Saturday, January 19, 2013

Baseball's Sad Day

Baseball lost two of its Hall of Fame greats today: former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver, 82, and St. Louis Cardinals baseball legend Stan Musial, 92.

Weaver was one of the most successful managers in baseball history with 5 seasons of 100 wins or more, who won 4 American League pennants and one World Series in his 17 years with the Orioles.

Stan "Stan the Man" Musial was a hitting force of the same caliber as his contemporaries Ted Williams and Willie Mays. He spent his entire 22 year career with St. Louis, and was one of the true gentlemen of baseball. He won seven National League batting titles, took the Cardinals to three World Series in the 1940s, and was arguably one of the top five players of all time. President Obama presented Musial with the Medal of Freedom in 2011 for his contributions to America. ESPN has nice tribute to him here.

ADDENDUM: Re Musial, Dodger pitcher Preacher Roe was once asked the best way to get Musial out. Roe responded: "I throw him four wide ones and then I try to pick him off first base." Former commissioner Ford Frick also had this to say about Musial: "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect knight."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have fond memories of seeing Stan the Man play in St. Louis with my dad and uncles - lucky girl! P.E.C.

Hackwhackers said...

Yes, P.E.C., you are. He was one of the greats of all time, both on the field and off. Sadly, they don't make many Stan the Mans anymore.