Stan the man has never lost his love of the game

Baseball Digest, July, 2008 by John Kuenster

"I'M 87, SHOOTING FOR 100," LAUGHED STAIN MUSIAL WHO WAS ASKED .ABOUT his age and current state of health. "I still go to the Cardinals' Opening Day games, but I watch the rest on television. That's because I can't walk. I need somebody to help me walk.

"You know what they say about old age," he added "'You're not old when your hair turns gray. You're not old when your teeth decay. You're only old if you're on a long, long street and your mind has a date your body can't meet.'"

In reciting the quotation, Musial was merely reflecting his customary lighthearted approach to life. So, it came as no surprise that he was in his usual upbeat frame of mind when an inquiring writer called him to ask a question about his fantastic season with the Cardinals in 1948.

That year, he led National League hitters in eight significant categories and came within one home run of winning the Triple Crown. He topped the National League in batting with a .376 average and in RBI with 131, but his 39 homers fell short of the 40 hit by co-champions Johnny Mize of the Giants and Ralph Kiner of the Pirates.

"I did hit one other home run, but the game was called off," he recalled. "I can't remember who we played, but if that homer had counted I would've been the first Triple Crown winner in the league since Joe Medwick (in 1937)."

Even by today's standards, Musial's work on offense in 1948 ranks close to being the greatest in the history of the game. In addition to batting average and RBI, he paced the league in hits (230), doubles (46), triples (18), runs (135), on-base percentage (.450) and slugging percentage (.702).

He finished his 22-year career with the Cardinals in 1963 with a .331 lifetime batting average and was elected to the Hall of Fame the first time he was on the writers' ballot in 1969, receiving 93.2 percent of the votes cast.

What was the secret to his success as a hitter?

"I memorized the speed at which every pitcher in the league threw his fastball, curve and slider," he said. "Then, I'd pick up the speed and rotation of the ball in the first 30 feet of its flight and knew how it would move once it approached the plate."

Years ago, Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn remarked, "Once Musial timed your fastball, your infielders were in jeopardy."

Former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Preacher Roe described his strategy in opposing Musial. "I throw him four wide ones and try to pick him off at first," he said.

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The late Bob Broeg, sports columnist for The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, helped popularize Musial's nickname, Stan the Man, which originated with Dodger fans at Ebbets Field. Musial loved to hit at Ebbets Field and while the rabid fans there didn't boo him when he'd step to the plate, they'd groan, "Here comes The Man again."

In the 3,026 regular season games, 23 World Series encounters and 24 All-Star exhibitions, Musial was never once ejected by an umpire for arguing a call. Umpire Tom Gorman said, "The bigger the guy, the less he argues. You never heard a word out of Stan Musial."

During his career, he won three Most Valuable Player Awards and seven batting championships. On the downhill slope of life, he was asked what remains his favorite baseball memory?

"I've had so many good memories," he said, "I can't pick out just one. I was fortunate that I wasn't seriously injured in all the years I played. I loved baseball and baseball loved me. I enjoyed it tremendously."

Next November 21, Stan the Man will reach the 88-year milestone. He will always merit salutes from fans who saw him play and appreciate his contributions to the game.

The same can be said of another Hall of Famer who also was a great credit to major league baseball, pitcher Bob Feller who turns 90 on November 3.

And, while we're on the subject of birthdays, best wishes to major league baseball's venerable historian, Jerome Holtzman who will be 82 on July 12.

In his active days, he was known as the dean of Chicago's baseball scribes. He began covering the game in 1957 and earned lasting recognition in helping create the save rule which elevated the status of relief pitchers, generating rich contracts for many of them.

"The best thing I did though," he said, "was the book, No Cheering in the Press Box. That was the first of ten books I wrote on baseball." The volume was published in 1974, included interviews with notable baseball writers, and became a best seller.

So much for birthday anniversaries. Let's move on to another subject involving a prediction made by a renown baseball oracle.

It was a Thursday afternoon, April 4 when the 2008 season was in its infancy and Joe the Barber was expounding on his favorite team. The White Sox had just won their first game, beating the Indians, 2-1, behind the pitching of John Danks at Progressive Park in Cleveland.

"Danks and (Gavin) Floyd," said Joe between snips of his scissors, "will be the two, best, emerging young pitchers in baseball this year."

He expressed himself with such vigor that not one of his awaiting customers challenged him.