Stan the Man

Musial, Stanley Frank "Stan" "Stan the Man" "The Donora Greyhound" "Banj" "Stash" born 11/21/1920 at Donora PA BLTL 6' 1",175# brown eyes and hair Ancestry:Polish/Slovakian Hobbies:golf & music(harmonica) deb 9/17/41

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Correct pronunciation of the name Musial, pronounced almost universally these days as MU-zee-al is Muzhal.

Wrote with a different hand than he threw with. Musial, a lefty, is shown signing autographs right-handed (with an explanatory caption) in a famous painting on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Father:Lukasz Musial from Poland who worked in a zinc mine near Donora;Mother Mary Lancos, second generation Slovakian. First son and second youngest of six children. 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.

Brother Ed, Minor League outfielder and football star at Army;Son, Dick, was track star at Notre Dame

Attended Donora High School, Donora PA, 1935-1938 where he excelled in baseball and basketball.

Married Lillian Labash of Donora PA 21 November 1939. Has four children: Richard and daughters Janet Musial Schwarze, Geraldine and Jean, 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Major league debut: 9/17/1941

Final Game on September 29, 1963

Worked for one franchise (St. Louis Cardinals), 55 years

The lefthanded-hitting Musial had good speed and was famous for his compressed, closed batting crouch, from which he appeared to be peering at the pitcher around a corner.

He won his first NL batting title in his second full year and led the NL in hits six times, doubles eight times, triples five times, runs five times, while winning six more batting titles and leading in Slugging and On Base Average six times each.

For one who played so long, Musial was unbelievably consistent. He smacked 1,815 hits at home and the same number on the road. He scored 1,949 runs and drove in 1,951. He batted .310 or better 16 straight seasons and added a .330 season just short of his 42nd birthday

Over 21 full seasons he averaged a remarkable 172 hits, 92 runs scored, 92 RBI, 34 doubles, and 23 home runs per year.

His best offensive season was 1948, when he hit a career-high .376 and missed the NL Triple Crown by a single homer. That year he led the NL in batting average, slugging, hits, doubles, triples, runs, and RBI.

Last player until Bernie Williams in 1999 to reach 200 hits, 100 runs, 100 RBI, and 100 walks in a season (1948 & 1953).

Had 2006 Hits after age 30, exceeded by only six players

One of only 17 players to play more than 20 seasons with only one franchise

Only player to play more than 1000 games at two positions (1B/OF)

Ranks 11th in Pete Palmer's "Adjusted Total Player Rating" (8th upon retirement)

Has third best career OBA and second best OPS in the National League

By hitting over 100 Long Hits in 1948, he was the last to do so until Albert Belle in 1995.

Had more homeruns than strikeouts, 1948

Led League in both OBA & SLUG. three times (exceeded only by Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Honus Wagner)

When he retired, only one man (Mel Ott) had had more multiple-homerun games in the National League (37)

Only player to ever hit a homerun when he was a grandfather

Had 30 game hitting streak, 1950. Also 24 games (1952), 22 games (1943) & 20 games (1957).

Had as many Intentional Walks as Strikeouts, 1958.

August 11, 1946: Stan Musial gets eight hits in nine at bats, as the St. Louis Cardinals sweep the Cincinnati Reds 15-4, 7-3.

Hit for cycle, 24 July 1949.

Hit an inside-the-park home run on 13 August 1951 where he was timed at 14.6 seconds for the trip around the bases. "While no records are kept of such feats in regular games, Musial's time was short of the generally accepted mark of the 13.3 seconds of Evar Swanson, with Columbus (American Association) in 1931, set in an exhibition race around the bases. Swanson also turned the sacks in 13.4 while with the Reds in 1929. "The World Almanac credits Marty Hogan, with Indianapolis of the Western League in 1989, with a mark of 13.2 for negotiating the distance around the bases."

Hit three homeruns in one game, 2 May 1954 and 8 July 1962.

On 18 April 1959, Musial has the only Cardinal hit off Jack Sanford to spoil his bid for a nohitter.

On 21 April 1959, Musial does the same thing to Glen Hobbie.

On 17 April 1960 with Duke Snider and Gil Hodges, were first trio of 300+ homerun hitters to hit a homerun in the same game

Hit 17 homeruns against Warren Spahn, bested only by Duke Snider (19 off Robin Roberts) & Willie Mays (18 off Spahn)

In 1960, he had nine Assists in 103 Outfield Games at Age 40

In 1944, he was the only future Hall of Famer playing in the World Series. This has never happened otherwise.

In 1956, when Cincinnati fans stuffed the ballot box for the All-Star game, Musial was the only non-Red to be elected by the fans

In the All-star game in Milwaukee in 1955, he finished a game with a walkoff home run in the last of the 12th.

Upon retirement, Musial held 17 major league, 29 National League and 9 All-Star game records.

Led National League in total bases and slugging percentage 6 years. Won 7 National League batting titles.

Won National League Batting Titles in 1943, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952 & 1957.

Named National League's Most Valuable Player 1943, 1946, and 1948.

Named on 24 All-Star teams, 1942-1963 (1945 excluded)

Named as outfielder on TSN National League All-star team, 1943-44-48-49-50-51-52-53-54

Named as first baseman on TSN National League All-star team, 1946-57-58

Named NetShrine Player of the Year, 1944-50-52

Awarded Tris Speaker award, 1962.

Finished top at his position in MVP voting 13 times - the next closest had 10