We remember Stan "the Man" Musial (1920-2013)

The great Stan Musial was born in Donora, PA, on this day in 1920.  He died in 2014.

I  never saw Musial play.  He retired at the end of 1963 season so I never got to see him play.  

Nevertheless, it did not take me long to learn about his amazing career:

"Musial's rank in several career offensive categories is significantly closer to first despite missing the entire 1945 season to serve in the United States Navy. When he retired after the 1963 season, he shared or held 17 big league records and 29 National League records. He currently ranks in the top 10 in five career categories -- second in total bases (6,134), third in doubles (725), fourth in hits (3,630), sixth in RBIs (1,951) and ninth in runs (1,949). His .331 career batting average stands 30th. He received MVP votes in 18 seasons, finishing as the runner-up four times after winning his third award in 1948. He was second in the balloting in 1957, when at age 36, he won the NL batting title for the final time. He won his seventh title -- only Ty Cobb (11), Honus Wagner and Tony Gwynn (eight each) won more -- 14 years after his first."

A few years ago, I wrote a post about Stan Musial.   I recalled his last at bat, a ground ball to right field that Pete Rose, the Reds rookie second baseman, could not catch.  Of course, Rose passed Musial later on his way to breaking Ty Cobb's all time hits record.

Stan the man was great!  I'm sorry that I never got the chance to watch him play.

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