Stan the Man

RIP to one of the greatest players and personalities ever to play the game. I have to confess I didnt realize he was still with us so I am somewhat upbeat about the fact that he lived so long and passed at home with his family around him. I hope MLB can find a way to live up to greats like him.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/cardinals-hall-famer-stan-musial-dies-age-92-18260677

 

As a lifelong Cardinal fan whose life began too late to truly appreciate him, there's little doubt that Stan was, and will continue to be for quite some time, the greatest Cardinal ever. And that's saying something. The Yankees may have more trophies and HOF'ers, but NOBODY has more class AND success than the St. Louis Cardinals and Stanley Frank Musial. They were America's Team WAY before some idiot dubbed the Cowboys so. And for me, they ALWAYS will be. And Stan The Man will always be the greatest standardbearer of that legacy.

"Here stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect knight."

Ford Frick

 

I love baseball. I love the history of baseball. As an S.F. Giants supporter (big swallow here), and although I never saw him play, I love Stan Musial. He was class and is far too often omitted from the "one of the best" players discussions.

 

Along with Dr.J the greatest nickname in US sports history. Albert Pujols hated being called EL Hombre because he said there is 'only one The Man'. SI had a brilliant article about Musial a few years ago, and as fine a player as he was he was a better human being.

 

Stan is a honorary member of my fraternity and our sportsmanship award is named after him. To young to see him play but would have loved too.

 

Musial was before my time, but in my younger years I was quite the baseball history buff. He's easily one of the greatest players of his era and one of the best pure hitters of all time.