There has been a lot of discussion about some of the greatest players in baseball history. Most would say Babe Ruth or Ted Williams. A lot of people would say Hank Aaron or Willie Mays. However, most people don’t know about Stan Musial. He is maybe one of the greatest players of all-time.
Stan Musial’s childhood saw great things ahead. He was born on November 21, 1920, in Donora, PA to Lukasz and Mary Musial. (Finkel.) Musial was the 5th of 6 children. Growing up he frequently played the game of baseball, and at the age of 15, he began playing on a semi-pro team in Donora. (Stan Musial.) It was there that St. Louis Cardinal scouts discovered him and they offered him a contract as a pitcher in 1938. Musial accepted, and over the next 2 years, …show more content…
He won the NL MVP for the 2nd time in 1946, leading the NL in almost every major offensive category except homers, RBIs, and OBP. He was again selected to the All-Star Game. (Finkel) It was also during this season that Musial was first called “The Man”. In a game at Dodger Stadium, every time Musial came up, Dodger fans would say, “Here comes that Man again. Here comes that Man again.” The name stuck. (Finkel) Musial also performed well despite a scare from the Mexican League that almost claimed him for more money. The Cardinals finished that season tied with the Dodgers, but quickly won twice in the first ever playoff to reach the World Series against the Red Sox. (Stan Musial) They would win their 3rd World Series in 6 seasons. It would go on to be Musial’s last, who hit .222 with 4 RBIs in the Series. After another All-Star campaign in 1947, Musial had perhaps his finest season. The Man led the NL in average, hits, runs, doubles, triples, slugging percentage, OBP, OPS+, and total bases. (Stan Musial) He also had 39 homers, finishing just 1 homer shy of the Triple Crown. (Stan Musial) He was voted the NL MVP for the 3rd and final time in his career. Over the next 3 years, he would finish 2nd in the MVP voting each year, while making the All-Star Team each year. He also won 2 batting titles, bringing his total up to 5. He won another batting title and made another All-Star team in 1952, and made All-Star teams that year and the next year, bringing his total to 10. On May 2, 1954, Musial had maybe the best day of his career. (Stan Musial) In a doubleheader against the Giants, he hit 3 homers in the first game and 2 more in the 2nd to finish the day with 5 homers, a record that still stands. (Stan Musial) Another fine day was the 1955 All-Star Game. It was his 12th game and he led off the bottom of the 12th with a walk-off home run to win the game, 6-5 for the NL. (Stan Musial) Musial won his 7th and final batting title in
Stan Musial’s childhood saw great things ahead. He was born on November 21, 1920, in Donora, PA to Lukasz and Mary Musial. (Finkel.) Musial was the 5th of 6 children. Growing up he frequently played the game of baseball, and at the age of 15, he began playing on a semi-pro team in Donora. (Stan Musial.) It was there that St. Louis Cardinal scouts discovered him and they offered him a contract as a pitcher in 1938. Musial accepted, and over the next 2 years, …show more content…
He won the NL MVP for the 2nd time in 1946, leading the NL in almost every major offensive category except homers, RBIs, and OBP. He was again selected to the All-Star Game. (Finkel) It was also during this season that Musial was first called “The Man”. In a game at Dodger Stadium, every time Musial came up, Dodger fans would say, “Here comes that Man again. Here comes that Man again.” The name stuck. (Finkel) Musial also performed well despite a scare from the Mexican League that almost claimed him for more money. The Cardinals finished that season tied with the Dodgers, but quickly won twice in the first ever playoff to reach the World Series against the Red Sox. (Stan Musial) They would win their 3rd World Series in 6 seasons. It would go on to be Musial’s last, who hit .222 with 4 RBIs in the Series. After another All-Star campaign in 1947, Musial had perhaps his finest season. The Man led the NL in average, hits, runs, doubles, triples, slugging percentage, OBP, OPS+, and total bases. (Stan Musial) He also had 39 homers, finishing just 1 homer shy of the Triple Crown. (Stan Musial) He was voted the NL MVP for the 3rd and final time in his career. Over the next 3 years, he would finish 2nd in the MVP voting each year, while making the All-Star Team each year. He also won 2 batting titles, bringing his total up to 5. He won another batting title and made another All-Star team in 1952, and made All-Star teams that year and the next year, bringing his total to 10. On May 2, 1954, Musial had maybe the best day of his career. (Stan Musial) In a doubleheader against the Giants, he hit 3 homers in the first game and 2 more in the 2nd to finish the day with 5 homers, a record that still stands. (Stan Musial) Another fine day was the 1955 All-Star Game. It was his 12th game and he led off the bottom of the 12th with a walk-off home run to win the game, 6-5 for the NL. (Stan Musial) Musial won his 7th and final batting title in