season, Musial was given permission to report late to spring training so that he might conserve his energy for the duration of the year.[124] Musial, at 6 feet (180 cm) tall, had maintained a weight of around 175 pounds (79 kg) throughout his career. He reported to spring training approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kg) overweight and in substandard physical condition.[125][126] He began the season with one hit in 15 at-bats.[126] Despite his early offensive struggles, he single-handedly spoiled potential no-hitters on April 16 and 19.[126] A game-winning home run on May 7 made him the first major league player ever with 400 home runs and 3,000 hits.[126] As he continued to hit at a relatively low pace, his playing time was limited by Cardinals manager Solly Hemus at various points during the season.[127] Seeking more revenue for the players' pension fund, Major League Baseball held two All-Star games in a season for the first time through 1962.[128] Musial made his 16th All-Star appearance (16th season)[129] and pinch-hit in both contests, flying out in the July 7 game and drawing a walk in the August 3 game.[128] He finished the season with 115 regular game appearances, a .255 batting average, 37 runs, and a slugging percentage of .428.[44]

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.[130]

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. Bob Anderson's next pitch was errant, 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. 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, Alvin Dark ran to the backstop to retrieve the ball. The ball wound up in the hands of field announcer Pat Pieper, but Dark ended up getting it back anyway. Absentmindedly, however, Delmore pulled out a new ball and gave it to Taylor. Anderson finally noticed that Musial was trying for second, took the new ball, and threw it to second baseman Tony Taylor. Anderson's 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.[131]

Based on his 1959 performance, Musial accepted a pay cut in 1960 from his previous $100,000 salary to $80,000.[132] 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.[133] In June 1960, newspaper articles began speculating that Musial would soon retire, yet he finished the season with a .275 batting average.[44][134] He addressed the speculation in September, confirming that he would play again in 1961. His .288 batting average that season reaffirmed his decision.[44][135] 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).[136] Along the way, he established new NL career marks for hits and RBI.[137][138] That same year on July 8, the 41-year-old Musial became the oldest player ever to hit three home runs in one game.[139]

Stan Musial's number 6 was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963.

The Cardinals began 1963 by winning 10 of their first 15 games, as Musial posted a .237 batting average.[140] 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.[141] Making his 20th All-Star appearance[129] and 24th All-Star Game appearance on July 9, 1963, he pinch-hit in the fifth inning.[141] Asked by general manager Bing Devine on July 26 what his plans were, Musial said that he would retire at season's end.[142] He waited until the Cardinals team picnic on August 12 to publicly announce his decision, hopeful he could retire on a winning note.[143]

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.[144] 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.[144] The Dodgers then swept the Cardinals in a three-game series in St. Louis and clinched the NL pennant on September 25.[145] Musial's last game, on September 29, 1963, was preceded by an hour-long retirement ceremony.[146] 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.[146] 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.[147] Cardinals manager Johnny Keane brought in Gary Kolb as a pinch-runner for Musial, bringing his major league career to an end.[147] Just as he had recorded two base hits in his major league debut, Musial finished his last game with two hits, as well.[147] Musial finished with the all-time National League hits record 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.

At the time of his retirement, Musial held or shared 17 major league records, 29 NL records, and nine All-Star Game records.[148] Among those records, he ranked as the major league career leader in extra-base hits (1,377) and total bases (6,134).[147] He also held NL career marks in categories such as hits (3,630), games played (3,026), doubles (725), and RBI (1,951).[147] He finished his career with 475 home runs despite never having led the NL in the category.[147] Jerry Lansche 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.[149] 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 and it is highly unlikely he would have reached 500. He did not hit more than 13 home runs in any season before he entered the navy and did not hit as many as 25 (the number he would have needed to become a 500 career homer club member) until 1948, 3 years after returning to baseball from World War II. His career hit total was evenly split between 1,815 hits at home and 1,815 hits on the road.[34] Steven R. Bullock speculates that it is possible that without military service Musial might have continued playing to attempt to exceed Ty Cobb's career hit record of 4,191.[149] Even if Musial had hit safely 207 times (the average of his hits in the 2 years before and the 2 years after his service in the navy) in 1945, he still would have been 354 hits short of tying Ty. His hit total in his last season at age 42 was only 86; even if he could have had 103 hits a season (the average of his last 5 seasons) he would have had to play to age 47 to attain the hits record.

He 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.[150] 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.

In Musial's 3,026 major league appearances, he was never ejected from a game.[151] 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."[33]