Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial (/ˈmjuːziəl/ or /ˈmjuːʒəl/; born Stanisław Franciszek Musiał; November 21, 1920 – January 19, 2013) was an American professional baseball player and Navy veteran of World War II. He was a Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder and first baseman on the St. Louis Cardinals for 22 seasons, from 1941 through 1963. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He compiled 3,630 career hits, ranking fourth all-time and first in a career spent with only one team. With 1,815 hits at home and 1,815 on the road, he also is considered to be the most consistent hitter of his era. He hit 475 home runs during his career, was named the National League's (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times, and won three World Series championship titles. He shares the MLB record for the most All-Star Games played (24) with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Musial was a first-ballot inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. He was also selected to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 2014.Musial was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, where he frequently played baseball, whether informally or in organized settings, eventually playing 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 prior to 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, he led the NL in six different offensive categories and earned his first MVP award. He was also named to the NL All-Star roster for the first time; he would appear in every All-Star game (MLB had two games from 1959 to 1962) in every subsequent season he played. Musial won his second World Series championship in 1944, then missed the entire 1945 season while serving with the United States Navy.On his return to baseball in 1946, Musial resumed his consistent hitting. That year he earned his second MVP award and third World Series title. His third MVP award came in 1948, when he finished one home run shy of winning baseball's Triple Crown. After struggling offensively in 1959, Musial used a personal trainer to help maintain his productivity until he decided to retire in 1963. At the time of his retirement, he held or shared 17 major league records, 29 National League records, and nine All-Star Game records. In addition to overseeing businesses, such as a restaurant both before and after his playing career, Musial served as the Cardinals' general manager in 1967, winning the pennant and World Series, then quitting that position. He also became noted for his harmonica playing, a skill he acquired during his playing career. Known for his modesty and sportsmanship, Musial was selected for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 19
Janet Musial, Gerry Musial, Richard Musial, Jeanie Musial
Parents
Mary Musial, Lukasz Musial
Siblings
Ed Musial, Ida Daniels, Helen Daniels, Rose Lang, Vicki Wagner
Awards
National League Most Valuable Player Award, Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
Star Sign
Scorpio
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Quote
1
[explaining his unfailingly cheerful manner] If you had a .331 lifetime batting average, you'd be happy all the time too.
2
The key to hitting for high average is to relax, concentrate, and don't hit the fly ball to center field.
3
When a pitcher's throwing a spitball, don't worry and don't complain, just hit the dry side like I do.
4
Somehow it doesn't seem to be making me as nervous as when I was getting close to 3,000 hits. - on approaching Honus Wagner's 44-year-old league record for career hits in 1962
5
I consciously memorized the speed at which every pitcher in the league threw his fastball, curve, and slider; then, I'd pick up the speed of the ball in the first thirty feet of its flight and knew how it would move once it had crossed the plate.
6
There was never a day when I was as good as Joe DiMaggio at his best. Joe was the best, the very best I ever saw.
7
The first principle of contract negotiations is don't remind them of what you did in the past - tell them what you're going to do in the future.
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Fact
1
Shared his birthday and birthplace with Ken Griffey Jr.. Musial was a high school teammate of Griffey's paternal grandfather.
2
Had 3,630 hits in his career. Exactly half (1,815) were achieved in home games and half in road games.
3
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on February 15, 2011.
4
Made major league debut on 17 September 1941.
5
Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians in 2000.
6
Inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1989.
7
Despite the fact that he hit 475 home runs lifetime, he never led the league in that category.
8
In 1972 he was awarded Poland's Merited Champions Medal, that nation's highest sports award; he was the first foreigner so honored.
9
.331 Batting Average (30th All Time), .417 On-base percentage (23rd All Time), .559 Slugging Percentage (23rd All Time), 3,026 Games (6th All Time), 10,972 At Bats (9th All Time), 1,949 Runs (8th All Time), 3,630 Hits (4th All Time), 6,134 Total Bases (2nd All Time), 725 Doubles (3rd All Time), 177 Triples (19th All Time), 475 Home Runs (23rd All Time), 1,951 RBI (5th All Time), 1,599 Walks (11th All Time), 1,377 Extra-Base Hits (2nd All Time) and 5,282 Times on Base (5th All Time).
10
His father, Lukasz, was a Polish immigrant; his mother, Mary, was the daughter of Czech immigrants.
11
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Doubles Leader (725).
12
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Triples Leader (177).
13
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Homerun Leader (475).
14
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time RBI Leader (1,951).
15
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Total Bases Leader (6,134).
16
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Hits Leader (3,630).
17
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Runs Leader (1,949).
18
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time At Bats Leader (10,972).
19
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Games Leader (3,026).
20
Member of St. Louis Cardinals World Series Championship Teams in 1942, 1944 and 1946. Member of National League Championship Team in 1943.
21
St. Louis Cardinals All-Time Walks Leader (1,599).
22
Three-time National League MVP (1943, 1946 and 1948). Finished in Top 10 in voting 11 times (1944, 1949-1957 and 1962).
23
Started his professional career as a pitcher in the minor leagues, but switched to the outfield with the Cardinals. He also played quite a few games at first during his career.
24
Hit a record five home runs for a doubleheader in 1954 (later tied by Nate Colbert, who happened to be from St. Louis, in 1972).
25
Named to National League All Star Team 20 times (1943-1944, 1946-1963).
26
Accomplished harmonica player.
27
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA in 1969.
28
Played his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1941-1963). Missed the 1945 season due to the war.
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
2009 MLB All-Star Game
2009
TV Special
Himself - Honorary Co-Captain
St. Louis Cardinals: Baseball Heaven
2006
Video documentary
ESPN 25: Who's #1?
2005-2006
TV Series documentary
Himself
ESPN SportsCentury
2000-2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Michael Jordan to the Max
2000
Documentary
Himself
CBS This Morning
1991
TV Series
Himself
Hee Haw
1985
TV Series
Himself
The Way It Was
1975
TV Series
Himself
1975 MLB All-Star Game
1975
TV Special
Himself - NL Honorary Captain
Greatest Sports Legends
1973
TV Series
Himself
The Mike Douglas Show
1971
TV Series
Himself - Pro Baseball Player
That Girl
1970
TV Series
Himself
The Merv Griffin Show
1963-1965
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1964
TV Series
Himself - Guest
What's My Line?
1964
TV Series
Himself - Mystery Guest
1963 MLB All-Star Game
1963
TV Special
Himself - NL Outfielder
1961 MLB All-Star Game
1961
TV Special
Himself - NL pinch hitter
1958 MLB All-Star Game
1958
TV Special
Himself - NL First Baseman
The Ed Sullivan Show
1949-1958
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Interviewee
1957 MLB All-Star Game
1957
TV Special
Himself - NL First Baseman
1956 MLB All-Star Game
1956
TV Special
Himself - NL Right Fielder
1955 MLB All-Star Game
1955
TV Special
Himself - NL First Baseman
1954 MLB All-Star Game
1954
TV Special
Himself - NL Right Fielder
1953 MLB All-Star Game
1953
TV Special
Himself - NL Left Fielder
1952 MLB All-Star Game
1952
TV Special
Himself - NL Center Fielder
1951 MLB All-Star Game
1951
TV Special
Himself - NL Left Fielder
1950 MLB All-Star Game
1950
TV Special
Himself - NL First Baseman
1949 MLB All-Star Game
1949
TV Special
Himself - NL Center Fielder
Style of the Stars
1947
Documentary short
All-Star Baseball Player
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Prime 9
2010-2011
TV Series
Himself
Ted Williams
2009
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Perfect Game
2009
Himself (uncredited)
DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes