Who Is Stan Musial? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Stan Musial was born on November 21, 1920, in Donora, Pennsylvania, making him 93 years old at the time when this retrospective is being shared. He was a professional baseball player from 1941 to 1963, primarily playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. Known for his exceptional hitting skills and sportsmanship, Musial was an accomplished outfielder and first baseman, earning three National League MVP Awards and 24 All-Star selections. His contributions to baseball have made him a beloved figure in the sport's history, as highlighted in his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Baseball Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 21, 1920 |
| Age | 92 Years |
| Birth Place | Donora, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 19 January, 2013 |
| Died Place | Ladue, Missouri, U.S. |
Popularity
Stan Musial's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
During his playing days, Stan Musial was known for his lean and athletic build. He stood at approximately 6 feet (183 cm) tall and weighed around 175 pounds (79 kg). His height and agility allowed him to excel both in the outfield and at the plate, where he displayed remarkable power and precision in hitting.
Musial was assigned to the Class AA Columbus Red Birds to begin 1941, though manager Burt Shotton and Musial himself quickly realized that the previous year's injury had considerably weakened his arm.
He was reassigned to the Class C Springfield Cardinals as a full-time outfielder, and he later credited manager Ollie Vanek for displaying confidence in his hitting ability. During 87 games with Springfield, Musial hit a league-leading .379 before being promoted to the Rochester Red Wings of the International League.
He was noted for his unique batting stance, a crouch in which his back was seemingly square to the pitcher. This stance was later described by pitcher Ted Lyons as "a kid peeking around the corner to see if the cops were coming".
According to a 1950 description by author Tom Meany, "The bent knees and the crouch give him the appearance of a coiled spring, although most pitchers think of him as a coiled rattlesnake." Musial continued to play well in Rochester—in one three-game stretch, he had 11 hits.
He was called up to the Cardinals for the last two weeks of the 1941 season.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Stan Musial was married to his beloved wife, Lilian, since 1940 until his passing. Together, they had four children: Janet, Lorraine, Richard, and Peter. Musial's family life was a significant part of his story. His unwavering support for his family and commitment to being a devoted husband and father were often highlighted, showing that his dedication extended beyond baseball.
His mother was of Carpatho-Rusyn descent. His father was a Polish immigrant who always referred to his son by the Polish nickname Stasiu, pronounced "Stashu". Young Stan frequently played baseball with his brother Ed and other friends during his childhood, and considered Lefty Grove his favorite ballplayer.
Musial also learned about baseball from his neighbor Joe Barbao, a former minor league pitcher. When he enrolled in school, his name was formally changed to Stanley Frank Musial.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Stan Musial's estimated net worth was around $75 million. His wealth was accumulated through his long and successful baseball career, endorsements, and various business ventures. Musial's legacy continues to flourish, with memorabilia and achievements that maintain considerable value among collectors and fans.
The Cardinals played the American League champion New York Yankees in the 1942 World Series. Representing the winning run at home plate in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 1 at Sportsman's Park, Musial grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Musial's first hit of the Series was an RBI single that provided the margin of victory in Game 2, allowing the Cardinals to tie the Series. Over the next three games at Yankee Stadium, Musial had three more hits as the Cardinals defeated the Yankees in the Series four games to one. Musial batted .222 for the Series, with two runs scored.
Musial's 1943 season started with a brief contract holdout in spring training. He made the National League All-Star team for the first time as a starting left fielder and got a double in the All-Star Game on July 13.
He finished the season leading the major leagues in hitting with a .357 batting average and led the NL in hits (220), doubles (48), triples (20), total bases (347), on-base percentage (.425), and slugging percentage (.562).
This performance earned him his first NL Most Valuable Player Award, ahead of teammate and catcher Walker Cooper (.318 batting average). After romping to another NL pennant by 18 games, the Cardinals again faced the Yankees in the 1943 World Series. Musial had a single in the Cardinals' Game 1 loss, and scored a run in a Game 2 win.
The Cardinals did not win another game in the Series, but the loser's bonus share paid to each Cardinals player ($4,321.99, ) still amounted to nearly two-thirds of Musial's regular season salary.
Career, Business, and Investments
Stan Musial's illustrious career spanned over two decades, during which he became an iconic figure in Major League Baseball. He was a part of three World Series Championships with the St. Louis Cardinals, and his batting average of .331 remains one of the highest in MLB history. After retirement, Musial engaged in various business ventures, including a successful restaurant and being an active ambassador for the Cardinals and the game of baseball itself.
Over the course of his career, Musial batted .331 and set National League (NL) records for career hits (3,630) (1,815 each at home and on the road), runs batted in (1,951), games played (3,026), at bats (10,972), runs scored (1,949) and doubles (725). His 475 career home runs then ranked second in NL history behind Mel Ott's total of 511.
A seven-time batting champion, he was named the National League's (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times and was a member of three World Series championship teams. At the time of his retirement, he held or shared 17 major league records and 29 National League records.
He also shares the major league record for the most All-Star Games played (24) with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Social Network
Stan Musial's legacy continues to resonate on social media, where fans and sports historians celebrate his life and contributions to baseball. While he did not live to see the digital age, numerous fan pages and tributes exist across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, ensuring that his legacy and achievements are remembered and discussed by future generations of baseball enthusiasts.
Cardinals manager Billy Southworth used Musial as a left fielder to begin 1942, sometimes lifting him for a pinch-hitter against left-handed pitching. Musial was hitting .315 by late June, as the Cardinals resumed battling the Dodgers for first place in the National League (NL).
The Cardinals took sole possession of first place on September 13, and when Musial caught a fly ball to end the first game of a doubleheader on September 27 they clinched the pennant with their 105th win. He finished the season with a .315 batting average and 72 runs batted in (RBI) in 140 games.
Musial received national publicity when he was named by St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports editor J. Roy Stockton as his choice for Rookie of the Year in a Saturday Evening Post article.
Education
Stan Musial attended Donora High School and subsequently played baseball at the University of Notre Dame, where he honed his skills before entering the Major Leagues. His education, combined with his natural talent for the sport, paved the way for his remarkable career in baseball, making him a distinguished player and role model for many aspiring athletes.
In Musial's 3,026 major league appearances, he was never ejected from a game. Speaking about his quiet reputation within the sport's history, sportscaster Bob Costas said, "He didn't hit a homer in his last at-bat; he hit a single. He didn't hit in 56 straight games. He married his high school sweetheart and stayed married to her. ...
All Musial represents is more than two decades of sustained excellence and complete decency as a human being."
